All of Me (Inside Out #5.5)(31)

I frown at the odd response. “What? Why?”

He kisses me and we end up back on the floor, laughing and making love in puddles of flower water. And yes, we are going to be late to dinner. And somehow it feels like one of the defining moments of our relationship. The past can torment us, but it can’t destroy us. Not anymore.





      Part Ten



   Gone, But Not Forgotten





For dinner and then the oceanside memorial, I choose a black dress, tights, and knee-high boots. When we arrive at the restaurant Chris urges me to go inside while he makes arrangements with Alex, who’s escorting us to ensure we have no press interference tonight. When I enter and round the corner, I smack into a hard body.

I gasp and look up to find myself staring into familiar, steel-gray eyes.

“Hello, Sara.”

I blink up at Mark, who’s as tall, blond, and good-looking as usual but unfamiliar nevertheless. “I must be in a Bizarro World where you call people by their first names.”

He smoothes the sleeve of his perfectly fitted grey suit. “What is Bizarro World?”

“You haven’t seen that episode of Seinfeld? It’s an alternate universe.”

“No, I have not seen that episode of Seinfeld, but I agree. Perhaps we are in Bizarro World, since the Sara I know likes to be called by her first name.”

“Isn’t that exactly why you always call me Ms. McMillan?”

“Perhaps I can’t stomach the idea of calling you Mrs. Merit.”

I grin. “Why don’t you wait until Chris walks in to give him a hard time?”

His lips curve into what is almost a smile, and I know I’ve busted him. “Because he doesn’t take my bait the way you do.”

“You’re maddening, Mark Compton.”

“So you tell me.”

“Finally!” A pretty woman with long blond hair in a knee-length charcoal-gray dress and boots steps to Mark’s side, her hand wrapping the sleeve he’s just straightened. And not only does he let her, he covers her hand with his. “The line for the bathroom was insane,” she adds before her gaze catches on me. “Sara?”

“Yes. Crystal?”

“Yes.” She lets go of Mark and throws her arms around me. His eyes are on her, softer than I’ve ever seen them.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you,” she declares. “Thank you for all you’ve done with the gallery and Rebecca and—”

“We have a problem,” Chris announces, appearing by my side, his hand going to my back. “The press is outside. Jacob’s pulling up out back to get us while Alex distracts them.”

“Jacob’s here?” I ask.

“He flew in from New York with us,” Mark explains, “for exactly this reason. The press is stalking us all over again now that Ava, Ryan, and Ricco have all made a deal.”

“At least it’s almost over,” Chris comments. “Let’s go.”

“This way,” Crystal says, grabbing Mark’s hand. “I saw the door by the bathroom.” She takes off with Mark on her heels and Chris stares after them, giving his head a little shake as if he has cobwebs in his head.

I laugh and wrap my arm around his, sliding my hand in his jacket pocket. “Yes, he lets her touch him, and yes, it’s Bizarro World.”

“That’s an understatement,” he agrees as we start after them, and I love that he gets my Seinfeld reference.

We push through the crowd at the bar and have to squeeze by a line at the ladies bathroom to reach the exit. Mark pulls Crystal behind him. “Wait here until I’m sure it’s clear.”

At that moment, Jacob opens the door. “Let’s go. A couple of them rushed Alex at the front.”

Mark urges Crystal forward, staying close behind her, and Chris settles his hands protectively on my shoulders and walks us forward. In a rush of movement, we pile in the back of a limo-style SUV, Mark and Crystal facing forward and Chris and I sitting with our backs to Jacob.

Jacob climbs into the front seat, slamming the door shut and hitting the locks. “Hold on, boys and girls, because the press is coming and we’re going.” He hits the accelerator and we launch forward.

“We missed you, Jacob,” I say. “Please come back.”

“We’ll pay you more than Blake or Mark,” Chris inserts, as we all lurch sideways with a dramatic right turn.

“Doubtful,” Mark says dryly, “but you can try.”

“Why can’t ladies fight over me like this?” Jacob says; cutting another hard right that throws me into Chris’s lap.

“Chris, it’s so nice to meet you,” Crystal says, offering him her hand. “I’m a fan. Your work is amazing.”

Mark starts tapping his fingers on his leg and there’s no doubt that Chris notices, a look of pure enjoyment on his face as he accepts her hand. “If you put a leash on Mark, as it seems you have, I’m your fan.”

“Sadly, I haven’t figured out how to do that,” she concedes. “But much to his chagrin, he hasn’t figured out how to do it to me either.”

“New territory for you, isn’t it, Mark?” Chris challenges.