“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?”
Grant, Coop, and Mac all turned their focus to the temporary stage that had been set up at the end of the large ballroom. There, standing at the podium, was Brynnon.
“See?” Coop squeezed his shoulder. “Nothing to worry about.”
Slowly, Grant let out the breath he’d been holding, mentally chastising himself for not keeping a better eye on her. He’d let Coop’s and Mac’s taunts about Campbell fuck with his head, but he needed to get control of that shit. Now.
He’d never lost a client, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to start with this one.
Not her. I can’t ever lose her.
Clearing his throat, he listened as Brynnon continued to speak.
“First of all, I’d like to thank each and every one of you again for coming tonight. I just spoke with our treasurer, and we not only made our goal for this evening, we surpassed it. So please, give yourselves a round of applause.”
Once the clapping died down, she began again. “I know it’s hard to believe, but our time together is quickly coming to an end. Just as we’ve done in year’s past, our event tonight will end with the annual charity dancing competition. If you have not signed up yet, there’s still time. And, as with our earlier silent auction, all proceeds will go directly to the foundation.”
Brynnon waited for another short round of applause before continuing. “This year’s dance will be the waltz.”
Grant’s chest tightened and he had to force himself to take in a long, slow breaths as Brynnon went on with her spiel.
“For those who have never participated before, you and your partner will go out onto the dance floor. Once the music begins, each couple will dance until the end of the song. Afterward, the couples will line up, and the winners will be chosen by applause. The lucky winners will not only receive the beautiful trophies donated to us for this evening”—she held up a golden silhouette of a couple dancing— “but more importantly, they’ll have bragging rights for the entire year.”
The crowd laughed and Brynnon explained there were only a few more minutes to sign up if there was anyone who still wanted to join in. After pointing out the sign-up table at the opposite end of the room, she thanked everyone again for coming and wished them a safe trip home.
Carefully stepping off the stage, she looked over the crowd to him. Their eyes met, and she smiled as she began making her way back to him.
Good girl.
She was almost to the end of the bar when Lucas stepped into her path. Grant couldn’t tell what he was asking her, but he didn’t miss the disappointing look Brynnon gave the other man as she shook her head.
Maybe the fucknut asked her out, and she turned him down.
Convinced that was it, Grant relaxed his shoulders and waited for her return. A second later, Angie came up to them, eyes wide with shock as she began whispering loudly to Mac.
“Did you hear that? Lucas Campbell just asked Brynnon if she wanted to be dancing partners for the competition.”
Grant forced a steady breath into his lungs, refusing to react.
“Seriously?” Mac’s voice turned high-pitched. “Is she going to do it?”
“God, I hope not,” Angie fumed. “That man put her through hell once, already.”
“Really?” Mac seemed surprised. “Well, with those looks and his money and charm...she may decide to give him another chance. I know I would.”
Grant’s eyes flew back to where Brynnon and Richie Rich were talking. The guy was still trying to talk her into dancing with him, and from the look in Brynnon’s eyes, she was actually considering it.
As Mac continued listing off reasons Brynnon should re-think giving Lucas the brush-off, Coop leaned over and whispered into his ear.
“You gonna let this happen?”
He turned to face him. “What can I do about it?”
“Gee, Hill. I don’t know. Maybe you should”—Coop made a shooing motion with his hands— “go ask her to dance with you, instead?”
The pressure in his chest worsened. Grant shook his head. “I don’t dance.”
“Too bad ‘cause it looks like ol’ Campbell, there, is about to go in for the kill. I mean, sure it’s just a dance, but who knows what it’ll lead to? All that soft music playing in the background. His arms wrapped tightly around her waist. Their bodies pressed up against each other as they reminisce about old times.”
