Page 49 of Running
A shot we won’t have,I can’t help thinking.
And when we hang up soon afterward, two things hang in theair around me. That beautiful voice of hers, and my frustration over lost chances.
The auction night comes, and I’m ready to play my role.Allmy roles—making conversation with the guests as a co-chair and face of the team, encouraging the wealthy attendees from the Orlando community to place large bids, and managing my part in the Landon-Rori situation.
Do I feel a little bad about keeping this secret from Landon? Yeah. But I’m hopeful it’s a good kind of secret. One that will lead to a happy result for him.
Plus, Grace asked me to help. So there’s that.
After a cocktail hour of schmoozing and shaking hands with various attendees, most of them passing acquaintances, I’m grateful that Grace had assigned me to a table with Waves players and their significant others. Everything is mellow and uneventful through dinner.
Until Grace steps on stage to start the auction, that is.
Holy shit.When she appears, I put down my fork, unable to do anything but take her in.
She’s wearing a form-fitting pale orange cocktail dress with heels that must add three inches to her five foot six frame. The lace covering her dress makes it look delicate and feminine. Ethereal.
The sides of her hair are pulled back in a soft bun, with some tendrils framing her face, and the length of her long blonde hair swims down her back. Her eyes are lit up from the beaming spotlights, and as she glances around, she’s wearing a huge smile.
She’s golden. My golden Grace.
The experience of seeing her for the first time after three weeks—after holding her in my arms three weeks ago—is eye-opening.
I haven’t lost one iota of attraction to her, and tonight is like nothing I’ve ever experienced.
I’ve met countless beautiful women—beautiful inside and out. But there’s something about her that’s different. It’s like every cell in my body is screaming “HER.”
Clearly, my skills in pushing down my attraction to her are suffering in the wake of our mutual confessions.
Fuck.I need to pull it together.
I tear my eyes away from her and try to regroup, taking one last bite of my now-cold steak. After a couple of minutes of looking around the room at the other tables, I get myself collected.
Peering at Landon next, I see he’s watching Grace and her co-host, Roderick, with rapt attention. He told me about something he wanted to bid on as a present for Grace later in the auction, so he’s probably staying alert for when it’s up for grabs.
An hour later, though, we rock his world. They announce Rori’s donation, and she steps out on stage.
He looks shocked, and clocks me grinning at him.
“You knew?”
I can’t help teasing him, but hey—it’s all to follow Grace’s instructions and make sure he bids. “You better win this. Or I will.” I wink at him to drive the point home.
To ensure I deliver for Grace, I have a couple of plans working in tandem. I’ll bid myself if I need to, but nothing works better than a little fear that someone else will win time with his girl.
So I keep poking the bear.
“Let’s do this!” I yell out towards the stage.
Grace laughs, probably guessing I’m being a troublemaker to advance our cause. Seeing her reaction makes me want to dig into my mission harder.
“Starting bids at $500,” Grace’s co-host Roderick announces. “An awesome package from Rori, and all for a good cause. Do we have any bidders?”
The bids begin flying in—$550, $600—and I look over at Landon, who appears paralyzed.
I better make a move.
“I bid $2,000!” A collective gasp goes through the room as soon as I shout the number. Even Grace’s looking at me with a shocked expression. Guess she didn’t know exactlyhowdedicated I would be to helping her.
