“The event is an auction.”
“Okay? I still don’t understand why a donation wouldn’t work. Cash donation or a weekend at the vacation house, whatever they want.”
The cafe door swung open before I could reach for it, putting me face-to-face with a man with golden brown skin and dark curly hair. He arched an eyebrow, a teasing grin on his lips, and I realized I was blocking his way. I half stumbled as I moved to the side. He was a touch shorter than me, with lean muscles and a faint scent of something warm and spicy that identified him as a beta. He headed to the counter, and it was only as my lingering gaze trailed down his strong, broad shoulders and arms that I realized he was walking with a cane.
I blinked to clear my dazed mind and exited the coffee shop.
“That’s why you have to be there. And I know you’re going to say you don’t want to do it, but it’s for an important cause and will be good press. But you would have to leave Starlight Grove in the next three or four hours.”
I glanced through the cafe window, catching one last look at the beta. Ella was handing him a full bottle of flavored syrup, which seemed odd.
“I don’t have a tux with me,” I said distractedly. “Wonder whose fault that is.”
“Drat. This is why you shouldn’t listen to me.”
“Good advice. So I’m going to pass on tonight—”
“No, no! You can’t do that. Surely there’s a clothing store there where you can buy a tux.”
“Oh yeah, I’ll just head to the tux shop next door.”
“They have one of those?”
“No, Caroline. They don’t.”
“Oh, we’re being funny now, are we? All right, I’m looking at the map and there’s a shop called Spring in Your Stitch that looks like a clothing store. Are you anywhere near that?”
I looked across the street to the shop my assistant just named. “No.”
“Okay, great. So just go there, get a tux, and drive to Boston for the event. I’ve booked you a hotel room downtown since the date will take place tomorrow.”
“What fucking date?”
Caroline let out a long-suffering sigh. “I love it when I talk and no one listens. The gala is an auction of eligible bachelors, and the winner gets to spend tomorrow with you. Nothing weird or sexual, of course. Just be your normal charming self and everything will go great.”
“What the fuck?” I hissed, my hold on the phone tightening. “You want me to spend the day with astranger?”
“They’re going to be so appreciative. And there’s no backing out now because I already told them you would attend. All the details are in your email.Okaythanksbye!”
King
You are fired
Caroline
Better hurry up and get that tux! Traffic might be bad getting into the city
King
When you hire your replacement, make sure to get one who’s scared of me
Caroline
I hate to break it to you, but you are one of the least scary people I know.
I’m calling Spring in Your Stitch to let them know you’re coming
The text contained a link. I clicked it against my better judgment, opening a website filled with faces of children with cancer and large graphics displaying statistics about the lack of pediatric cancer funding.
