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Me: She’s too good for West.
Abby: You’ve got that right. Anyway, I owe Emmy, big time. So I’ll be there.
Me: Make sure to say hello. And I can put you and Rafe at my table for dinner, if you want.
Abby: Perfect. I don’t want to turn into a featherbrained idiot sitting at the table with someone famous. Well, famous and someone I haven’t known since the day I was born.
Me: Consider it done. See you then.
Since I had a few behind-the-scenes things to sort out, I arrived several hours early to the benefit location. By the time guests were due to arrive, I checked my phone and saw Katie’s text that she was on the way.
I smiled. Jenn had found another amazing dress, apparently, and said I would “drool at the sight of Katie.”
I couldn’t wait. Because tonight was about more than earning enough to fund my charity for another year and maybe expand it. No, tonight was also when I wanted to tell Katie I loved her. In private, of course. Later. Much later.
Another mini-emergency came up, and I focused on calming the caterer down, saying it was okay to substitute one type of salad for another.
Soon, people began arriving. Some were my colleagues from past movies. Others were from the tech and banking industries. And others were directors and even studio executives.
Between me, Jenn, and Tina, we’d managed to pull this off.
Then I finally spotted Katie standing with Abby and Rafe, and I managed to excuse myself and stalked toward her.
Yes, stalked. Because she was in a stunning black dress, wearing the necklace I’d given her, and was already attracting attention from other men.
But she was mine.
I did everything not to be rude, but somehow got across the ballroom in less than five minutes. As soon as I stood in front of Katie, I took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Hello, baby. You look gorgeous tonight.”
Her pale cheeks flushed, and it took everything I had to keep my dick under control.
She smiled. “Another tuxedo in less than a month. Maybe next time, you should try something else for variety. Hmm, maybe a dress kilt?”
I chuckled. “Maybe.” Never letting go of Katie’s hand, I turned toward Abby and Rafe. Neither of whom looked happy. Abby’s jaw was clenched in annoyance, and Rafe had his arms crossed over his chest.
I nodded at both of them. “I’m glad you two could make it.”
Rafe grunted. “We barely did, thanks to Abigail.”
“It’s your fault, Rafael. Not mine.”
Rafe opened his mouth, as if to argue, but I stepped in. “Well, you’re here now, and that’s all that matters. Maybe a drink would help? There’s champagne and an open bar.” I waved in the direction of it.
Abby sniffed at Rafe and then smiled at me. “An open bar sounds perfect. I’ll see you at dinner?”
“Yes. We’re at the same table.”
After nodding, Abby headed toward the bar, but Rafe stayed behind. I studied him for a second, and as he tapped his finger against his arm, I could tell he was still agitated.
But I didn’t know him well enough to pry. The man was older than me and had left Starry Hills to play soccer in England when I was still in middle school.
However, Katie smiled at Rafe and said, “Thanks for walking me in. I know even fewer people than you do at this event, so I might have to seek you out later. Maybe even for a dance.”
Even though it was irrational, I nearly growled at the thought of her dancing with Rafe.
Get a grip, Nolan.
Rafe shrugged. “It was nothing. And there’s another footballer here somewhere. Er, I mean soccer player. It’s going to take time and practice to switch back to that phrase after so many years in the UK.”
