Duncan: I can wait. Meet me in the hotel restaurant?
Aurora: I would love to, really. But I still haven’t packed, and I can’t be sure I’ll be there in time. I’m so sorry. Raincheck?
Duncan: Sure.
Aurora hung her head. She’d just turned down Duncan, of all people. Granted, he hadn’t specified it was a date, but he’d sure implied it. She turned to her work. Only three and a half hours before she could go home. It was going to be a long morning.
Aurora had barely enough time to check into the hotel and put her things in her room. She was supposed to meet the committee members in the ballroom at three. The older hotel was luxurious, with crystal chandeliers in the lobby, plush navy carpet, and a marble staircase leading down to the ballrooms. They had rented the first one in front of the staircase, and if she understood correctly, they were the only event the next night. She hesitated before entering the room. Duncan was floundering, boxes were everywhere. And the committee and their partners just stood around, confused.
“I have no idea, Mike—”
“Sorry I’m late.”
“Hey, Roar! Where should we put the pillars?” Duncan turned to her, relief on his face.
“They were to flank the backdrop, over by the entrance, so our paparazzi can get photos right when people walk in. That means this table”—she pointed at the one that had been set up with tickets—“should have the table assignments, and we need another table out in the hall to take people’s tickets.” She turned toward Jen. “Do you think the hotel manager would mind if we did that? We can set it up tomorrow so it’s not in their way.”
“I’ll go find out,” Britney said and walked away.
Mike led a sweet-looking redhead to meet Aurora. “Emily, this is Aurora Brown. Aurora, this is my wife, Emily.”
“Hi, so nice to meet you! Thanks so much for helping.”
“Thanks for having me!”
The women shook hands as Dave walked up with what she assumed was his boyfriend. He was just as tall as Dave, with black hair and ebony skin, dressed like he’d just come from the office.
“And this is Jerry, my partner,” Dave added.
“Dave’s told me so much about you,” Jerry said, smiling as she shook hands with him.
“That can’t be good.”
Dave laughed at her horrified expression.
“No, sweetie, it’s all good things,” Jerry assured her.
“Uh-huh.” She leaned in toward him and loudly whispered, “Don’t let him convince me to drink tonight.”
“Come on!” Dave put his hands on his hips. “I’m going to get it out of you, eventually.”
“Yeah, good luck with that. Now why don’t you tall guys start with the drapes?”
Duncan pulled her aside. “What was that about?”
Aurora waved it off. “Oh, after the one meeting, Davy asked how much alcohol he needed to give me to get me to say who I sent that green candy cane to—I’m just ribbing him.”
Duncan flashed a sly smile. “Would you tell me?”
“I might.” She fought to keep the butterflies at bay. “But we should focus on the decorating right now.”
“You’re right.”
He looked away, but didn’t leave her side. She breathed in his spicy scent and felt it go straight to her brain.
“I’m sorry about earlier.” Her voice was soft.
“Don’t worry about it.” His eyes met hers; there was something in them she couldn’t quite put her finger on. “We can get dinner tonight instead, if you want.”
