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“I haven’t seen him in years.”

“Neither has most of Devil’s Peak. Somehow everyone else has managed to keep their mouth closed.”

I close mine.

Ryder looks across the room and then his gaze catches mine. And stops. My heart does something humiliating. Then one corner of his mouth lifts.

He remembers me.

Fantastic.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” Wyatt’s voice booms through the microphone.

The annual Devil’s Peak Charity Auction has officially begun.

I turn away from Ryder.

“Saved by public humiliation,” Lila murmurs.

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

The auction moves quickly. A ski instructor goes for four thousand. The new veterinarian gets six. A divorced woman who owns the brewery gets eight and kisses the woman who buys her.

Then Wyatt looks toward the edge of the stage.

His grin changes.

Oh no.

“Before we finish tonight, we have one late addition.”

Ryder’s head snaps toward him. “No.”

Unfortunately for Ryder, Wyatt is holding a microphone. The entire ballroom hears him and laughter breaks out.

Wyatt points. “Some of you may remember this handsome bastard from approximately eighteen years ago.”

More laughter.

Ryder shakes his head. “I didn’t agree to shit.”

The microphone catches that too. I laugh. Ryder looks toward me.

Damn it.

“Get up here, Hale.”

“Go fuck yourself.”

“It’s for charity.”

“Still no.”

Wyatt walks over, grabs Ryder by the shoulder and somehow gets him onto the stage. The room erupts. Ryder looks like he’s considering murder and it looks good on him.

“Ryder Hale,” Wyatt announces. “Thirty-five. Single. Successful businessman. Recently returned to Devil’s Peak.”