27. Cracked Open

Jane

Once I put the finishing touches on my makeup, I check myself in the mirror again. I've paired a cute little black dress featuring off-shoulder sleeves with some silver heels and a matching pouch, but I know it doesn't matter if I look pretty, because I'll be standing next to Colton. And Colton in a tux is nothing short of breathtaking.

Boy, was I right. My heart jumps to my throat when I see him waiting for me in the living room, keys in hand.

"Jane," he says, barely loud enough for me to hear. He clears his throat. "You look great."

"Thanks. So do you."

"I got you this," he says, retrieving a small velvet box from inside his blazer. "I was planning to give it to you at the end of the night, but I think it'll go well with your outfit."

My cheeks heat up as I take the small box. "Why? This is—you don't have to give me anything."

"It's a thank-you gift," he says with a bright smile. "So, thank you. For helping with the charity and planning tonight's event." He squeezes my hand, sending sparks crackling through my arm. "I couldn't have done it this quickly without you. This wasn't in the contract, so really. It means a lot." His laser-sharp gray eyes make my mouth go dry.

Swallowing, I say, "Of course. I was happy to. It's a great thing you're doing here, and I'm glad I could be a part of it. Besides, we're friends. Friends support each other." Not to mention I'm forever in his debt after his help with Zander. I thought I'd never feel secure again, yet Colton gave that to me.

We lock eyes, and my knees nearly buckle. I wish I could look away, but I can't. Those eyes . . . they have the power to draw me in like quicksand.

"Open it," he says.

I shake myself out of my trance. "Right." Untying the small bow, I open the box. Inside is a pendant with the letter J made of rhinestones. Or are they diamonds? It's attached to a thin silver—probably white gold—chain. I draw my eyebrows together. "Colton, this is too much. I can't accept this. I—"

"It's my pleasure," he says, taking the pendant out of the box. "What you did for me means a lot. This is my way of thanking you, so please accept it." He shoots me a questioning look, as if asking to put it around my neck.

Nodding, I gather my hair up. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that I can't say no to this man. And when he's acting all sweet and perfect, like he is now, surrendering doesn't even seem scary anymore. It's like succumbing to comfort.

During the car ride, I stay mostly silent. I'm scared that if we talk, I might say something stupid, like admit my real feelings to him.

When we enter the Grand Ballroom in Beverly Hills, the decor blows me away. I might have picked every detail—from the pink rose centerpieces to the elegant silverware and satin tablecloths—but the whole setup looks even better than I had imagined. I'm glad we didn't go with the drapes. These painted ceilings really bring everything together, highlighted by the glittering gold chandeliers.

Colton seems relaxed tonight. He flashes a big smile to everyone we pass by, showcasing his devilish dimples. As we make our way around the room to greet people, part of Colton is always touching me. His hand burning the small of my back. His body warming mine when our shoulders rub. His finger brushing a strand of my hair away.

"Jacob," he says as we come across a man with a large beard. "So good to see you. Thanks for coming."

"Of course," Jacob says, shaking his hand. "And this is the woman who changed you, then?" He offers me a grin.

I smile back, expecting Colton to say he hasn't changed. But that's not what's coming out of his mouth. "Yes," he says, wrapping his arm around my waist to bring me closer. "This is Jane. Love is a pretty powerful thing."

I steady my breathing, trying to focus on Jacob rather than those damn dimples or Colton's scalding hand on my waist. I know we're supposed to act in love and all that, but does he have to be so over-the-top? I'm dying here.

They talk about the charity and the different causes it will support, and I somehow find the strength to participate.

When they wrap up their conversation, I excuse myself. I need a break. Between the necklace and what Colton said about love, I'm about to implode. Spotting Marcie and Jules in the corner of the ballroom, I walk in their direction, only stopping to accept a glass of champagne from a passing waiter.

"Hey," I say, hugging each of them in turn. They both look spectacular. Marcie is wearing a long dark-blue satin gown, and Jules a knee-length emerald dress. They let their long, shiny brown hair down as usual. "Thank you for coming."

"We wouldn't miss it," Marcie gushes. "You look amazing."

"Oh, you have to meet Dean and Sasha," Jules adds, finishing her drink and hustling away.

I cast a questioning look at Marcie.

"Dean, our brother? We mentioned him," she explains.

"Yes, I remember now. Sorry. So many names," I laugh. "And Sasha is your sister, right?"

She shakes her head. "No, that's Amber, but she's in New York. Sasha is one of our friends—and Dean's biggest crush," she whispers with a wink. "Hey, guys, this is Jane, Colton's fiancée."

I turn around to see the pair approaching. Sasha is drop-dead gorgeous. The kind of girl who's flawless, with blonde hair cascading down her back and the body of a model. Normally, I immediately get defensive if a girl is this pretty, but her kind eyes make that impossible. Dean shares the good looks that seem to run in the Rosemont family. He's tall with brown hair and twinkling hazel eyes. When he holds his hand out, he offers a winning smile, and a dimple appears on his left cheek.

Of course, that dimple only makes me think of Colton, and like a magnet drawn to its other half, my eyes land on him across the room. He's engaged in conversation with Jo and Léon Rosemont, laughing. His dimples are on full display.

I force myself to look away. "Nice to meet you too," I say, shaking both their hands. We chat a little, and I learn that Sasha is indeed a model. We talk about nothing and everything, and after a while, I start to relax. They're truly a nice bunch, and I'm lucky to have met them.

"Oh," Marcie says, taking me by the arm. "There's someone I want you to meet. She's a director who's done a lot of TV shows and movies. You'll like her. Come on."

She whisks me away, and we stop next to a woman in her mid-forties with dark-brown hair.

"Amelia, hi!" Marcie says, and the woman turns around.

"Marcie, how are you?" She leans in for an air kiss.

"Good," Marcie says. "I wanted to introduce you to my friend, Jane Myers." She lays a hand on my shoulder. "Jane, this is Amelia Brown."

"Nice to meet you," I say, shaking her hand.

"Likewise," she croons with a twinkle in her eye.

"Jane here is Colton's fiancée, and the person behind this event. But she's also an actress, so I figured you'd have a lot in common," Marcie says.

"Oh, really?" Amelia asks as Marcie walks away. "Anything I might have seen?"

"I did a couple of commercials, and a play two summers ago. The Last of Us."

"Oh yes, directed by Evan Crowe, right?"

"Yeah." I nod, surprised that she knows him. He's not a bigshot Hollywood director by any means. But I guess in this business, everyone knows each other.

"Are you looking for work right now?" she asks, studying me. "With the wedding coming up, and now the charity, I'm guessing you have your hands full. But if you are on the lookout, I might have something for you to audition for."

My eyes widen. "Really? I mean, of course. It'd be an honor to audition for you. What's the part?"

"You have the perfect physique for our main role. We've been having a hard time casting her part. The story follows Ashley, a thirty-something girl who just lost her mother, whom she was very close to. On her deathbed, her mom tells her about the one dream she didn't realize—her only regret—to go on that cross-country road trip she planned when she was young. Ashley decides to embark on the trip as a way to honor her mother's last wishes, and in hopes of finding herself again. Along the way, she'll heal her grieving heart and find true love in the process."

"It sounds like a great narrative. I'd be honored to audition." I keep my tone calm and professional, but inside, I'm jumping for joy.

"Fantastic. Here's my card," she says, opening a card holder in her jumpsuit pocket. "Send me your head and body shots by email along with your resume. My assistant will contact you for the audition."

"Thank you," I say, squeezing the card tight. "Enjoy your night, and thank you again for coming."

I want to let out a little squeal or jump in place, but I stay perfectly still, like it's just a normal evening, and I didn't just score an audition for a main role in a major Hollywood production. Finally, things are turning around for me.

Colton

This night has been a success so far, and it's now time for me to give my speech. Jane refused to come with me on stage. It seemed like a given since she organized the entire thing, but she insisted. Instead, she's standing at the front of the crowd with the Rosemonts.

"Good evening again, everyone," I say into the microphone. "Thank you for coming here tonight and supporting the Roseanne for Resilience Charity." I pause to let the guests applaud. "This charity will be focused on helping kids who are growing up in foster care. Some of the goals include improving their living conditions and funding their education." More applause fills the room. "I appreciate all your generous donations, which will help do some good in this world." I pause again to look at Jane. "I also want to say thank you to my beautiful fiancée, Jane, who helped organize this event tonight. She showed me that it's never too late to change. Never too late to do what's right. I'm a lucky man, because in a couple of weeks, I'll be calling her my wife." Claps and whistles echo through the room. But my eyes are still fixed on Jane. Her cheeks are now a deep crimson, and she's swaying on her feet.

When I step down from the stage, she gives me her signature stunning smile. "That was a great speech," she says. "But really, you don't have to keep thanking me."

"I know," I say, taking her hand and drawing her closer to me. "But I wanted to." I kiss her on the forehead, then freeze. That gesture was so natural for me, but I feel her body going rigid beneath my touch.

Thankfully, a series of clicks sound right behind me, and I turn around with Jane. The photographer just captured the moment. As soon as she sees him, she relaxes, and I pretend I noticed him the entire time.

"You already got me this," she says, fidgeting with her necklace once the photographer leaves. My eyes fall on the pendant. When I first saw it, I instantly knew it was the perfect gift. Simple and elegant, but scintillating. It looks even better on her than it did in the store. I want nothing more than to shower her with gifts, but I know that's not how Jane works. She needs to trust me, to let me in. And right now, the door has only just cracked open.