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“ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?” I asked Alex as we moved toward Cross.
“Absolutely.”
“Do you think he’ll bite?”
“In fact, I do.”
I shot him a sidelong glance as we maneuvered through the crowd. Epifania was just behind us. “You sound awfully confident.”
“I’m just trying to stay positive.”
“Oh,” I said. “I get that.”
“Do you want to start the conversation, or do you want me to?”
“Whichever you’d like.”
“How about if you go in first? I’ll interject as needed.”
“Done.” I turned around to glance at Epifania. “You OK?”
“I’m about to hurl,” she said.
“Stay strong. You’ve got this.”
“I hope you do, too, the cookie.”
And then we were upon Rudman Cross, who caught my gaze as we wended through the crowd. He was still talking with the same people he’d been speaking with since I’d first seen him, but then I watched him beg off.
“It’s been great seeing all of you,” I heard him say. “But now, if you don’t mind, I have a bit of business to discuss with Alex and Jennifer Wenn, who are just behind you. Good catching up,” he said as they nodded hello to us and stepped away. When they were gone, Cross looked past Alex and me and fixed his gaze upon Epifania.
“Look at you,” he said.
“No, look at you, Papi. Always so the handsome.”
“You know how much I like it when you call me that.”
“Then maybe I say it for a reason...”
“Maybe you do. And by the way, that’s some dress,” he said as his eyes roved over her. “It’s like you’ve been dipped in gold.”
“Tonight, you can call me the ‘Goldfinger.’”
“To me, you look more like an Academy Award.”
“Want to win one?” she asked. “You might even be able to take it home with you tonight.”
My jaw almost dropped when she said that. Epifania clearly knew no bounds—which was just one of the reasons why I loved her. There was simply no bullshit when it came to her. She was who she was—take it or leave it.
“God, you’re quick,” Cross said. “You may have meant that as a joke, but you can expect me to take you up on it.”
Epifania tossed her hair to the side and leveled him with a glance. “Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. Let’s see how tonight goes...”
His gaze turned to us. “Jennifer, Alex—good to see you.”
“Hello, Rudman,” I said as I leaned forward and gave him a kiss on each cheek.
“Rudman,” Alex said as he shook the man’s hand. “It’s also good to see you.”
Cross furrowed his brow as he looked at our empty hands. “Why don’t any of you have a drink?” he said. “This is a party. Let me get us a round.”
For the conversation that was to come, I needed to keep my wits about me, so I declined—but Rudman wasn’t having it. “I insist,” he said. “For you, it’s a martini, right? No olives, but with a twist?”
I knew better than to decline when so much was on the line. I also knew that I could just sip the drink slowly, so that it wouldn’t affect my judgment.
“You know? On second thought, a martini sounds perfect,” I said.
“I’m glad that it does. Alex and Epifania, martinis for you as well? But with three olives, right? Have I remembered that correctly?”
“You have,” Epifania said. “But then you never forget, Papi.”
When she said that, he held out his arm to her. “Come here,” he said.
As much as Epifania wanted him, she refused to reveal her heart fully to him—and so she hesitated a beat too long before she shrugged and walked over to him. When she slinked between Alex and me, and sank between Rudman’s open arm and his broad chest, I had to admit that this man was seriously sexy in ways that were beyond alpha.
The masculine set of his jaw, the deep dimple in his chin, the way his hair was just starting to gray at his temples, and his muscular form—which strained against his tuxedo—belied his years. Rudman Cross was in his mid-fifties, but to me, he looked as if he was in his early forties. There was a lion-like electricity about him that was palpable, which likely was why Epifania was becoming increasingly undone by him.
And yet, despite how nervous she’s been tonight, just look at how she’s handling him now. My girl is a pro...
The first time we came upon Cross at the Witherhouses, he and Epifania had been playful with each other—but now there was an undercurrent of a relationship that was unfinished. In a matter of a week, it was clear that each had privately assessed the prior relationship they’d had with each other, and what it might lead to now that Cross had put his divorce behind him.
I’m pulling for you, girl, I thought. He seems like a nice man—and he just might be the catch you’ve been looking for.
After Cross ordered our drinks, he held Epifania a little closer to him and looked around the crowded space. “Quite a party,” he said.
“Kate knows how to turn it out,” I said. “It’s as amazing as she is.” I paused for a moment and looked at him. “Rudman, I never had the chance to ask you how you got out of the Witherhouses’ that night. I believe the next morning, you were off to Europe. Where were you when the terrorists opened fire? How did you get out alive?”
“First of all, I was well behind you,” he said. “You and Alex left earlier than I did, and because of that, while you were in their direct line of fire, I was still inside, catching up with a few friends of mine when everything went down outside. Inside, all of us heard the gunfire when it first went off, and when we recognized it for what it was—especially when so many people started screaming—we took to our phones and dialed 911. And then I and several others hurried toward the exit to help those in need. By that point, the terrorists were gone. In their place, it was just bloodshed, mayhem, and death. So many people dead. So many survivors were wounded and looked to me as if they wouldn’t make it. I helped as many people as I could, but it was overwhelming. It was like a holocaust. I know that you lost two board members that night, and I’m deeply sorry for that.”
“Thank you,” I said, not wanting to relive the fact that I’d witnessed their deaths.
And yet I’m the one who asked to relive all of this, aren’t I?
I was, but only because I was curious about what had happened to Cross, and to those who were still inside the party when the shooting began.
“Here you are, Mr. Cross,” one of the bartenders said as he slid our drinks toward him on a silver tray.
“And just in time,” Rudman said. “I’d say we all need a drink now.”
“I’m sorry to have gone there,” I said.
He shook his head at me. “Jennifer, at some point, we all need to discuss that night, because it’s part of the healing, isn’t it?”
“I suppose it is.”
“Then don’t even think about it. All of us lived through an unthinkable, shared experience. It is only natural to touch upon it tonight.”
He handed me my martini.
“But that’s enough of that,” he said as he dished out the rest of our drinks. “Let’s end that conversation with a toast. To all of those who died that night. And also to all of those who fought to live on. I might have been in Europe the next day, but I followed the news closely. I know for a fact that Alex and you could have died. And I’m so grateful that you didn’t, I can’t tell you. Because if you had, we wouldn’t be celebrating now.”
I saw him shoot a glance toward Alex, and then Cross lifted his drink again. “Here’s to the SlimPhone joining forces with Cross Communications,” he said.
I could only blink at him.
“Excuse me?” I said.
“It’s a done deal,” Cross said. “Well, with board approval it is, which will take time since Alex needs to rebuild his board. But that’s just a matter of a month or so. What you don’t know, Jennifer, is that your husband and I nailed down the details the other day, and I am thrilled to go forward with the partnership. When it comes to the SlimPhone, Wenn and Cross are unofficially a team until we can make it official.”
I couldn’t believe it. Stunned, I looked at Alex, who had a mischievous smile on his lips. I was about to say something to him when he kissed me on the lips and simply said, “Surprise, my love.”
“Surprise?” I said, using my thumb to wipe my lipstick off his mouth. “What surprise? I’m lost.”
“As Rudman said, it’s a done deal,” Alex said. “While you were out with Blackwell and Lisa the other day, Rudman called me before he returned to New York. He wanted to hammer out a deal over the phone, and so we did. We agreed upon terms—and we also agreed to surprise you with our plans to go forward tonight. When Wenn has a full board back in place, Rudman and I plan to present our plans to our respective boards as soon as possible. But as far as we’re concerned, this is finished. It’s sealed.”
“I can’t believe you managed to keep this secret from me,” I said.
“Each of us wanted to give you a happy surprise tonight.”
As shocked and as thrilled as I was, I tried to compose myself. “Rudman, I don’t know what to say,” I said. “Other than thank you. We’ll make this work. I promise that we will.”
“I already know that we will, Jennifer.”
“I’m sorry if I’m speechless, but never once did I see this coming.”
“Which is exactly what your husband and I wanted,” Cross said. “As for me, I hope it’s a happy kind of speechless.”
“Of course it is,” I said, and then I threw caution to the wind and kissed Alex hard on the lips before I leaned forward and air-kissed Cross on each cheek. “I’m beyond thrilled! Thank you,” I said.
“No need to thank me—this is a win-win for each of us as far as I’m concerned.”
“But still,” I said.
“How about if we just toast the moment again?” Cross said. “And leave it at that. For me, the deal is done, as it is for Alex. The rest of it will take care of itself in time. No hurry. Tonight, Alex and I just wanted to surprise you, which I’m pretty sure that we did.” He nodded at Alex. “We got her,” he said.
“No question. I know my wife, and we blindsided her. And cheers to that,” Alex said as he touched his glass to Rudman’s.
“So? Success,” Rudman said. “It’s good to see you happy, Jennifer, especially after what happened just a week ago. We need more happiness right now.”
I didn’t know what to say, but I nevertheless lifted my glass as the five of us toasted the deal.
“This make me happy,” Epifania said. “It’s like a rainbow landing in the middle of us after a dark week.”
“That’s a beautiful way to put it,” Cross said to her.
“Well, it true,” she said. “Something good has happened. My friends are happy. You are happy. That means the world to me, Papi.”
Cross looked at Epifania for a long moment before he said, “You know, I’ve been in business so long, hearing something like that is generally something that would make me cynical, and yet I know you mean it, Epifania. You really do wish the best for those close to you, don’t you?”
“Of course I do. Look, Papi, I may be worth the half a billion, but Epifania knows where she come from, OK? She forget none of it. She may have the bling, but the poor girl who fled Cuba to come to America is the woman standing next to you now. There so little good and happiness in this world, whenever I see it, I take hold of it and champion it. Because in this city? Epifania hasn’t found much good or happiness. Sure, she found some—especially in her friends—but true goodness is rare, don’t you think? And don’t you also think that sad? I do. So? Tonight is good. Tonight is gold.”
“Just like you,” Cross said.
“Now, you just talking about my dress...”
“No,” he said as he kissed her lightly on the lips, which almost made me want to leap out of my skin because I could tell that she’d moved him. “I’m talking about you, Epifania. Just you.”
“Where we go wrong?” she said to him.
“My divorce. I was a different man then—an uglier one.”
“Who are you now?”
“Do you want to take a chance and find out?”
When she didn’t speak, I knew that she was feeling that her heart was on the line at that moment. I wanted to reach out and hold her hand, but I couldn’t. This was between them.
“I hear you,” he said. “So? Let’s dance, Epifania. Let me show you who I am now. And then we’ll see what comes of us in the days and weeks and months going forward.”
* * *
AND WE DID DANCE—THE six of us.
With the music still slow, Tank and Lisa remained on the floor holding each other tightly as Cross, Epifania, Alex, and I moved near them. I caught Lisa’s gaze as Alex and I moved beside them, and felt the love of my best friend pass between us. Then,I turned to look at Alex as he leaned down to my ear.
“Are you happy?” he asked me. “I didn’t mean to leave you out of the deal—he just happened to call when you were out, and he wanted it nailed down right then. Are you angry with me?”
Angry with you? Are you serious? “Alex, how could I ever be angry with you?” I said. “You did exactly what you had to do when he called out of the blue. I’m so proud of you. And I’m thrilled that Rudman and you wanted to surprise me with the news. I’m still kind of stunned—but in the best way. I love you so much. Thank you for the surprise. Thank you for these past three years. I’m still over the moon when it comes to you, you know?”
“Are you?” he asked.
“I hope that you can feel that I am.”
“I can feel it,” he said. “Sometimes I just can’t believe it.”
“Why?”
It was a moment before he spoke. And when he did, I could tell that he was very close to an edge that even he didn’t want to touch—but somehow had to.
“Because I’ve been married once before,” he said. “Diana died in a car accident, but well before she did, we already were on the way out. You know that. And it’s that which I don’t ever want us to become. I want us to grow old together, Jennifer. I want to always be your first love—the man you first made love with and whom you’ll always love. But I’m not naive—I know marriage won’t always be easy, even if it does feel weirdly easy with you now. It never was this easy between Diana and me, which has long suggested to me that you are my true soulmate. I hope that you feel that I’m yours—that you know that I’m yours—because I can’t get enough of you, Jennifer. You are the love of my life. You’re everything I’ve ever wished for, everything I thought I’d never be able to find—but somehow did.”
“Don’t make me cry,” I said to him.
He held me closer to him. “I don’t mean to.”
“But I’m going to,” I said as I blinked away tears. I took a breath and then stroked the back of his hair, looked him in the eyes, and said, “I don’t think you’ll ever know what you mean to me.”
“I feel the same. I try to show it, but I always feel that I come up short.”
“When have you ever come up short?” I said in his ear. “I mean, look at us right now. The room’s attention and envy is on us for good reason. It’s because, like Tank and Lisa—and hopefully one day like Epifania and Rudman—we have somehow found in each other what most people never find. A true soulmate. A love to end all loves. Now, kiss me,” I said. “Kiss me like it’s the last kiss we’ll ever share.”
“Here?”
“Who gives a damn, Alex?”
And so he kissed me with everything he had within him, regardless of those who looked on with disapproval, regardless of any judgments that were being hurled our way. I kissed him back just as I’d asked him to kiss me—as if it were our last kiss. And when I did that, I felt my heart and my soul become one with his as he ran his hand down my back and then parted so he could wipe a tear from my cheek.
I looked up at him, struck by unexpected emotion. “Did you feel that?” I asked. “Because I’ve always felt that with you.”
Too struck by emotion, which was stamped on his face with a weight I could feel in my gut, he only could nod at me as he swept me into his arms and then twirled me around the dance floor, making my dress and hair fan out. And as the song ended, he took me into his arms again and held me.
