Thirty and a Half Excuses
Page 87

I swallowed, fighting the urge to wipe my palm on my dress before shaking her hand. “And you must be Joe’s mother.”
“Elizabeth Simmons, but everyone calls me Betsy.” Her cold tone matched the chill in her eyes. “You may call me Mrs. Simmons.”
Her ugliness stole my breath. It was going to be an uncomfortable evening.
An attractive man who resembled an older version of Joe moved beside her. Looking even less thrilled to see me, he shook my hand as well. “J.R. Simmons.”
“Hello,” I forced out.
The other people in the room were all openly gawking.
“Is Joe here?” I asked, angry with myself for sounding so timid. My gaze swept the room again.
Joe’s mother gave me a cold, sly smile. “He’ll be along in a moment.”
As if on cue, a woman’s laughter floated in the open door to the gardens. Hilary appeared in the opening, her dark red hair piled into a glamorous up-do. Her long, red, body-hugging dress was slit nearly to her hip and dipped low to show her cleavage, making her fair complexion look porcelain. She clung to a man who wore a dark gray suit and tie. When she saw me, Hilary broke out into a dazzling smile. The man looked up, and my face flamed with embarrassment and surprise.
She was with Joe.
Joe’s mouth gaped in terror.
Everything in me screamed to turn around and run to my truck and drive all the way home. I might have done it if my feet hadn’t been frozen to the floor.
Joe shoved Hilary’s hand off his arm and pushed his way through the crowd. Moving next to me, he put his hand around my waist, leaning down to give me a chaste kiss. “Rose, I’m so happy you made it.”
Feeling like a rat caught in a trap, I didn’t answer.
Betsy turned to her guests. “Now that we’re all here, let’s move to the dining room.”
Everyone filed toward the doorway as Joe took my hand and pulled me into the entryway, panic in his eyes.
“Joe,” his mother called out to him. “You’re needed in the dining room.”
He ignored her, dragging me down the hall and pushing me into an office with paneling on the walls. Shutting the door behind him, he pulled me into his arms and lowered his face to kiss me.
I put my hands on his chest and took a step back. “No. Stop.” I turned away from him and walked toward the desk at the back of the room. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“I didn’t know my parents had invited all these people.”
“I don’t care about that.” I shook my head. “No, I do. Why didn’t you tell me it was formal? Do you know how stupid I look?”
He tried to wrap his arms around my waist, but I pushed them off. “Rose, do you even have any idea how beautiful you are?” He grabbed my arms and spun me around. “You don’t need a four-thousand-dollar dress to make yourself more attractive.” His hand slid up to my neck. “I don’t care what you’re wearing. You’re the only woman I see.”
My face burned with anger. “I could see that when you walked into the room.” I was jealous, and I hated myself for feeling like that. Months ago Neely Kate and Joe had convinced me I had no reason to be jealous of Hilary, but after Joe’s revelation the previous day, I was no longer sure of anything.
Regret filled his eyes. “Hilary?”
I didn’t answer.
“I can explain.”
“Why is she here, Joe?”
“I didn’t invite her. I swear.” His other hand clutched my cheek, keeping my gaze on him. “My mother insisted that I come to dinner tonight, and she said you had to come too. I didn’t realize it would be a social function, or I wouldn’t have asked you to make it. I figured she only insisted because she found out that I was in town, and I’m rarely here.”
“Why didn’t you call and warn me when you found out?”
A sheepish look filled his eyes. “I didn’t find out until you were almost here. By then it was too late for you to change, and I didn’t want to make you any more anxious than you already were.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered anyway. I don’t even own anything that dressy.” I glanced toward the door. “I bet they’re all in there laughing right now.” And I bet Hilary was having the biggest laugh of them all.
“Rose,” he pleaded.
“Why were you alone with Hilary?”
“I wasn’t with her, Rose. I swear. I showed up to a room full of people and had to get away from everyone so I went to the garden.” His fingertips trailed along my cheek as his eyes searched mine. “I went out to my mother’s rose garden. Every time I see the roses I think of you.” His lips lowered to mine, and he gave me a soft kiss. “I love you, Rose. There’s only you.” He kissed me again, more insistent this time. “I was by the roses when Hilary showed up.” His head lifted. “She told me that she was happy for me.”
I pushed him away. “Then why was she hanging on you?”
“She wasn’t. We were walking in together, and she must have seen you and grabbed my arm. She’s trying to make you jealous. Don’t let her win. Please. You have to trust me.”
Two days ago, I would have believed it all. But Joe’s confession had rocked the foundation of our relationship. I didn’t know if that was fair to him, but I couldn’t help the way I felt. “I walked into that room alone, Joe. I needed you. Why weren’t you there?”