by Layla Hagen
By the ease with which they interacted with Avery, it was clear they knew what they were doing.
“You’re magic. Do you have kids?” I asked.
“No, but we’ve got Mom to advise us. She’s a school principal and raised four of us, so... what she says goes.”
“Want me to give you a rundown of everything?” Tess asked.
“Yes, please.”
“The funds raised tonight go towards charity. One of us holds an opening speech. Usually Hunter, but this time, it’s going to be me. After food is served, the dance raffle begins.”
“What’s that?”
Tess grinned. “Every dance is raffled off. You want to dance with someone, you have to buy a ticket. We alternate women and men buying tickets throughout the night.”
“And that money is also for charity?”
“Yes. I mean, the amount is small—the actual donations are by checks. It’s mostly just for fun. We always test new ways to entertain our guests, and this was by far the most popular strategy, so we do it for every event.”
“Where did you get the idea?”
“From Gone with the Wind.”
“Love your taste in movies.”
“Thank you! Can you please tell that to Ryker too? He forever teases me about it.”
I laughed nervously. “Sure.”
After I explained to Avery that I need to step away to change, Tess led me to a smaller room on the floor above the ballroom. I laid my dress on the comfy couch at the back of the room.
“Hey, here’s an idea! Do you want to participate in the raffle?” she asked.
“I’d love to. Oh, wait, Avery—”
“You won’t dance all the time, and Avery will barely even look at you. Trust me, we’ve thrown plenty of these events.”
I pondered this, but knowing my girl, she would barely leave the kids’ corner. And I could step away from the dance floor whenever she needed me.
“Okay. I’m in.”
“Perfect. I’ll tell Skye to add your name to the list. She’s in charge of that. Need help with the dress?”
“No, thanks. I’m good.”
While I changed behind a lovely golden screen, I asked, “You and Skye have a store for lingerie, right?”
“Exactly. We’ve only been online until now, but next week is the opening of our brick-and-mortar location. We still have a lot of boxes to unwrap and some last-minute shelves to put up.”
“Wow, will you even have time to recover after tonight’s event?”
“Not really. Timing isn’t great, but it couldn’t be helped. We were hoping to open this week already but weren’t ready, and we can’t afford to stay closed much longer. We’re having a hair and makeup party, and everyone who attends gets a discount for the lingerie.”
I remembered Ryker being worried that his sisters were taking on more than they could chew, and it sounded like he was spot-on. When I came out, I twirled around a few times.
“Ready?” Tess asked.
“Oh, yeah.”
“So, my brother surprised us all when he told us you and Avery were coming.”
I grinned. I’d just wondered why she wasn’t asking anything about Ryker.
“I’ve always wanted to come to a Ballroom Gala,” I replied, unsure what else to say. It was true after all.
“I see. So you’re just here for the gala, not for my brother?”
***
Ryker
One thing I loved about the Ballroom Galas was that the time we put into organizing them also doubled as family time.
I arrived at the venue before the event began to oversee the last preparations. I was just about to shoot Cole a message when I saw Heather and Tess coming out of the changing room. What was Heather doing here so early? She looked stunning. I had to admit, when she’d described her dress, all I could do was picture her out of it. The top was tight, and her cleavage tempted me. All I wanted to do was pull her closer and touch all that soft skin until she blushed just for me. But we were not alone. Yet.
Tess waved at me. “Hey, brother.”
“Hi!” Heather said shyly.
“I asked her to come a little earlier so I could explain a few things.”
That made sense, except the glimmer in my sister’s eyes told me that wasn’t the only reason. And how exactly had Tess known Heather’s number?
Before I had the chance to ask anything else, Skye joined us too.
“Avery’s already all set up,” she said. I peeked at the corner we’d set up for kids. It wasn’t all that usual to bring kids to high-profile events like these, but we’d set it up this way from the very beginning, and our donors loved it.
“Oh, Skye, Heather agreed to participate in the raffle.”
Wait, what? Hell, no. I’d asked Heather here because I wanted to spend time with her. If she danced half the night, we’d barely exchange a few words. Heather wasn’t going to dance with anyone but me.
“Perfect. Come with me to our table so I can tell you exactly how it works,” Skye said. My sisters exchanged a glance. I bit back a smile. Yeah, I was starting to put two and two together. As was often the case with my family, I could guess the general gist, but not the depth or the intricacy of their plan. Life in the Winchester clan was just one surprise after the other.
“I’ll just check on Avery real quick,” Heather said. “I’ll find you later.”
Skye nodded.
As soon Heather was out of earshot, I focused on my sisters.
“You asked Heather here earlier on purpose?” I asked Tess.
She smiled. “Of course. You didn’t think I’d wait until the event starts to meet the woman who’s got you all tied up in knots, right? I wanted to have enough time to get the right picture of what’s happening.”
“And?” I asked.
“I only had about ten minutes with her.”
“So you didn’t get the picture?”
Tess jerked her head back. “I’m offended. I already got all the intel I needed.”
“In ten minutes?”
“Yep.”
“I’ve known Heather for three weeks.”
“What can I say, I work fast.”
“I’m impressed. So?”
Tess smiled saucily. “Who said I’ll tell you anything?”
I groaned. Skye elbowed Tess. “Tess! This is a time-sensitive matter. You can tease him another time.”
“So good to know that at least one of my sisters loves me unconditionally.”
Skye winked. “I can’t help it. Have to go, though. Need to finalize some details. You’ll have to fill me in later.”
After Skye left, Tess tilted her head, sighing. “I think she’s trying to protect Avery and herself from heartbreak and getting their hopes up. It’s hard on kids to just see people walk in and out of their lives, you know?”
“I know.”
She looked at the kids’ corner, wringing her hands. “I understand where Heather is coming from, wanting to protect Avery. The day Mom told us Dad left, I thought she’d just meant he wasn’t coming home that evening. I waited on the windowsill for him that entire week. I waited for him to come back for years. Right until he remarried.”
Jesus. I had absolutely no comeback. She’d never told me this.
“Tess...”
She waved her hand. “Let’s not get into all that. We’re talking about Avery and Heather right now.”
“She told you everything you’ve just said?”
“Not in exact words. She just told me her story and I inferred the appropriate conclusions.”
“Right....”
“Oh, by the way, Mom and Mick are coming tonight.”
“What? They never attend.”
“I mentioned you invited a lady friend and her daughter. I think it was a strong incentive.”
I barked out a laugh. These things only happened in my family.
“I need to check on a few last-minute details. See you later?” she asked.
“Sure.”
I wanted to say something more on the subject of Dad, but honestly, I didn’t know what, and Tess usually folded into herself whenever she spoke about him. I didn’t want to spoil her mood.
Looking around, I realized that a few guests had already arrived. Damn! I’d wanted to talk to Heather before it began. She was at the kids’ corner, speaking to a little girl.
I stopped right next to them. Heather bit her lower lip when she saw me.
“Avery, this is my friend Ryker.”
Avery looked up at me, stretching out her tiny hand. “Hello, Mr. Ryker. I’m Avery.”
Heather laughed, ruffling her daughter’s curls. I crouched on my haunches until my face was level with Avery’s.
“Nice to meet you, Avery. You like it here?”
“Yes. I feel like a princess.”
“He’s the one who sent us the invitations,” Heather clarified.
“They were so pretty. Mine said Miss Avery. Mommy, can I go back and play?”
“Sure.”
She darted right to the slide the next second. I rose back up, watching Heather intently.
“I’m glad you came,” I said. “Hope Tess didn’t drive you too crazy.”
“Not at all. She explained how everything works. Can’t wait for the raffle.” Wiggling her eyebrows, she added, “Think you’ll get lucky for one dance?”
“Ms. Prescott, are you teasing me?”
“What do you think?”
“I think that you have no idea what you just got yourself into. I’ll get my dance.” I leaned in, brushing her cheek until someone called my name.
“I need to make the rounds, but I’ll find you later,” I promised.
“Okay.”
I couldn’t resist lingering for another beat. I skimmed my hand down to her waist, enjoying the way she shuddered at my touch. It was impossible to be this close to her and not want to be even closer, but we weren’t alone.
Yet.
Tearing myself away from Heather, I headed toward the guy who’d called me, the sound technician. After discussing a few details, I headed straight to the organizers’ table. Our entire family would sit at it, plus Heather and Avery, but right now, only Skye and Cole were there.
“Skye. I need to talk to you about Heather and the raffle,” I said.
She looked up from her iPad. “Shoot.”
“Pick me for all of Heather’s dances.”
“Ryker! We don’t cheat. I won’t rig the system, not even for you.”
What did I expect? Skye was a stickler for rules. To my knowledge, she’d never cheated in school or in college.
“What if I promise to make it up to you? Whatever you want.”
Skye cocked a brow. “Bribery doesn’t work with me.”
Well... that was debatable. She’s been known to soften if presented with the right bribe, but I knew better than to think I stood a chance. I might be overconfident and cocky on occasion, but I wasn’t delusional.
“Fine. But pull me out of the raffle.”
Up until recently, family members didn’t participate in it, but we’d changed that a few events ago, and I’d had a blast. Tonight, I wasn’t interested in anyone but Heather.
Cole just looked between us with a grin. “Well, I’ll be damned. Didn’t think I’d see the day when Ryker voluntarily gave up on the opportunity to dance. That means I win by default.”
We competed for who had the most raffle tickets.
“You don’t win if there isn’t a competition,” I pointed out with a grin.
“I’ll take you out of the raffle, but I won’t be meddling with Heather’s tickets.”
That meant one thing: I had to apply plan B. One way or another, Heather was all mine tonight.
Chapter Twelve
Heather
While Tess delivered the opening speech, everyone was focused on the stage, but I kept glancing around. Where was Ryker? The skin on my entire body tingled, anticipating the moment he’d walk up to me again.
Once Tess descended from the stage, the emcee walked up to the mic.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the first dance of the evening has been raffled off. Gentlemen bought tickets for this one. We’re going to switch after five dances. Gentlemen, you can now approach your dance partners. Ladies, do check the raffle ticket. We’ve had cheaters in the past.”
Everyone laughed, and I even heard a few whispers of “it happened to me.” I briefly wondered if Ryker planned to cheat. Honestly, I’d be disappointed if he was.
I waited by the dance floor, as Tess said was tradition. This evening was so out of the norm for me that I was grasping for anything that sounded familiar.
My heart pulsed at a lightning-quick speed when I noticed Ryker. He was walking straight toward me, stopping only half a foot away.
“I believe I’m the lucky winner.” He handed me the ticket. When our fingers brushed, an electrifying heat jolted straight through me. He smiled, flashing his dimples. I glanced at the ticket. It simply said Ryker. My heart was beating wildly. My fingers shook a little.
“How exactly did you game the system?” I whispered.
“I bought every ticket for this dance.”
“Wow.”
Those deep blue eyes pinned me with such an intensity that they lit up every cell in my body.
“I told you I’d get my dance, Heather.”
“I didn’t know you wanted it so badly.”
“Now you do.” He was half leaning into me, his warm breath landing on my cheek. His gaze dropped to my mouth. I licked my lips, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. I became aware that everyone else was already in position to dance, so I followed suit.
Ryker expertly led the dance, only I wasn’t paying much attention to the music or our steps. I was too wired up, too consumed by our proximity.
“This is a great event. How did it all start?” I asked.
“It was Hunter’s idea, but we just wanted to create something together, as a family.”
“So you participate in all of them?”
“We try to, but there are instances when we just can’t make it. Hunter and his wife are skipping this one.”
The rhythm of the song changed lightly, and Ryker’s hold on my waist tightened. He kept me close enough that I was certain he could feel my heartbeat.
When the song finished, Ryker lowered his hands, taking a step back.
“Pleasure to dance with you. Can’t wait to do it again,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“This isn’t the only dance I’m bidding on.”
And just like that, my heart rate quickened again. I couldn’t keep my smile under control either.
“On how many, exactly?”
He tilted his head playfully. “Someone’s eager.”
“Just want to be prepared.”
“I’ll keep you guessing. Just know that you’re not getting rid of me tonight.”
“Ryker, you don’t have to buy out every single dance. It’s expensive.”
“It’s worth it.”
Oh, my. What could I say to that?
The next hour went by in a blur. Whenever he had to go to buy tickets for the next dance, my entire body hummed with the need to be closer to him. No matter what I did—even if it was to sit down for a minute or to check on Avery, I longed for the sound of the gong announcing the next round. With every dance, he kept me closer, his touch became more daring, and I leaned into it every chance I got, because this felt damn good.
To my dismay, the last dance came far too quickly. I wasn’t ready to let go, but I had to.
“Forgot to give you the ticket for this last one,” Ryker said.
I laughed. “Not necessary.”
“What if I cheated?”
“Did you?”
“You won’t know until you read it.”
I wanted to tell him that weeding out cheaters was always easy. The real dance partner would have popped up. But that mischievous glint in hi
s eyes... hmmm... he had something in mind. He was insisting on me taking the ticket for a reason, so I did.
I glanced down at it, feeling his gaze on me, the tension sizzling in the air.
Ryker: Meet me behind the red curtain after my speech.
I looked up. Oh, God... there was so much heat in his eyes, so much promise. He was expecting an answer, but before I could give him one, we were flanked by Tess and Skye.
“Don’t forget you’re giving the second speech tonight,” Skye said.
“I know. Ten minutes left.”
“Heather, do you want to sit?” Tess asked.
“Great idea. My toes feel as if they’re about to fall off.”
I was even more aware of Ryker than before as we all headed to the organizers’ table. I held the note in my fist, the words still playing around in my mind. Where was the red curtain? I glanced around the room slowly, until I noticed it at the far corner. My stomach flipped, especially when I realized Ryker was watching me. I wanted to say yes right away, but I had to think this through, and I honestly couldn’t with six-foot-two of sexiness right next to me.
Tess, Skye, and I sat at the table. Ryker stood between his sisters. I took my feet out of my shoes and stretched my toes.
“In our completely unbiased opinion, you lucked out, Heather. Ryker is the best dancer around here,” Tess said.
Ryker grinned. “Any chance you can use the time during my speech to sing my praises to Heather?”
“You can count on us,” Tess assured him just as a man joined us. He had black hair and deep blue eyes that were eerily similar to Ryker’s.
“Our brother, Cole,” Ryker said.
“Hi, Cole.”
He shook my hand, glancing between Ryker and me. “Couldn’t miss meeting the woman who ensures I’ll take in the most tickets for the raffle by taking Ryker out of the equation.”
“I thought there was a certain number of tickets for each dance and participant?” I asked, laughing.
“That’s right, but they aren’t sold out usually.”
Skye shook her head, smiling. “Will you two ever stop competing against each other?”
Cole shrugged. “Not in the foreseeable future.”
Organizing these events was hard work, but they made it all seem like so much fun that I just wanted to be part of it all.