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Chapter 6
“This was a bad idea,” Stephanie mumbled beneath her breath as she shifted from one foot to another.
The party was in full swing. The bar was packed with lines three people deep waiting to place orders. The dance floor was shoulder-to-shoulder bodies moving to the beat of the music that was so loud she could barely hear herself think. Everyone appeared to be having the time of their lives and she felt exactly like she had her whole life. Like she didn’t belong here. She was always on the outside looking in. Totally alone surrounded by people.
A bark of laughter erupted as the bathroom door opened beside her and three girls stumbled out, giggling about which guys they were going to audition tonight. One girl said that she wanted to cast her leading man before the year was up. Apparently Misty wasn’t exaggerating when she said that her study was popular. As the trio passed her, one of their shoulders bumped against her and just the light tap caused her to wobble thanks to her poor choice of footwear.
She’d been in these heels for the last six hours and her body was deciding to revolt. Her back and shoulder muscles screamed in protest as she struggled to get her balance. Her feet were killing her and the dress that she’d felt like a million bucks in earlier now felt like the worst decision she’d made since she decided bangs were a good look her senior year of high school.
Feeling exposed she tugged at the hem of her skirt, trying to get all the coverage she could out of the material as she debated turning around, going back down the stairs she’d just trudged up, getting in her car and driving home. There were sweats and ice cream at home. Both of which were calling her name.
Today had been draining. Physically and emotionally. Before she’d arrived at Brookside, Scott’s agitation had reached a level that triggered his asthma. By the time she got there the nurses were doing their best to administer a breathing treatment but they weren’t having much luck. It wasn’t as simple as sitting him down and hooking him up to a nebulizer. He hated taking the treatments when he was agreeable, so getting his cooperation when he was already in a combative state was near impossible.
After some bargaining and begging Stephanie was finally able to persuade him to take the treatment. When he was done, they’d watched a movie and put a jigsaw puzzle together. She’d stayed until his oxygen levels were in a normal range and he’d fallen asleep while she read Harry Potter. As a nurse, she’d been happy with the outcome of the episode. But as a sister, it had taken a toll on her. Seeing her brother in distress broke her heart. Every time. When she was younger she’d assumed that she’d get used to it. Her hope had been that over time she’d build a protective callous around her heart. It hadn’t happened.
If anything, each incident had the opposite effect. Her emotions felt more extreme, more amplified. She felt more guilt over the fact that she couldn’t save him. It devastated her that she couldn’t fix everything for him. She did all she could, and honestly more than she could. Brookside was the best, but the best wasn’t cheap. In six months her modest savings would be depleted and her credit cards would be maxed out.
Then what?
What was she going to do for him then?
She was going to need to pick up another job. Maybe bartending. She’d made good money bartending when she was in school. Of course, that was at Mason’s parents’ country club and she may have been getting tips because she was his girlfriend, not necessarily on the merits of her skills behind the bar. She wasn’t sure what to do about money now, but she’d figure it out. She always did.
The overwhelming circumstances she was faced with caused tears to prick at her eyes and she knew that was her cue to go. She’d wanted to have a night where she didn’t think about her life and all of the stress and responsibility that came with it. A night where she could put on a pretty dress and shoes and lose herself, like all the people here seemed to be doing. But that was a pipe dream. A fantasy. A delusion. It wasn’t her reality.
Ice cream and sweats were real and they were in her very near future.
Sniffing, she wiped her finger beneath her eyes and headed towards the door, hoping to slip out before running into anyone she knew and having to explain her showing up just to leave. She hadn’t even made it two steps before that plan went up in flames when she felt a hand on her shoulder thwarting her great escape. Heat radiated from the touch and a shiver raced down Stephanie’s spine.
Her body recognized who was behind her even before she turned her head and almost drowned in the azure pools of Ace’s baby blues. They drew her in like a magnet. Her body swiveled like a puppet being controlled by a puppet master. As she pivoted his hand fell off of her shoulder and she immediately missed his touch.
Thankfully, she was distracted from the loss. Ace was wearing black slacks that looked like they were tailor made for his lean, muscular build and a button up shirt that was just a couple shades darker than his crystal blue eyes. He looked like a walking, talking, breathing Armani ad.
“Did you forget something in your car?” He spoke loudly over the music.
His question triggered a dozen of her own. Was she supposed to have something with her? Had she agreed to bring something to this event? A casserole? Wine? No. That was silly. This was a restaurant and a bar. They probably had the food and alcohol covered. Was there an invitation or a ticket that she was supposed to have?
Since she had no idea what he was talking about she just answered honestly. “No.”
Leaning down, his hand brushed her forearm as he spoke close to her ear. “Then where are you going? You just got here.”
The sound of his deep voice rumbled through her and caused her knees to wobble once again. This time, Ace’s warm, thick fingers wrapped around her arm to steady her. Since she was a medical professional, obviously she knew that it wasn’t his voice that had caused her legs to turn to noodles. Her jelly limbs were most likely the product of a large dose of adrenaline that the timbre of his voice activated. Voice activated adrenaline. That was a thing, right?
“Are you okay?” Concern filled his words.
“It’s been a long day, I’m just tired.” She spoke and didn’t even recognize her own voice, causing her to blush with embarrassment. On the plus side, her throaty breathlessness proved that if she needed to make more money, phone sex operator was a viable option.
The only thing that was saving her from total and complete humiliation over her sultry response was that she doubted he could hear her over the music. Still, her cheeks heated as she glanced up to see if he’d noticed her inadvertent Marilyn Monroe impression. But the second she did, any worry over whether or not he had, evaporated. Their eyes locked and she forgot about…everything. She lost herself. The only thing registering in her consciousness was how his stare made her feel like she was so light she could float away and the only thing anchoring her was him. His gaze erased all the worry, all the stress, and all the responsibilities that she was drowning in.
“Hey, guys!” A male voice boomed beside them.
Stephanie blinked and just like that their private bubble, the one she’d have happily stayed in forever, burst.
“We have a problem.” Dax Archer, who Stephanie had met a handful of times, was addressing Ace but since he had to speak at a volume to be heard over the music, she was able to hear him. “No one has seen our surprise guest since she arrived over an hour ago. Her manager is freaking out.”
“She’s in the back. By the offices.”
“She is?” Dax asked, his confusion clear.
