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“My youngest sister is only fifteen, the age gap can be weird, but also fun.”

I smile, enjoying hearing her talk about her family. “Ruthie is three.”

She gasps. “Three?”

I bite the insides of my cheeks to keep from grinning at her shocked expression. “My dad’s girlfriend is much younger than he is.”

“Goodness. She must be the same age as you.”

“Younger.”

Her pale, blonde eyebrows shoot up again. “Is that weird?”

I shrug, urging my mask slip back into place. Complacent Colby with his careless attitude. Yeah, my dad started a new family. He left me and my mother to philander with women half his age. No big deal. “It used to be, but not anymore,” I lie. “It’s fun to have a little sister to spoil.” That part isn’t a lie, I do love spoiling Ruthie.

Her eyes are softer now, not in sympathy, but curiosity, perhaps?

I find myself wanting to talk more now that we’re having a normal conversation. “I always thought it would’ve been fun to have a brother. Someone to play hockey with.”

“Girls can play hockey too,” she argues. “Maybe Ruthie will play hockey one day.”

I grin at the thought of Ruthie with her bouncy, brown curls in a hockey helmet and little hockey skates and wonder if Noel will ever meet her. The music stops and I reluctantly allow her to slide out of my arms.

I walk Noel back to the table, pulling her chair out for her. “Excuse me, ladies. But I’m needed for the auction now.”

Noel studies me, her brow pinched in a confused expression, but Gram gives me a small wave and says, “Have fun!”

CHAPTER 6

NOEL

Now that Colby’s cologne isn’t smacking me in the face, I can focus again. Cologne. Typical. I’m reminding myself cologne isn’t my thing. I prefer men who smell like a bookstore… such as Dexter Hawthorne.

I sigh.

Or maybe who recently fought in a battle against Sauron. I’d even settle for a magical, high-fae type of scent. Nothing that can be bottled inside a department store and sold for an ostentatious amount of money.

Gram taps on my shoulder, pulling me from my stupor. “Sweetheart, the auction is starting. Do you have your number ready?”

Leaning over my chair, I find my formal clutch and pull it into my lap. I remove the paddle with an attached number card that we got when we signed in for the event and hold it up in the air so Gram can see. “Got it.”

She places her own number on the table and gently puts her hand on my arm, forcing it down lower. “Careful, they’re going to think you’re bidding.”

I laugh. “True.”

A spotlight lands on the stage and peppy music plays as the emcee steps onto the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m Dr. Lehman, the president of the D.C. Children’s Hospital. On behalf of the staff, families, and children that will benefit from your contributions this evening, I thank you for being here, and also for your generosity.”

The room fills with applause, even the kids at the kids table are clapping and smiling.

“Now, let’s get the fun started! Our first item up for auction is an all-expense paid vacation to the Napa Valley Luxury Spa and Winery. The bidding starts at one thousand dollars.”

“Ohhh,” Gram says, glancing at me with raised eyebrows before holding her paddle in the air.

“We have a thousand dollars from number eleven,” Dr. Lehman says into the microphone before glancing at the other end of the room and stating, “And we have eleven hundred.” His gaze shoots to another table again. “Twelve hundred!”

The bidding continues and Gram smirks. “That’s alright, I have a feeling there will be something better to bid for as the evening goes along.”

“They probably save the good stuff for last,” I whisper. “I need to bid on something good for Arlington University.”