“He’s a pretty spectacular fellow, isn’t he?”
The woman’s voice startled Bree from what she often found herself doing these days—stealing loving glances at Wesley Adams when she thought no one was looking. His event manager, Nadia, obviously was.
The woman had done a poor job of hiding her disbelief when Wes had introduced her as a friend. Standing in the corner, staring at Wes like a lovelorn fool, didn’t help.
“He is...very good at what he does, I mean,” Bree clarified as she sipped her champagne. Wes and his team were working the party. So they weren’t drinking. She had no such constraints. “I’ve learned a lot from him since we started working on the project together.”
“I’ll bet.” Nadia was barely able to hold back her grin. “He’s taught me quite a lot about the event-planning and promotions business. Still, I’ve a lot to learn before I’ll be anywhere near as gifted as he is.”
“Well, he’s certainly confident in you,” Bree reassured the woman with a smile. “He’d never have entrusted his business to you if he wasn’t.”
“Thank you.” Nadia beamed. “And if you don’t mind me saying so, I’ve known him long enough to realize that what he feels for you is special.” She looked over at Wes, who stood on the other side of the room staring at Bree. “I’ve never seen him light up the way he does when he looks at you. He’s completely smitten and it scares him half to death.”
A soft smile curved the edge of Bree’s mouth and her cheeks warmed as she returned his affectionate gaze. Bree wanted to believe that what Nadia was saying was true. That Wes reciprocated her growing feelings for him.
The warmth she’d felt moments earlier gave way to a dull ache in her chest and a knot in her belly.
She returned her attention to Nadia. “It’s not what you think.”
“Maybe. Or maybe I’m right and you two are both wrong about what this is.” Nadia squeezed her arm and disappeared into the crowd.
Bree released a long, slow breath, her heart beating quickly. They’d grown closer during their two weeks in London. Each day together had felt more intimate, but now their trip was coming to an end.
They’d fallen into an easy rhythm. Making love in the mornings and chatting over breakfast. Dinner together and nights that ended in the same manner they began. In each other’s arms.
While Wes worked with his small team to hire more staff and finalize plans for a huge corporate party, Bree worked on the tournament and her own projects. She’d had video and phone conferences with Bex and the marketing consultant they’d hired to help them plan and promote their volleyball camps the following year.
Still, Wes had insisted on taking her to see all of the tourist attractions she hadn’t been able to squeeze into her previous working trips to London. Visits to the Tower of London, Kensington Palace and Westminster Abbey. A turn on the London Eye—the giant Ferris wheel on the south bank of the River Thames. A romantic evening stroll across London Bridge and a view of the city from the hauntingly beautiful attached skyscraper—the Shard.
She’d been incredibly happy, and it seemed that Wes was, too. So why did he seem so terrified by the prospect of exploring the feelings they had for each other?
It was a question she’d revisited time and again. Yet, she hadn’t wanted to broach the subject with him. She’d willingly agreed to a secret, no-strings-attached fling with Wes. Insisted that she was cosmopolitan enough to handle such an affair. So she’d grin and bear the pain that knotted her belly whenever she considered what would happen once the tournament had ended and they went their separate ways.
“Enjoying the party?” Wes stood beside her.
“Yes.” Bree finished her glass of champagne and set it on the tray of a server walking by. “But I think I’ll head back to your place. I feel like I’m a distraction to you. Besides, I need to call my mother and yours.”
“You’re a pleasant distraction. My favorite kind.” He smiled warmly. “And as for my mom, I’m grateful you’ve been so patient with her, but if she’s become a nuisance, I’ll talk to her.”
“Don’t you dare. I enjoy spending time with her. I promise.” She double-checked that the spare key Wes gave her was in her clutch, then snapped it shut. “See you back at the flat?”
“At least let me hail a taxi for you.” Wes frowned.
“I’ll be fine.” Bree made her way to the exit, hoping that Nadia was right. And that Wes missed her as much as she was already missing him.
* * *
Despite all of the noise and movement swirling around him, Wes was focused on one thing—Brianna Evans walking away from him. A thought that had occupied a growing space in his brain.
He shouldn’t worry about what would happen at the project’s end. He should just enjoy every moment they had together. Stop worrying about the future and commiserating over his past. Live in the now.
Yet, losing her was all he could think of.
Though he couldn’t rightly claim to be losing her when they’d be parting ways at his insistence.
“She’s even nicer in person.” Nadia had a way of sneaking up on him. “I see why you fancy her so.”
Wes didn’t respond to Nadia’s attempt to gauge his relationship with Bree. It was safer to talk business instead.
“How are the two potential new hires doing?” His gaze swept the room, in search of any small details that might have fallen through the cracks.
“Smashing. It’s too bad we can only afford to bring one of them onboard. Don’t know how we’ll choose.”
“Maybe we won’t have to.” Wes held back a grin when Nadia’s eyes widened. He’d been so preoccupied with business and Bree that he hadn’t told her the news. “I’ve been talking with the Westbrooks over the past few weeks. They’d like to make us the official event-planning professionals for their London headquarters.”
Nadia squeezed his arm and mimicked a silent squeal. “I thought you were determined to do this without them.”
“I love and admire the Westbrooks, but I didn’t want to feel beholden to them. I went against everyone’s advice in starting this business—including Liam and his father. I needed to show them I could make it a success without their family’s power and wealth behind me.” He shrugged. “I’ve done that here.”
“And in the US? I know your best mate begged you to help him out on short notice, but I get the sense there’s more to it than that. Was working with Brianna the carrot that finally won you over?” Nadia grinned.
“Didn’t realize she was involved when I agreed to it,” he reminded her. An involuntary smile tightened his cheeks. “But working with her has turned out to be a highlight.”
“I knew it. You’re completely gaga over her, aren’t you?” Nadia could barely contain her excitement.
“How is it you’re more excited about this than my news about Westbrook International?” He raised a brow. “Especially since I’m promoting you to president of UK operations by the end of the year if everything works out in the US.”
This time Nadia’s squeal wasn’t silent. With the ruckus going on around them, few people noticed. She hugged him.
“I can’t believe it. Thank you for your faith in me. I was sure you’d bring some heavy hitter in to head things up here if the project went well across the pond.”
“You’ve been with me since the beginning. Back when we were working out of that mangy old flat. You were there every day and worked solely on commission. How could you think I’d trust anyone else to head up the business here?”
“You’re making me blush.” Nadia swiped a finger beneath the corner of her eye and sniffled. “Don’t expect this to put a stop to me meddling in your love life.”
“I don’t have a love life.”
“Precisely. But you deserve to be happy with someone like Brianna. I quite like her. So don’t you dare let her get away.” Nadia elbowed him playfully, but then her voice turned somber. “If you care for her the way it seems you do, you’ll never forgive yourself if you let her go.”
Wes massaged the knot that had formed at the back of his neck.
If only it was that easy.