The night of the launch, Faith was a jumble of excitement and nerves as she sat beside Dylan in the back of the limousine. Going on a date with this man felt like standing at the edge of a cliff and hoping she didn’t fall.
He glanced over and squeezed her hand. “Did I say you look beautiful?”
“Twice,” she said, smiling. “But I don’t mind.”
The limo driver pulled over a short distance from the hotel. “Apparently I need to drop you here so you can walk the red carpet,” he said over his shoulder.
Faith turned to Dylan. “Red carpet?”
Dylan grinned. “After the success of the Midnight Lily launch, and since Jenna has come out as Princess Jensine, we were able to attract a few more celebrities this time.”
A thought suddenly occurred to her. “Will it be a problem if you’re seen on the red carpet with an employee?”
“Not in the least.” He stroked his thumb over the back of her hand. “It’s perfectly natural that I’d escort the florist who made the arrangements for tonight.”
Put that way, it seemed reasonable, so she let out a breath and smiled.
The driver opened their door and Faith stepped out, taking in the scene around her. Paparazzi lined the street and a crowd had gathered, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone famous. The atmosphere was like nothing she’d ever experienced before and was a little intimidating.
Then Dylan was at her elbow, with a warm hand on the small of her back, grounding her. Keeping her centered.
“I don’t know how Jenna lives like this,” she whispered.
“Most of the time, she doesn’t,” he said. “She spends the majority of her days with Meg, Bonnie and Liam.”
The image of a little family rose in Faith’s mind—the stability, the love. Only in her mind, it wasn’t Jenna’s family. It was Dylan surrounded by a bunch of kids with her curly red hair and his green eyes. The image was so perfect, so unattainable, her chest ached.
“Dylan,” a voice called once they reached the carpet. “Can we get a quote?”
Dylan smiled and waved, then leaned to Faith’s ear. “Ebony is from a local morning show. They sometimes do a gardening segment, and I’ve been talking to them about doing something with us, so I need to talk to her. Can you—?” He paused, then grabbed an arm a few feet away. “Adam, I need to do a bit of media. Can you walk in with Faith? You’re here alone, aren’t you?”
Adam offered Faith a smile before nodding to his brother. “Sure.”
He put a hand under her elbow and they walked through the door, making small talk about the weather. Once inside, he dropped her arm and asked, “Can I talk to you privately about something?”
She resisted taking a step back as his expression changed. There was something serious on his mind. Something he wasn’t happy about. But he was the CEO of Hawke’s Blooms Enterprises, which covered the farm, the stores, the markets and R&D, above even Dylan, so she said, “Of course,” and smiled politely.
He glanced around and then led her through a door marked Staff Only into what appeared to be an office.
Then he turned and faced her squarely, face stony. “I need to ask. What do you want out of this involvement with my brother?”
Her blood turned cold at the implication about her morals. Then she crossed her arms under her breasts and matched his stance.
“What does a woman normally want out of an involvement with a man?” she asked, heavy on the sarcasm.
Without missing a beat, he began to make a list, raising a finger for each item. “Money, promotion, prestige, access to something, an opportunity to sue or blackmail. I could go on.”
She coughed out a laugh, more amazed than insulted by his cynicism. “Please don’t.”
“If you’re planning to use whatever it is between you and my brother to get ahead, it won’t end well for you.”
She cocked her head to the side, examining Adam’s face. It was amazing how similar he looked to Dylan, yet how little they were alike. She’d seen a range of expressions on Dylan’s face before but nothing this hard, this remote. Adam’s green eyes were the cold arctic sea, whereas Dylan’s sparked with life and energy. There was no doubt in her mind that Dylan was the better man, and she wasn’t going to let his brother push her around.
She narrowed her eyes and poked her index finger into his chest. “Are you always this suspicious of people’s motives?”
He looked a little less certain. “I’ve found it pays to be.”
“Well, let me put your mind at rest.” She took a step back and folded her arms again. “Hawke’s Blooms has been good to me. I would never do anything to hurt the company. And Dylan? He’s a good man. I would never hurt him, and anyone who wanted to would have to go through me to do it.”
Adam frowned, apparently taken by surprise by her answer. “So you are planning on a future with him?”
“Actually, I’m not. But here’s a question for you. How much of this—” she waved a finger, taking in the room he’d corralled her in “—is about the company and how much is about protecting your little brother?”
Adam opened his mouth to answer but then hesitated, frowned and closed his mouth again. Before he was able to find any words, Dylan burst through the door.
“What the hell is going on here?” His voice was tightly controlled but his gaze was clearly full of irritation aimed at his brother.
“I was just—” Adam began, but Faith had had enough and stepped in front of him.
“Your brother was grilling me about my intentions. Turns out he was worried I’d sue the company. Or was it blackmail that you were more concerned about?” she asked, moving to stand beside Dylan and smiling brightly at Adam.
Dylan’s face turned red. “You said what to her?”
Adam held his hands up in surrender as Dylan took a step forward. “It was a reasonable concern.”
“Adam, I’m warning you, get out of this room.” Dylan planted his feet shoulder width apart and glared at his brother. “Now.”
Adam’s eyebrows shot up. “Okay, sure,” he said and headed for the door. “Look, I’m sorry—”
“Not the time,” Dylan said, his voice tight and fists clenching at his sides.
“Right then.” Adam disappeared completely from view.
Dylan kicked the door shut behind him and then turned to Faith and blew out a breath. “I can’t believe he did that. Sorry doesn’t seem enough.”
He seemed so tense that she laid a hand on his arm, wanting to reassure him. “No harm done. I was handling it.”
One corner of his mouth quirked up. “Actually, when I opened the door, the expression on his face did seem a bit lost.”
“Good,” she said, satisfied she’d been able to hold her own. “You know, I think he was more worried about us as your brother than he was as the CEO.”
A frown line appeared across his forehead. “What do you mean?”
“He’s protective of you.” Heat radiated through Dylan’s suit coat to her hand, and she rubbed his upper arm, always wanting a little more when she was near him.
He let out an exasperated breath. “He should be more worried about himself.”
“Why?” The dynamics between Dylan and his brothers were endlessly fascinating to her, but then again, anything about Dylan fascinated her.
“I can’t remember the last time I saw him in a relationship. Or with a woman who made him happy. I don’t know why he thinks he’s in any position to sort out anyone else’s love life.”
Her throat was suddenly tight, and she had to swallow before she could get her voice to work. “We don’t have a love life. We’ve put a lot of effort into ensuring that.”
“That’s true,” he said, his eyes pained. “I still love this dress on you, by the way.”
She looked down at the shimmering green dress. “Thank you again. It’s a lovely present.” Then, unable to help herself, she looked back at him, taking in the lavender shirt and silver tie. “And I like you in that suit.”
His eyes darkened. “Someone with great flair picked it out for me.”
She ran a hand down the front of the shirt, remembering what it felt like to touch him without fabric between them. Without reserve.
He sucked in a sharp breath. “If we’re going to leave this room, we’d better go now.”
She dropped her hand and took a step back. “I think you’re right.”
He opened the door and gestured for her to go past, and they walked into the ballroom as if nothing had happened.
* * *
Dylan looked out over the crowd of the fashionable and famous mingling and drinking champagne in honor of Hawke’s Blooms. He was still annoyed at his brother but was trying not to let it affect him. He just wanted Faith to have one perfect night to remember, and he wouldn’t let Adam ruin it.
She’d bought three dates at the auction—she’d spent the first making flower arrangements at the Santa Monica store and the second making flower arrangements at Liam’s research facility. Was it too much to ask that he be able to give her one night when she wasn’t working, without his stupid brother ruining it?
He glanced down at Faith and pulled her a little closer against his side as they made their way through the ballroom. They were stopped by several people he knew in the industry, and he introduced Faith each time as the florist who had created the designs that adorned the room. The guests were full of praise, and although Faith didn’t say it, he could feel her pride in her work. He smiled inside, knowing he’d become attuned to her feelings.
“Thank you,” she whispered just below his ear once they’d moved on from another person who’d been impressed by her work.
He took a moment to appreciate the warmth of her breath on his neck before asking, “For what?”
“I told you once that my dream was to create arrangements that reached lots of people. To spread joy on that larger scale.” She moistened her lips. “You’ve made it happen.”
His chest expanded at the expression in her eyes, but he couldn’t take the credit. “No, you’ve made it happen. I might have arranged the opportunity for Jenna, Liam and Adam to see your ideas for the Ruby Iris, but you’re the one who impressed them.”
“As you said, you arranged the opportunity,” she said, clearly unwilling to let it drop.
“Ah, but you were creative enough in your approach to attend the auction and get my attention in the first place.” He smiled down into her eyes. “You’re one of a kind, Faith.”
His mother appeared at his elbow, wineglass in hand. “Here you are, Dylan. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Did you need something?”
“Just to check on you. Adam said something cryptic about wanting me to make sure you’re all right. What happened?”
Dylan smiled tightly, not wanting to get into it with his mother. “Just big brother pushing too far.”
“Don’t be hard on him,” his mother said indulgently. “His heart is always in the right place.”
Dylan didn’t say anything, letting his silence speak for him.
“Okay,” his mother said, chuckling. “Sometimes he does take things too far. Now, introduce me to Faith. I’ve heard such good things about your work from Jenna.”
Obediently, he glanced back down at his date. “Faith, this is my mother. Mom, this is Faith Crawford.”
Faith smiled and held out her hand. “Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Hawke.”
“You, too, Faith. But call me Andrea.” She shook her hand. “The floral arrangements are gorgeous. You’ve worked miracles with them.”
The two women looked over at the closest arrangement, and Faith smiled. “Thank you. I made these final versions this morning out at Liam’s facility, so this is the first time I’ve seen them under the ballroom lights.”
The crystals interspersed among the blooms caught the sparkling light and refracted it into little sunbeams across the ceiling. All the guests were commenting on the effect.
“Oh, I meant to say—” Dylan’s mother turned to him “—Jenna was looking for you. She wanted you to meet a journalist before you go up on stage. You go and find her and I’ll keep Faith company.”
Dylan looked from one woman to the other, uncomfortable about leaving them together but not completely sure why. He looked down at Faith and she patted his arm. “Go. I’ll be fine.”
He released her elbow and threaded his way through the crowd, restricting himself to only one last look back over his shoulder.
* * *
Faith watched Dylan walk away with the same wrench in her chest that she always felt when he left.
Women stopped him constantly, sometimes with a hand on his forearm, sometimes by putting themselves in his path. Even from a distance, she could tell he was charming them and then moving on.
“He’s good with people,” his mother said from beside her. “They like him.”
“Yes,” Faith said, turning back to face Andrea with a polite smile. “They do.”
“Interesting thing is, his brothers are easier to read than he is. It might look as if Dylan is more open than them, but he manages to keep more of himself hidden. He wears a mask of openness, which tricks people, if that makes sense.”
Faith thought about conversations they’d had and the hidden depths he’d revealed. “It does make sense.”
“Although he seems different with you,” Andrea said casually, and then took a sip of her wine.
Butterflies leapt to life in Faith’s belly. First Adam and now their mother—what was it with Dylan’s family fishing for information? “You only saw us together for about ten seconds,” she said, matching the other woman’s casual tone.
Andrea waved the objection away with a flick of her wrist. “A mother can read between the lines. Also, I know my son, and his face is different when he speaks about you.”
“He speaks about me?” Faith asked before she could think better of it.
Andrea grinned. “He’s mentioned you a few times when giving me an update on this launch and your work with the Ruby Iris.”
Faith could see the expectation in the other woman’s eyes, the excitement that her son had found someone to settle down with. But it wouldn’t be her, and that hurt more than she could let on.
She took a breath and chose her words carefully to ensure there was no misunderstanding. “I feel I need to tell you that nothing is going to happen between Dylan and me.”
“Huh, that’s funny. I seem to remember hearing the same story from Liam and Jenna a while ago.” Her expression said Andrea wasn’t deterred in the slightest. “Is this because you work for him?”
“Yes, partly. But it’s more than that.” Would a woman with a loving, close family even understand Faith’s issues with love if she told her? Regardless, this was Dylan’s mother, and it was up to him to share the parts of his life with her that he wanted.
“I’ll leave it alone, then.” Andrea looked up at the stage, where the tech guys were switching on microphones and getting ready. “I think the speeches are about to start.”
Faith turned so that she could see the stage, her eyes easily finding Dylan in the group. He glanced up and caught her watching him, a slow smile spreading across his face. Then Jenna tapped him on the shoulder and he turned away.
“Nope,” Andrea whispered. “Nothing going on between you two at all.”
Faith bit down on her lip to stop the smile and watched the stage. Jenna began by welcoming everyone and gave the crowd a short history of the new flower. When she was done, Liam took the microphone and spoke of his vision in creating the Ruby Iris. Then he handed the microphone to Dylan.
Faith drank him in as he stood tall and confident at the center of the stage, but with that mask of openness, which made it seem he was sharing something with the people gathered. He was a natural, and even before he spoke, the audience was responding to him.
“Hi, everyone,” he said, giving them his charmer smile. “I’m Dylan Hawke and I’d like to say a few words on behalf of the Hawke’s Blooms stores. We’re looking forward to working with this new flower—we think our customers will be excited to have it in their bouquets, and I know our florists are keen to create arrangements that people will love.”
He walked a few steps along the stage, ensuring he was including the entire audience in his gaze. “I’d like to thank everyone who’s played a part in bringing the Ruby Iris to this point, but I’d especially like to thank one of our florists, Faith Crawford, for working behind the scenes and creating these stunning arrangements we have in the room tonight. Faith, can you come up here for a moment?”
He shielded his eyes from the spotlight with the hand that still held the microphone, then raised his other hand in her direction as a round of applause flowed through the room.
Faith’s pulse jumped. She hadn’t expected this, but she was touched that he’d think to mention her. His mother gave her a little prod, and Faith began making her way through the crowd until she reached the two steps that led up to the small stage. Dylan reached out to steady her and moved to the side to join in the clapping.
Faith looked out over the crowd and, although the majority of people were strangers, they were smiling at her with approval. They liked her work. She’d achieved another step in her career plan—she’d reached a large group of people with her designs. She’d made them smile. She caught Dylan’s gaze and mouthed, “Thank you.” He nodded, his eyes sparkling.
Giving Faith’s arm a little squeeze on the way past, Jenna took the microphone from Dylan and wound up the proceedings. As the music started again and the people on the stage descended to the ballroom floor, Faith was still on cloud nine. So when Dylan said, “Dance with me,” she didn’t hesitate.
He took her hand and led her out onto the small dance floor, where a few couples were moving to the music, and then pulled her into his arms. The clean scent of him surrounded her, and she wanted nothing more than to lean into him, to lose herself in his heat. Would she ever be able to be near him and react as if he was any other man? Or would he always have this power over her?
She needed to get her mind onto a normal topic of conversation. She cast around for an idea, then remembered that Jenna had wanted him to talk to someone earlier. “How did it go with the journalist?”
“He was from the same morning show as the woman outside. I’ve made an appointment to see them both tomorrow, so cross your fingers for me.”
“I will.” Though she was sure he wouldn’t need it. Everything Dylan touched turned to gold. Except her—when he touched her, she turned to flames.
His hand on her back traced a path up, then down, leaving a trail of tingles in its wake. Faith hesitated. “Should we be doing this?”
“It’s a date—our last one—and people dance on dates.” He pulled her a couple of inches closer. “Besides, there are hundreds of people here. We’re in no danger.”
“It feels dangerous.” Which was possibly the understatement of the night.
“I’ll admit that it’s lucky I have that limo waiting outside to take you home.” His Adam’s apple slowly bobbed up and down. “I don’t think I could kiss you on your cheek at the door and leave tonight.”
She couldn’t imagine letting him walk away from her door tonight, either. In fact, she was starting to think she would have just as much trouble leaving him here and getting into the limo.
“Speaking of the limo,” she paused, moistening her lips, “I’m thinking it’s probably time I went home.”
“Now?” he said, coming to a standstill in the middle of the dance floor. “We haven’t been here that long.”
In some ways, any amount of time on this date was always going to be too long, especially now when they were touching again.
She drew in a breath, pretending this wasn’t going to wrench her in two. “I was here for the speeches, I saw my arrangements in the ballroom full of people and I’ve danced with the most eligible bachelor in the room. What more could the night possibly bring?”
He grinned and his eyes sparkled with promise. “More dancing with that eligible bachelor.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about.”
He chuckled. “Fair call.”
The music segued from one song to another, which seemed like a natural place to end things. She stepped back, away from the circle of his arms. “Thank you for tonight. You’ve made it magical.”
“You brought the magic,” he said, his voice low.
It was too much. Being this close to him, knowing she couldn’t have him, was too much. She couldn’t breathe. She turned and wove her way through the crowd until she reached the door and could fill her lungs again. Dylan followed and spoke to the doorman. Within moments, the limo had pulled up in front of the door, and with a last chaste but lingering kiss on his cheek, she slipped into the backseat and left the launch—left him—behind.