Best She Ever Had (9781617733963) (28 page)

“Pops?”
Jared shouted over the music. “What are you doing here?”

“Mr. Walker!” Clarissa cried, looking at that moment like her mother and every bit as beautiful. She cringed when she realized what she had called him. “I-I mean, Dad . . . I-I-I mean, Korey . . . I-I . . .” Her shoulders slumped as her words faded. “I'm so sorry. I'm still not used to this.”

Korey chuckled. “Don't worry about it. Can I cut in for sec, son?”

“Oh, yeah! Sure!” Jared nodded, stepping away from Clarissa. “I'm gonna get something to eat. I'll be right back.”

Clarissa nodded.

As Jared walked away, disappearing to the buffet table, Korey and Clarissa stood awkwardly on the makeshift dance floor, staring at each other. Korey finally held out his hand to her as the band began a few bars of another song—a slow one. It sounded vaguely like a Smokey Robinson tune.

“I don't know if I have the same skills as Jared, but I'm a decent dancer, if you want to give it a try,” he said to Clarissa, making her smile.

“I'd love to. Thanks for asking.”

She took his hand and placed her other hand on his shoulder. They began their first father/daughter dance under the low lights of the restaurant. After a few minutes, Clarissa leaned back to look up at him.

“I'm surprised you're here. Jared said you weren't coming.”

“He was right. I wasn't—at first. I changed my mind, though. I wanted to have the chance to talk to you.”

She raised her brows. “Talk to me about what?”

“About everything that's happened, about finding out I'm your . . . well, you know, your father. I haven't done a great job of communicating with you, and I'm sorry about that.”

“You don't have to apologize.” Clarissa shrugged. “It's okay. I know it's complicated, especially considering how you feel about my mom and—”

“Let me stop you right there. How I feel about your mother has nothing to do with my relationship with you, and I want you to know that.” He stepped back from her. “Look, I'm here for you in any way you want me to be. If you want me just to be Jared's dad to you like before, I'll do that. If you want me to be that wisecracking old man down the street who you go to for advice, I'll do that too. But if you really want me to be a father to you, I'd be honored and more than happy to do that.” He held up his hands. “I'm not trying to replace your real dad, the one that raised you, but—”

“There isn't much to replace.” Clarissa's eyes drifted to the hardwood floor. “My dad has been doing his own thing in Chicago with his other family for years. We barely talk. I see him every once in a while. That's about it.”

Korey's face fell. “I'm sorry to hear that.”

She shrugged again and finally raised her dark eyes. “It's okay. I'm used to it. It hurt my feelings when I was younger, but not so much anymore. You get over it.”

“But you shouldn't have to ‘get over it.' I won't do that to you, Clarissa. If you want me to be there for you, I always will be.”

“Thank you.”

“I mean it,” he said emphatically. “I'm always here.”

“I believe you, Korey . . . and I appreciate it.”

“And maybe someday next week I could stop by. We could have lunch or something.”

“That would be nice.”

“What? You aren't dancing anymore?” Jared asked between bites of deviled egg and caviar.

Korey turned to Jared, shaking his head at the young man, who was smacking his lips. “No, I think we're done. You can have your lady back now.”

“That's good,” Jared said as he licked his fingers and focused on Clarissa,” because your mom told me to come and get you. They're about to do the toast to your aunt.”

“Oh, okay, I'll be right there.” Clarissa looked as if she was going to walk away, but then she stopped. She suddenly turned, grabbed Korey's hand, and squeezed it affectionately. “You're going to stay, right?”

Korey paused. He hadn't planned to stay. He had already done what he came here to do.

“At least stay for the toast,” she said, noticing his uncertainty. “Please?”

Korey gradually nodded. “Sure.”

He followed the young couple back across the restaurant to the bar. As they neared it, Korey spotted Stephanie Gibbons—the bride to be—talking with another woman. Cynthia's sister Stephanie was still as pretty as Korey remembered—though a little plumper. Stephanie's arm was wrapped around a tall, dark-skinned man, and she was beaming as she broke away from her conversation and gazed up at him. Korey assumed the man was Stephanie's fiancé. Beside Stephanie stood Yolanda Gibbons. Shockingly, the older woman's smile seemed genuine. Jared had mentioned that Clarissa's grandmother hadn't been too happy with Stephanie marrying a man like Keith, one the older woman felt was beneath her, which didn't surprise Korey in the slightest. If a guy wasn't a millionaire, then Yolanda would never consider him good enough for any of her daughters. But he was surprised to see Yolanda happy today.

I wonder if someone slipped something into her drink,
he thought sarcastically.

Next to Yolanda were Lauren and a muscular guy who nearly towered over her. Korey recognized that guy instantly. That was Crisanto Weaver, the former football star and likely future mayor of Chesterton. Korey had heard good things about him.

He scanned the crowd again, wondering where Cynthia was. Finally, he spotted her. She walked hand in hand with Clarissa toward the rest of the family. When he saw her, he felt a sharp stab to the chest that was all too familiar.

Damn,
he thought. Of course, she looked gorgeous.
Would it have been too much to ask for her to look bad tonight—just a little?

She probably had half the single men in the room salivating.

Cynthia wore a simple black cocktail dress that was cut low in the front and flowed around her hips. The hem stopped just a few inches above the knees. She was wearing her hair down today, letting her blond curls cascade around her shoulders. Her makeup and jewelry were understated, but she still shone like a lighthouse beacon in the room.

“Hello! Hi, everyone!” Dawn's voice said over the loudspeaker as the band finished its last few notes. A tall, light-skinned man stood behind her, motioning for the band to stop playing. He then whispered something into Dawn's ear and kissed her cheek. She nodded and tapped the cordless mike in her hand. “Hey, everyone! Over here! If I could have your attention, please?”

The clamor in the room died down as Dawn waved frantically from where she stood near the band.

“Thank you, everyone, for coming tonight to celebrate the engagement of my sister, the indomitable, sexy, and oh-so-fabulous Stephanie Gibbons—”

Stephanie did a little hip wiggle and blew a kiss to everyone in the room, causing uproarious laughter from the crowd.

“—and her handsome and ever-so-patient fiancé, Keith Hendricks!”

Keith pumped his fist into the air, making the audience break into applause.

“We're here tonight to celebrate the fact that after one baby, a lot of drama, and several designer shoe purchases, Keith has decided to stick around. He's taken on the brave task known as falling in love and making a life with my dear sister Stephanie Gibbons, and decided to put a ring on it, ladies and gentlemen!” Dawn said.

After that intro, several people, including Stephanie and Keith, walked to the stage and shared heartfelt speeches honoring the engagement, drawing more applause and a few tears from those in the room.

Korey was shocked at all the warmth he felt radiating from the couple and the Gibbons clan in general. Considering their well-earned reputation as merciless man-eaters, he didn't expect all this love and bliss. It made him uneasy, seeing the girls like this. Where was the ruthlessness? Why didn't they seem colder? Had the Gibbons family finally changed after all these years? Did that mean Cynthia could change too?

No,
he told himself. It was all an illusion. Fast forward a year or two and Lauren would probably be divorced from her millionaire husband Crisanto, and still wrangling with him in court over alimony and child-support payments. Stephanie would have dumped Keith for a geezer who owned several mansions. Dawn would be zeroing in on her next husband.

And Cynthia?

Cynthia will be doing the same shit she always does,
he told himself.

After the fifth and what seemed like the final speech, Korey glanced at his watch, wondering if he could inconspicuously make his way to the doors. After all, Clarissa seemed engrossed with her family and Jared at the moment, and the crowd around the bar seemed to be dispersing. Korey could probably sneak out without Clarissa noticing.

He turned and started to head toward the exit, but he paused when he heard a familiar voice.

“Excuse me! Excuse me, everyone!” Cynthia said into the microphone, making Korey instantly turn back to the stage. “Wait! We're not finished yet. It's my turn!”

The crowd fell silent again.

“Yes, I know. I know everyone is shocked that I'm going to give a toast to Steph and Keith too, but I swear, everything I have to say is good.”

“Girl, it better be or I am yanking that mike out of your hand!” Stephanie barked, making several in the audience laugh.

“Look, I know that I haven't been the most supportive of you and Keith,” Cynthia began. “Maybe I've even, shall we say, disparaged your relationship a few times. Okay, maybe more than just a few times . . . maybe
a lot
. But”—she held up a finger—“I can be the first to admit when I'm wrong.”

“Since when?” Lauren asked, making her other sisters and even their mother burst into laughter.

“And,”
Cynthia said loudly, before giving her youngest sister a withering glance, “even I can't deny, Keith, how happy you make our Steph. Being in love with you has definitely . . .” She cleared her throat. “It has definitely changed her.” Cynthia slowly scanned the room. Her eyes stopped, and she locked gazes with Korey.

Several people in the crowd turned to see whom she was staring at. Korey gritted his teeth when he became the focus of
their
stares.

If this was supposed to be some type of apology from Cynthia, it was falling on deaf ears.

I said I'm not getting sucked back in and I meant it,
he thought. He didn't care how many damn speeches she made.

“It's changed her a lot, b-but in a good way,” Cynthia quickly clarified. “It's made her a better person, Ko- . . . I mean, Keith. So please, cherish what you two have. Be honest with one another. Be dedicated to each other. Don't . . . don't let anyone or anything take that away from you.”

Cynthia lowered the mike, and an awkward silence fell over the room.

“Uh, to . . . umm . . . to Stephanie and Keith!” Dawn suddenly shouted, holding up her wineglass.

“To Stephanie and Keith,” the audience echoed just as Korey turned around again.

To hell with this,
he thought. He had heard enough.

“Korey?” Cynthia shouted from behind him as he walked through the restaurant doors. “Korey, wait up!
Please!
”

For five seconds, he contemplated ignoring her and continuing walking down the sidewalk to his car, but that wasn't his style. Plus, he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of him fleeing as if
he
had done something wrong.

Korey slowly turned to face Cynthia. When his eyes settled on her as she emerged from the shadows and into the glow of the overhead street lamp, he was slightly irritated at the fact that he was still awed by her. He couldn't deny that. Even after all she had put him through and their painful history, he still wanted her. No, he was more than slightly irritated by that fact. It really pissed him off. That woman had an unholy hold on him, but he wouldn't let it rule him anymore.

“What do you want?” he asked tersely.

She took another hesitant step toward him. “I-I saw you talking to Clarissa earlier. I just wanted to . . . I wanted to say thank you for doing that.”

His mouth fell open in shock. That wasn't the answer he had expected. It caught him off guard, but he quickly recovered. “You don't have to thank me. I didn't do it for thanks. I wanted to see her.”

“Is that why you came tonight? To see her?”

He nodded.

“I was hoping you two would get the chance to talk.”

“Well, it was long overdue.”

She pivoted from one stiletto heel to the other. “I was . . . I was hoping we would get the chance to talk too, but you didn't seem to want to talk to me. I thought you were avoiding me.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but she quickly held up a hand.

“And you're right to avoid me! If I were you, I'd be . . . I'd be avoiding me too. What I did was wrong. I know that.”

“Wrong?”
he asked, raising his brows comically and taking a step toward her. “You think what you did was wrong? No, wrong is putting it lightly. What you did, Cindy, was so fucked up it can't even be put into words how fucked up it was! What you did was—”

“I had my reasons, Korey.”

“And none of them were justified! So don't even try that ‘see my side of this' bullshit with me!”

“I wasn't going to . . .” She closed her eyes. “I wasn't going to ask you to see my side. I just wanted to apologize.”

“Yeah, well, frankly, your apologies don't mean much. I've heard them before.”