Risk Taker - Kelly Collins Page 0,83
Philharmonic.”
“Is he here?”
“Not yet. He called and said he’s running late, but he’ll be here.”
The disappointment pulls my shoulders forward. I miss him because I miss our life together. I miss sex, his smile, and his bossiness. I miss everything about him.
Rose lifts my chin. “Don’t worry, he’s coming.” She nods toward the dress hanging from a knob on the nearby dresser. “Wear the dress, or don’t wear it. It’s up to you.” She kisses my cheek. “Everything will be wonderful.” She leaves me alone with a dress the exact color of Damon’s eyes.
I slip into it and find that it fits perfectly. Something tells me Rose didn’t buy this dress either. The fit is too perfect, and the style is more Damon than his mother.
People trickle in, and by six thirty, the party is in full swing. It’s not a dinner, but drinks and appetizers. I graze the tables and wait like everyone else for the guest of honor to arrive. I’m more antsy because Damon is still MIA. My eyes are constantly on the door, watching for him.
Rose stands on the second step of the grand staircase and taps her wineglass with a spoon. I turn to scan the crowd, still looking for Damon but glimpse someone who looks like Em. I take a step in that direction but realize there’s another stunning redhead at the party.
“Where are you headed, young lady? I need you here with me.” Rose waves me over and points to a spot in front of the stairs. “Stand right there.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, thanks for coming today,” Rose walks up the stairs to stand a level above. “This is a special time in my life. As you know, I lost a husband and a son to cancer, and I nearly lost Damon to oversight and ignorance. A wonderful woman named Katarina Cross met my son and changed his life forever. She gave him love, encouragement, and hope for a bright future. She’s here tonight under the guise of throwing a retirement party for a colleague.” She spreads her arms to the crowd. “All of you are here because you either know my son or you know Katarina. Damon is here tonight because he’s helplessly in love.”
A thousand butterflies swarm my insides. Damon steps out a nearby room and joins his mother at the top of the stairs. He’s dressed in a black tuxedo that fits him to perfection. He smiles, but it’s not just his lips, it’s his eyes that smile too; eyes full of love, hope, and passion.
“Good evening, everyone.” He waves to the crowd and kisses his mom on the cheek. She turns and descends the stairs. “Hello, Angel,” he stares at me, and I swear we’re the only two people in the room. “Several months ago, I met this amazing woman. Hold up your hand, Katarina, so everyone can see you.”
I raise my hand a little, but I’m embarrassed by the attention. Several people crowd around me, and when I look, my parents and Greta are on one side, and Chris, Trevor, and Rose are on the other. Anthony and Emma are standing next to the stairs. The people I love surround me.
“We met unconventionally—a blind date of sorts, but I knew the day I met her, I’d never let her go. She’s a little thing, but she packs an incredible amount of strength in her five-foot-four frame. She has to be strong to put up with me. So many people show you what they think you want to see, but Katarina shows you who she is.” He looks at my parents. “I’m so grateful for her parents, who raised her with love and gave her the freedom to be herself.”
Looking back at the crowd, Damon says, “She got to see the real me, and it wasn’t pretty, but she loved me despite it all, and she didn’t give up on me.” He takes a deep breath. “I’m a damaged person. So much sorrow has touched my life, and I never imagined I’d feel happy again. She changed everything. If you’ll humor me for a moment, I’d like to take the time to tell her what’s in my heart.”
Tears fill my eyes. Not only does this man care for me, but he’s publicly declaring it.
Rose walks over and leans in to whisper, “Give my boy a chance, Katarina. He won’t disappoint you.”
“The first time I met Katarina, I asked her about her prerequisites for dating, and she informed me that I