"What does Dempsey think about it?" Della asked, examining the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Mississippi in the largest of the offices.
"He hasn't seen it yet." She hated to admit as much, but he'd been so dismissive of her dreams before, so ready to leap in and save her from her own mistakes, that she wasn't ready to share this with him.
Then again, maybe moving ahead with her business simply signaled an end to her time as Dempsey's fiancée and she wasn't sure if she was ready for it to be over.
Della's brows arched. "Too busy to make time for my girl's work?"
"No. Nothing like that." She closed her eyes, hating the lies. And would it really matter if she told her mother the truth? Della Thibodeaux didn't exactly have a history of running to the press with gossip. "He didn't want me to tell anyone, but the engagement is just for show. I did it to help him."
Or because he'd put her in a ridiculously awkward position, take your pick.
But she couldn't regret it after how close they'd grown. The only problem was, now that she'd seen how amazing it was to be with him-even better than she'd ever imagined-she had no idea how she'd ever go back to their old friendship.
"Just for show?" Della folded her arms, leaning into the window frame as she studied her daughter, deep concern in her eyes.
Sunlight spilled in all around her, catching the grays in her dark hair. Her mother was a beautiful woman and so wise, too. Addy couldn't deny being curious to hear her mother's opinion on the fake engagement. Would she tell Adelaide she was the most foolish woman ever?
"He announced it in public and made it difficult for me to argue it without humiliating him."
"Of course you didn't argue, because you've always wanted to make him happy." She strode closer and put her hands on Adelaide's shoulders, her heavy silver bracelets settling against Adelaide's collarbone. "And is it still for show now, after you've been living with him for almost two weeks?"
Her cheeks heated, which was silly because she was a grown-up and could live with whomever she wanted.
"I think I'm in love with him," she admitted, the words torn from her heart, since she knew that level of emotion was not reciprocated.
"Oh, sweetheart." Her mother opened her arms, gathered her close and squeezed tight. "Of course you do. At least one of you has admitted it."
Adelaide's eyes burned. Tears fell as she rested her head on her mother's shoulder. She didn't want her mother's pity for loving a man who didn't-
Wait. She stopped crying, her mother's words sinking in.
"What did you say?" Her thoughts caught up with her ears and she pulled back to look into her mom's hazel eyes, which were lighter than Adelaide's.
"You heard me." Della kissed her cheek and stepped back. "You two were meant to be. You just needed the right time to come along. Why do you think he's thirty-one years old and dating fluff-headed women with more boobs than brains?"
Adelaide choked on a much-needed laugh. "Mom. That's not fair."
Even if, in her meaner moments, Adelaide might have been equally unkind in her thoughts. Mostly about Valentina.
"All I mean, daughter dear, is that he has never dated a woman seriously. I think it's because he's been waiting for the right woman. He's been waiting for you, my girl." She looped her arm around Adelaide's waist as they headed for the exit and shut off the lights.
Adelaide's yellow-diamond engagement ring caught the sun's rays, sending sparkles in every direction.
"That's such a mom thing to say." Still, it warmed her heart even if she knew Dempsey far better than her mother. "Does parenting come with a handbook of mom sayings to cheer up dejected daughters?"
She wanted to trust in her mother's words but she was scared to believe that Dempsey could care about her like that.
"Mothers know." She tipped her temple to Addy's, the scent of lemon verbena drifting up from her hair.
"Well, I'm not sure about the engagement or where that's going, but I'll tell him about this manufacturing space tonight. The Hurricanes play in Atlanta tomorrow and I'm going with him. After the game, we'll have some time together to talk and I'll see what he thinks." Or she hoped they would have time together.
Last Sunday, after their home opener, they'd had a nice dinner. But Dempsey had seemed distracted this week, ever since his dinner with his brothers. She knew he was worried about his grandfather, but it seemed as if he'd been busy every night since, only falling into bed with her at midnight and sleeping for a few hours.
He also made hot, toe-curling love to her until she couldn't see straight. She couldn't complain about that part. But she did wish she had more time with him, since it felt as though the clock was ticking down on their arrangement.
And no matter what her mother said to cheer her, Adelaide had seen no sign from Dempsey that he'd fallen in love.
* * *
"I'm dying to know where you're taking me." Adelaide glanced over at Dempsey sitting beside her in the limo he'd booked after the game. "I've never known you to be so mysterious."
When she'd checked into the hotel where the team was staying the night before, the concierge had given her a card from Dempsey, who had on-site duties at the Atlanta stadium when they'd landed. The card had invited her on a date to an undisclosed location after Sunday's one-o'clock game against Atlanta. A jaw-dropping Versace gown awaited her in their suite, burgundy lace with a plunging neckline that kept everything covered but-wow. The Louboutin sky-high heels that accompanied it were the most exotic footwear she'd ever slid on, the signature red sole dazzling her almost as much as the satin toes with hand-crafted embellishments.
If she looked down her crossed legs now, she could see the pretty toes peeping out from the handkerchief hem of the tulle skirting.
He folded her hand in his, the crisp white collar of his shirt emphasizing his deep tan gained from spending every day on the practice field. "I owed you a date night. You were kind enough to be my date for the Brighter NOLA ball, so it seemed like you ought to have a night that was just for you."
His Tom Ford tuxedo was obviously custom tailored, since off-the-rack sizes never fit an athlete's body, and the black fabric skimmed his physique perfectly. The black silk-peaked lapels made her itch to run her hand up and down the material.
Later.
For now she just wanted to know where they were headed. She'd never seen Dempsey race out of a stadium so early. She hadn't even attended the game, taking her time to dress in the hotel, then taking the limo to the VIP pickup outside the stadium. Traffic had been slow at first, but it wasn't even six o'clock yet. Almost two hours before sunset.
"I'd be surprised if there are many restaurants out this way," she observed, peering out the windows as they drove toward Stone Mountain, winding through quieter roads.
It was early yet, but her invitation had mentioned a special "sunset dinner."
A mysterious smile played around his mouth. A mouth that had brought her such pleasure.
"There's a surprise first. I hope you're not too hungry."
"I think I'm too excited to be hungry." She felt the first flutter of nerves, because Dempsey looked so serious for a date night.
She wanted to ask him about that. About his grandfather's health. Maybe that was what had been bothering him all week. But just then, the limo came to a clearing in the trees and a flash of rainbow-colored silk fluttered through the sky.
"How beautiful!" She clutched his arm, pointing to a hot-air balloon being inflated on a nearby field.
At the same moment, the limo slowed and turned into the field, heading right toward the balloon.
She stilled.
"Don't tell me..." She turned toward him, and saw the first hint of a smile on his face. "Is this the surprise?"
"Only if you'd like it to be." He squeezed her hand.
She squealed, scarcely able to take her eyes off the huge balloon that looked as if it would burst into flames any moment from the blazing blasts that shot into the bottom, filling it with air. Or helium. Or whatever did that magic trick that made it go from half on the ground to a big ball in the sky.
"Yes!" She risked her lipstick by kissing him through a shocked laugh. "It's amazing! I've never seen anything like it."
"Here." He produced a satin drawstring bag as the car rolled to a stop and their driver came around to open the door. "Better wear these for now and save your pretty shoes for later."