With one last glance, David left them to enter the stage.The crowd cheered their approval at the blond knight’s appearance.Even a few whistles pierced the air.But it all became white noise to Lilian.She didn’t hear who won the best act.Or best new act.Or best dressed.
All she cared about were the first words out of Hawk’s mouth.“Lilian, what are you doing here?”
“No fair.”She jolted at the words, hot indignation instantly igniting in her stomach.“I was going to say that to you first!”
His lips tilted up, and it eased the tension between them.She could plainly see the thought curling in his mind, the same one that pierced her.This is like old times.
He waved an arm between them, inviting her to speak up.“I’m sorry, go ahead.”
“You never come to these things.”
“Well, this year was different.”
“Why?”she asked, working hard to keep her exasperation quiet.
He stared at her, brown eyes as unmovable as mountains.She knew what he was going to say before the words left his mouth.“Because this year was special for you.I put a lot of work into it, and I didn’t trust anyone else to execute the vision.”
She stood there, the words sinking in.The memory of the two of them in her bookshop as he admitted the stress of the ball.He’d said it was the budget.Now she understood.That was partially true.The rest of the stress was from… well, the evidence was all around them.But there was more to it.“You did this for me?”
He shrugged, eyes glancing toward the ground.As if the truth embarrassed him.“I want to say I did it for everyone.For Mom, for the faire.But I’ve come to realize… there is only one person I’m doing this for.”
The admission cut her like a broadsword.“But you didn’t even reply when I asked you.”
His smile disappeared.“Because I had this whole romantic plan in my head of asking you first and impressing you with all my knowledge about the Raven King.But then you asked me, and I… had to come up with a new plan.”
“And now?”she asked.“You were going to stay back here hiding from me all night?”
“You found me, didn’t you?”
She opened her mouth, ready to deny the claim and everything it implied.But she couldn’t.She looked down at the clipboard in his hand.Then up to the small, sad smile on his face.
“I promised myself that I wouldn’t interfere with your night.That I would stay hidden and make sure it was everything you wanted.And if you found me…” He stopped, licked his lips as if considering if he should continue or not, and said, “I needed it to be your decision.”
Janelle’s voice cut through the noise in her head, calling out, “Next up is the winner of best new vendor!”
Hawk’s smile grew as Logan pushed the curtain aside and joined them.The pirate king stopped, taking in Lilian and Hawk.“Um…”
“Here.”Hawk handed him the folded paper and turned back to the table.“You be the one to give it to her.”
Logan’s eyes cut to Lilian, a question burning in them like a raging fire.She expected him to turn go back on stage, hand the envelope to Janelle for the announcement.But instead, he stalked toward her, cream paper extended out.
She took it and flipped it open.
It seemed Janelle didn’t need the card to know who the winner was.Her voice rang loud and clear in joyous exclamation.“Ms.Lilian Brody’s Bodice and Brawn Bookshop!Soon to be a brick-and-mortar store in a town near you!”
Lilian stared at the words written on the paper.Congratulations.I'll bite.
He knew.
He knew all along that she was going to be here.Not just at the ball but receiving this award.Holding this paper.That she would find him.
There wasn’t time for the realization to sink in before Logan was pushing her toward the stage.She turned her body, trying to get one last glance at Hawk, but Janelle was already pulling her in for a hug.Applause rang out around them.Something tall and metal appeared in her hands.There was no choice, Lilian plastered on the brightest smile she could muster.In front of her was a sea of colors that had no faces.Right now, only one person mattered.
As soon as she could, she turned her attention backstage.Not caring to take the stairs to leave like all the other winners.Instead, her feet carried her back to the familiar darkness of the left wing, but Hawk was no longer there.
“I think we broke her.”Margo’s eyes were full of sympathy as she sipped her champagne.
Lilian sighed.“We?”she probed.“You guys didn’t do this…”
