Page 21 of The Present

11

As elegant as Hal’s apartment was, by that evening it had been transformed into a chic, sophisticated party venue that astonished Tess to no end. They’d arrived in the early afternoon to find Ms. Morales directing people from Addison & Buckelew and the caterers where to put flower arrangements, bar equipment, and warming pans. Hal had introduced Tess, then led her into the guest bedroom.

“I thought you might like to use this room as a dressing room.” He dropped her bag and pulled her close. “That doesn’t mean this is where you have to sleep.”

She slid her arms around his neck. “That’s good because I have no intention of sleeping tonight. Not if I’m with you.” Never had she been so grateful to anyone for understanding her choices and accepting them. As Hal had said, the earrings were hers, and she could do what she wanted with them. But they both also knew they meant more than that. They had sparked the basis of their current relationship and Hal could have seen her actions as her rejection of him or at least an indication that he wasn’t special to her. That he’d not done that had convinced her even more that he was a man with a different perspective on life. A man she wanted to keep in her life if she could.

The party goers began to arrive shortly after eight o’clock and Tess put on her game face, smiling brilliantly as Hal began introducing her to his friends and colleagues.

“Brittany, Regina, this is Tess, my new girlfriend.” Hal cut his gaze over to Tess, then smiled and sipped champagne as though what he’d said was nothing new.

However, his words were like a bombshell to Tess. To hear herself introduced that way—making it official—brought joy and happiness bubbling up within her so unexpectedly she thought she might explode right there. “So nice to meet you.”

“Brittany and Regina work with me in the marketing department at Halsey.”

“Don’t you mean ‘worked’ past tense, Hal?” Regina, a tall, striking black woman looking to be in her twenties, smirked at him.

“Shhh.” Hal grinned and put his finger to his lips. “Mum’s the word until midnight, Reggie.”

Regina rolled her eyes then turned to Brittany. “I told you so.”

“You did, Reggie.” Brittany, also tall, but blond and maybe early thirties, put her arm around the other woman. “You called it. We’re going to miss you, Hal.”

Tess glanced from the two women to Hal, puzzled and a little worried. Had he lost his job?

But he seemed totally unconcerned, laughed and grabbed her hand. “Come on. There are others you need to meet.”

As they circulated around the apartment, from one knot of people to another, Tess determined hosting a party had certain disadvantages. If she and Hal were just guests, they could slip off to one of the rooms or the private balcony for some alone time. The longer she stood beside him, smiling, laughing, talking with him and his friends, the more she wanted to grab him, rip his tux off, and start working their way through all those positions he’d hinted at last weekend. Unfortunately, that wasn’t going to happen for many hours yet. She’d have to make do with just being close to him and reveling in her new status of official girlfriend.

By ten o’clock the party seemed to be in full swing and when “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” came on, Hal grabbed her and pulled her into the middle of the living room floor and started to dance. Surprised, but thrilled to be so close to him, Tess got into the spirit of the thing as they swayed and hopped around in a fun little polka step. As she might have expected, Hal was an excellent dancer who led her around the room effortlessly. “Where did you learn to dance?”

“Ten years of ballet and tap lessons when I was growing up.” He grinned at her. “Never realized how handy those skills were going to be later in life.” In a sudden move, he grabbed her around the shoulders and dipped her almost to the floor. “Impressive, isn’t it?”

“Very.” Damn, but he was always full of surprises.

Effortlessly, Hal pulled her back up and continued their dance as the guests who had surrounded them cheered. The man knew how to put on a show, that was for sure. They finished the dance, then resumed circulating and mingling amongst the guests.

Eleven-thirty finally arrived and the excited buzz in the room grew louder. People began to refill their champagne flutes and don the Happy New Year party hats spread out on one of the festively decorated tables. Hal stuck a sparkled top hat on his head and handed Tess a glittery tiara, but he seemed distracted. His gaze swept the apartment, as if looking for someone.

“What’s wrong, Hal?”

“Nothing. I just thought she might turn up.”

“Who?”

He turned his attention back to Tess and smiled. “It doesn’t matter. Let’s fill up. Almost time to toast.” Hal grabbed her hand, making for the open bar set up in the kitchen, when the front door opened.

Tess giggled. “Well, this is an eleventh-hour appearance, literally. I wonder who—” She turned toward the door and met Janice’s laughing face.

“We’re here!” Her sister shook snow off her coat as she handed it to the attendant. “The snow kept coming down so fast I didn’t think we were going to make it, did we Kevin?” The blond guy behind her nodded. “But Kevin’s such a superb driver, and his Mercedes handles like a dream, doesn’t it? So here we are.” Janice has been speaking to no one in particular, but at last her gaze came to rest on Hal and Tess.

“Happy New Year, Hal.” Her eyes narrowed. “Get your little problem taken care of, Tess?”

“Happy New Year, Janice. Kevin.” Hal went forward, the dutiful host, leaving Tess to trail over behind him or seem like a sore loser. Even if she hadn’t lost anything.

“Yes, I did, Janice.” Tess attached herself to Hal’s arm, clinging to him as though hanging on for dear life. “To everyone’s satisfaction.”

Her sisters’ jaw clenched, and she glared first at Tess, then at Hal, and Tess braced herself for the onslaught.