Evan fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat, wondering why he never knew about Stokes and his family. It wasn’t that his driver wasn’t willing to talk. Evan realized he’d just never bothered to ask.
He made a vow to find out if Stokes was financially set for the rest of his life. The man usually traveled everywhere with his car, always there at Evan’s beck and call. If he had family, maybe it was time for him to enjoy some kind of retirement.
“I hired you because you were qualified. I’ve kept you on because you’re one of the best employees I’ve ever had,” Evan stated loud enough to be heard by Stokes.
“Thank you, sir,” the driver replied humbly, his voice filled with pride. “We’ve reached your destination.”
Evan looked out the window to see that they were parked right in front of the Center. People were filing into the building slowly, all dressed for a party.
“It’s an open party, Jerry,” Randi said brightly. “Would you like to come in and get something to eat?”
Stokes turned around and smiled at her. It was the first time Evan had ever seen his driver actually smile.
Stokes shook his head. “No . . . but thank you, madam. I’ll just pop over to that little restaurant with the lobster rolls. Great food there.”
“Sullivan’s,” Randi answered with a kind smile and a nod. “Have a nice dinner.”
Evan waited as his driver got out and opened the door for him. He stood and said quietly to Stokes, “Talk to me when you’re ready to retire. I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of, Stokes.”
His driver nodded. “I know that, sir. Thank you.” He paused before adding, “That’s one sweet girl you have there. She’s a keeper.”
“I plan on keeping her,” Evan answered fiercely. “She just doesn’t know it yet.”
He saw Stokes smile in the dim light. “Very good, sir.”
Evan moved to the other side of the vehicle, but Randi was already out of the car and headed straight toward him. She seemed totally unconcerned that she had to open her own car door. Most of the women he knew would have sat and waited for somebody to do it for them.
Not his woman. He needed to be faster if he wanted to keep up with her.
Randi had been independent most of her life, and she knew nothing about the rituals of the super-rich.
That was one of the things Evan liked about her. Randi was unpretentious and as real as a woman could get.
She just found out more about my employee in two minutes than I have in all the years Stokes has worked for me.
He offered his arm as she reached him, and he dismissed Stokes to go have his dinner.
“It wasn’t that painful, right?” Randi asked quietly as they walked arm in arm to the front entrance of the Center.
“What?”
“Learning something about your employees. He idolizes you.”
“I pay his salary,” Evan replied solemnly. “But you’re right. I’m glad I know his situation. I can set him up for retirement as soon as he’s ready.”
Randi nodded. “There’s nothing wrong with caring, Evan.”
He didn’t reply. Obviously there was a problem with caring. He wanted Randi, but she only wanted him for the short time he was here.
For the first time, he did care, and it fucking hurt that she didn’t.
I can never love a man like him.
It was going to take a long time for Evan to forget seeing those words, and exactly how he felt when he thought about them.
Micah had seen her the minute she walked into the ballroom. There was no way he could miss her.
“Are you headed out tomorrow?” Julian asked him as he wolfed down another plate of food from the buffet.
“Yeah. I have to go. I have early meetings Monday morning,” Micah replied.
Micah liked Amesport, and he didn’t like the thought of actually leaving. He hadn’t been back to Sullivan’s since his run-in with Liam, but he’d been tempted.
“Me too. I have an interview in Los Angeles,” Julian admitted.
“Good. Then I can have my jet back. You can get your own now, you know,” Micah told him testily, still watching Tessa move around the room gracefully.
“I know,” Julian replied with a grin. “But I never really went anywhere before. I didn’t have to.”
Julian could have always afforded to buy any private jet he chose. He might have been a “nobody” in Hollywood until he hit the big time just recently, but he was still a very rich Sinclair.
The orchestra kicked up the volume a few notches, obviously ready for people to start dancing.
“I’ll be back,” Micah told Julian without looking away from Tessa.
If his brother answered, Micah didn’t hear it. He was determined to make his way to the beautiful female across the room before someone else did.
He approached her as she was talking with two elderly women, one of them dressed in deep violet, the other in a rather flamboyant hot pink.
As he got closer, he heard Tessa speak. “Beatrice, I appreciate the present, but you know I don’t believe in miracles.”
The woman in bright pink beamed back at Tessa. “It’s your turn, dear. Your destiny.”
“She knows,” the woman in purple said excitedly. “Beatrice saw it clearly.”
“You’ll hear him, but not in the way you might expect,” Beatrice told Tessa, patting her on the cheek. “You’ll need to listen with everything in you to understand what he’s trying to tell you.”
“Hello.” Micah finally spoke, touching Tessa on the shoulder so she knew he was behind her.