Chapter 31      

Moira snuggled under the covers when her alarm went off. “Not yet,” she cried out. But her day-of checklist for the fundraiser was already rolling through her mind. 

A warm hand touched her side, one she had come to know by heart, stopping the details.

“Good morning,” Chase said in a deep voice.

She opened her eyes, eager to get her first look at him. Like always. Waking up with Chase had become one of her favorite things. So had making love. Last night, she’d discovered a couple of new ones. She’d loved seeing him mingle with the other people she held dear, and while she didn’t know what to make of it, she’d loved watching him hold baby Jared. Darn it if she wasn’t glad Jill had invited everyone, after all. She planned to tell her cousin as much after the fundraiser was over.

“How long have you been awake?” He looked a heck of a lot more alert than she felt.

“A while,” he said, smiling when she rolled over to face him. “You know I only sleep four or five hours.”

And yet he’d been sleeping seven or eight hours since she’d started sleeping with him. 

“I’ve been looking around your bedroom,” he said. “I didn’t notice it last night with the party and our after-party…”

She shivered as memories washed over her. He’d been more mobile with his new sling and boot. That, coupled with his typical creativity and determination, had quickly reduced her to a puddle.

“You like homey,” he said, pointing across the room. “I like the sayings you have sprinkled around your place. They suit you. Funny and sweet and a little…crazy. Especially the one over there that says, ‘I Kick Ass, And Then I Kiss It.’ I might have experienced that first-hand last night.”

She laughed. “Matt got that placard for me after I gave him the what-for for talking about joining a law firm he hated because it was ‘distinguished.’ I told him to choose a firm that made him happy. I’m happy to say he followed my advice.”

“I like your brother,” Chase said. “I expect he makes a good mayor. Easygoing on the surface, but highly watchful. He doesn’t miss much, does he?”

Chase had summed him up neatly. “That’s why we call him Matty Ice. I’m glad you…” Oh crap, she was getting a little emotional.

He rolled carefully onto his good side. “What?”

She found it difficult to meet his eyes. “It was nice to have you meet everyone.”

“I can see why Evan is so big on your family,” Chase said. “It’s a wonderful group of people. You’re lucky, Moira. Thank you for including me last night.”

She wanted to keep on including him, but she reminded herself to take things slow. Seeing him hold her cousin’s baby had given her a few flashes of a possible future down the road, one where he’d been holding their baby at a family party. That vision had shaken her to the core, even though it only confirmed what she already knew.

She loved him and wanted to be with him forever, if he’d have her. She just didn’t see how that was going to work with his career in D.C. and hers in Dare Valley. She wasn’t going to quit a job she loved and follow him there. He wouldn’t want that either. And her family was here.

What the hell were they going to do? 

“It’s a busy day for me,” she told him, refusing to get riled up by the future. “You going to be all right on your own?”

“I promise not to get arrested,” he joked. “Tonight is going to be perfect. I can’t wait to see you there after my meetings wrap up.”

“I am going to do great,” she affirmed. “After all, I kick ass, and then I kiss it.”

“Maybe you have a little time to demonstrate that for me again before you have to leave,” he said, his gray eyes staring directly into hers.

Desire filled her belly. She leaned in to kiss him. Their tongues danced, and she found herself growing urgent. Really urgent.

“I want you,” she told him, gently pushing him to his back. “Right now.”

He caressed the bare leg she threw over him. “Do your best.”

He’d said that before, and she liked that he’d made the saying positive instead of the negative, “Do your worst.”

She slid a condom over his hardness and then eased him inside her and arched her back. “God. It always feels so good.”

Rolling his hips under her, he groaned. “Yes. Move, Moira.”

She took them on a wild ride. By the time they were finished, panting and grinning at each other, she gave in to the sudden urge to tickle his belly.

He jerked at her touch. “Stop that!”

“Do you know how much I love you?” she asked, feeling joy explode through her. “So much I want to tickle you and hug you until we’re both laughing like crazy people.”

Taking hold on the hand on his stomach, he eyed her suspiciously. “Who’s feeling playful this morning?”

“I am,” she said, realizing how precious the feeling was. “And on what I thought was going to be one of the most stressful days ever.”

He tugged on her hand to settle her onto his chest. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are? How special? Moira…”

This time she felt his vulnerability. “What?”

“You’ve been the best thing to happen to me in a long time. I’ll always be grateful for that.”

He’d started out great, but she wasn’t sure how to read the rest of his comment. It was like he was already leaving her. A sharp stab of fear drove her to her feet.

“I need to shower and dress. I can drop you off before heading in. Lots to finalize.”

“Get going,” he said, pulling her down for one final kiss. “I don’t want to be the one to blame if the details don’t come together brilliantly.”

“That’s my responsibility,” she said, heading to the bathroom to get ready.

Throughout the day, she continued to supervise the last-minute preparations for the fundraiser. Gary was a huge help, doing everything from moving tables that needed to be adjusted a few feet to the right of the stage to tracking down a 9V battery for one of the musician’s electric violins.

Abbie had done a bang-up job with the flowers. The wine-colored tables were topped with towers of white orchids in three-foot-high glass vases lined with sea shells. Natalie was running a tight ship with the catering staff, and she and Moira exchanged a high-five every time they crossed paths. Even Mac came in to check on the progress.

“I know you could have used the university’s ballroom since Artemis is going to share its campus,” he said, “but we’re happy you chose The Grand.”

“I knew our elite guests would enjoy the ambience of your beautiful hotel,” she told him. “Besides, most of them are staying here, so it’s easier for them. Plus, your food is better than the university’s.”

He laughed. “I would hope so. Between Chef T and your sister, I know you’re in good hands. Have a wonderful fundraiser, Moira.”

“Thank you, Mac,” she said.

As promised, Evan arrived at around three o’clock, four hours before the official start time, to check things out. He’d been in meetings all day.

“Hey! This looks like one hell of a party.” He unbuttoned his suit jacket. “Do you think I could snag a late invite, or would I need to crash it?”

She laughed, watching as Gary ran over to his hero’s side. He’d been working hard with her all day, as eager to make this fundraiser a success as she was.

“We’ve hired Peggy to bust any crashers,” she said, biting her lip to keep a straight face.

“We did?” Gary asked. “I didn’t know that. Man, that’s super cool!”

Evan slapped him on the back. “She’s joking.” Then his whole face turned tense. “Of course, if Chase had his way, we would have hired her.”

“Holy shit,” she heard Gary say.

“Maurie!” Evan quickly called out. “The party hasn’t started yet.”

Moira bristled at the sound of the man’s name. Turning to look over her shoulder, she watched as a distinguished silver-haired man in a perfectly cut suit strolled toward them. Of course, she’d looked up pictures of him online, wanting to be alert to his presence because of how much he upset Chase. He was nearing fifty, she’d read, and recently freed of his third marriage to a woman half his age. Strikingly handsome, his teeth flashed white as he smiled at their small group.

“I thought I’d swing by and say hello before things got too busy,” Maurie said. “Evan, it’s good to see you. I was so sorry to hear about Chase’s accident. Is he able to make it tonight?”

It sounded like he meant every word.

“Of course, he’s coming,” Evan said. “You know Chase. Nothing is going to stop him.”

“Of course not,” Maurie said, shaking his hand. “One of the strongest, most determined men I know. I admire the hell out of him. And you too. Evan, Artemis is going do a lot of wonderful work in the world. Before you tell me more about how it came to you, please introduce me to your friends.”

Maurie turned to look at Moira, and that was when she felt the hairs rise on the back of her neck. This man looked at a person, and he oozed charisma. She’d realized he would have to have “something” to be as successful as he was. But this? She hadn’t expected it.

“Maurie Wallins of K-Barker. Please meet Moira Hale, the amazing and talented director of Artemis,” Evan said. “We’re lucky to have her.”

“Not a relation of the famed Arthur Hale?” Maurie asked. “But you must be. The coincidence would be too great in such a small town.”

“He’s my great-uncle,” she said.

He extended his hand to hers. When she met it, he held it. “Arthur has interviewed me a few times in my career. He’s one of the canniest journalists I’ve ever met. I read his Op-Ed every Sunday. Great stuff. Evan was smart to bring you in. I’ll bet you’re as marvelous as your great-uncle.”

Moira didn’t know all the details of Chase’s dislike for the man. Granted, they were competitors, but this man didn’t seem like the devil incarnate or even a slick used car salesman.

“Thank you,” she said, disengaging from the handshake. “He’s a great role model. Maurie, this is Gary Frehlich. He’s one of the brightest engineering students here at Emmits Merriam. We’re also lucky to have him working with us part-time at Artemis while he’s finishing his doctorate.”

Gary thrust out his hand. “Mr. Wallins! It’s an honor to meet you, sir. Wow. I’m in the same room as Evan Michaels and Maurie Wallins. If I died right now—”

“Please don’t, Gary,” she told him, putting her hand on his arm to calm him a touch. “We need your help.”

Maurie shook Gary’s hand and pumped. “I like your enthusiasm, young man. Are you going to be one of the inventors at Artemis?”

“Maybe, sir,” Gary said. “I’m graduating in the spring and still trying to decide whether I want to apply for Artemis or jump right into the workforce. I’d love to work for R&D at a company like Evan’s. Or yours, of course. Quid-Atch and K-Barker have been my dream companies since I was a sophomore.”

“You should give me your resume before I leave,” Maurie said. “Oops. Sorry, Evan. Was that out of line? I must have been swept away by this young man’s enthusiasm. Of course, you’d love to have him work with you.”

“I only want Gary to be happy,” Evan said with a brief gesture of his hand. “If that’s with Quid-Atch, Artemis, or even K-Barker, that’s up to him. I’m happy he’s decided to be with us for now.”

Moira took note of Evan’s response. Again, she remembered Chase and Evan’s disagreement about inviting Quid-Atch’s competitors. Evan seemed to view them as less of a threat than Chase did.

Maurie clapped Evan on the back. “That relieves my mind. Gary, you decide what will make you happy like Evan says. If you want to give me your resume tonight, please feel free. And Moira, it was a pleasure to meet you. I hope we can speak more tonight at the party. Is your great-uncle joining us, by chance? I’d love to catch up with him.”

She smiled, remembering her uncle’s complaints about having to iron a suit for tonight’s shindig. “Yes, he is. Big news for the paper.”

“Indeed,” Maurie said. “I’ll let you all get back. So happy I ran into you early.”

As he strode off, Gary did a dance in a circle. “Holy shit. Holy shit. That was Maurie Wallins. I mean like, wowza.” He put a hand over his heart and swayed in place. “You guys are the biggest shit in the whole fucking world.”

“Gary,” Moira said, biting her lip to keep from laughing. “Let’s try to leave out those words tonight around our guests.”

“You mean I can come to the party?” he asked.

She hadn’t really thought about it, so she glanced at Evan for approval. He was still looking at the ballroom doors Maurie had passed through, lost in thought.

“Evan?”

“Sure,” he said, rebuttoning his jacket. “I need to get going. It looks like the preparations are coming along. Moira, do you need anything?”

“No,” she said, “I’m good. Last rounds are at five thirty, and then I’m off to get dressed.”

“I’m going to get Chase,” Evan told her. “We have some meetings with a few people before the party starts. Text me if something comes up.”

Like she would interrupt their meetings for anything less than a disaster.

“See you later,” Moira said. “Seven o’clock sharp, remember?”

“Would I be late for my own party?” he asked. “It’s Margie I feel bad for. This sucker is going to stretch way past her normal bedtime.”

“I doubt Margie’s worried about that,” she said.

Evan clapped his hand on Gary’s shoulder. “I meant what I said. I can’t promise you anything, but you know how much I value you. You know you can use me as a reference for a job. And Moira here too. Except for the invention program at Artemis, of course.”

“Moira explained conflicts of interest to me,” Gary said. “Thanks, Evan. I feel like I’m Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, walking on the Yellow Brick Road.”

“Don’t wear the ruby slippers,” Evan told him. “See you both later.”

After Evan left, Gary grabbed Moira by both shoulders. “Do you think I have time to run back to my dorm and print off my resume for Mr. Wallins? Shit, I need to change too. Oh my God, is my one suit going to be okay? I wore it for my grandpa’s funeral. It’s—”

“Gary, it will be fine,” she said, checking her watch. “Everything looks like it’s on track.”

“It’s pretty great of Evan to be so cool about me giving Mr. Wallins my resume, don’t you think? He was my hero before, but now… He’s like Jesus or something.”

“I doubt he’d enjoy being likened to the son of God, but I get your point. Go on, Gary. And make sure you print that resume on high-quality resume paper. Not the regular kind you turn in to professors.”

“Resume paper?” he asked. “What the hell is that? Oh my God, I’m going to screw this up, aren’t I?”

Because she loved Gary, she put her hand on his back to calm him. “I have some resume paper at my house from when I was applying for jobs. Let’s wrap things up here, and then we’ll get it.”

“Moira, you’re the best!” He kissed her quickly on the cheek. “You’re my new hero. I mean…my future has never looked so awesome.”

Hearing that made her all the more convinced she was exactly where she was meant to be, working in Dare Valley as Artemis’ director, helping young people like Gary. Some aspects of the future might still be a question mark, but at least she knew that.