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“Nothing he doesn’t already know.” I shrug and pull out Lacey’s chair for her. I wait for her to sit then scoot her forward with a single push. “He sucks, by the way.”
“We know,” Aiden says. He drapes his arm around the back of Maggie’s chair, and I see lipstick on his cheek. “Literally anyone would be better at his job than him.”
“One of you should apply,” I suggest.
“With no experience?” Maggie bursts out laughing. “That’s not how it works.”
“Why not? Wouldn’t kill you to try,” I say, and Lacey pats my thigh.
“The first part of our scheme is working; we convinced Hannaford you’re my boyfriend,” she says. “The man practically thinks you’re a god. Maybe this will fast-track me to the chief physician position.”
“I hope it does. Next up are my parents. They’re going to be a little harder to convince, but I think we’ll be fine.”
Lacey lifts her glass and knocks it against mine. “I’d pretend to be your date anytime.”
“Flirting with me, Daniels?” I ask.
“In your dreams, Holmes,” she says lowly, and she throws back her drink.
“Lace, what happened to your neck?” Maggie asks. She reaches over and touches the red mark I left on her skin. I’ve been looking at it all night, too. “Are you okay?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m fine. Curling iron.” Lacey sets her napkin in her lap and smiles at her best friend. “Thirty-four years on this earth, and I still manage to burn myself.”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing and look away. As I do, I swear I see Aiden glance between us and grin.
* * *
“Thank you all for coming,”Hannaford says into the microphone. “I have a feeling this is going to be a great year of raising funds for the Metro Hospital and all our entities. There’s a special guest with us tonight, and we’re honored he could be here. He’s also graciously donated two highly coveted items to the silent auction. Please welcome Shawn Holmes, head coach of the D.C. Titans.”
The room gives me a standing ovation as I make my way toward the stage, and I blush. I’m used to being on camera, but it’s always where I’m comfortable. On the field. After a game. I’ve spoken at galas and events before, and I haven’t loved the attention on me. But tonight is important; Lacey is involved, and I want to make sure things go right for her.
“Good evening, everyone.” I raise the microphone then shove my hands in my pockets. “I’m Shawn, and I’m thrilled to be here tonight. When I heard there would be a silent auction to help raise money for hospital resources, I was more than happy to donate two one-on-one coaching sessions. They come with a tour of UPS Field, and I’ll make sure you get to meet some of the players, too.”
The crowd breaks into another round of applause and I pause to take a breath, scanning the room for Lacey.
I spot her right away, sitting on the edge of her seat with her hands clasped together and watching me.
Seventy thousand people in a stadium or four hundred people in a museum. It doesn’t matter. I always find her, and I’m happier because of it.
“I hope when you look at the items you can bid on tonight, you see you’re not just bidding on a nice dinner or a weekend at a cabin in Steamboat Springs. You’re bidding to help enrich the lives of the employees at Metro Hospital. You’re bidding on state-of-the-art technology, the first of its kind. You can help make Metro Hospital the number one patient facility in the country. In addition to the silent auction items, I’m personally donating two million dollars.”
The applause grows louder, and everyone is back on their feet. Hannaford nearly falls off the stage, and, as much as I’d like to deck him in the face for being a self-righteous asshole, I give him a smile instead.
“Before you all start spending your money, I want to add one last thing,” I say, and the noise quiets. “There are a lot of people in this room who have done incredible things. I want to take a minute to recognize my girlfriend, Lacey Daniels, who also happens to be my best friend. She’s a pediatrician, and I see how hard she works. Some of her afternoons are so busy, she can’t even stop for lunch. But she shows up every day with a smile on her face, ready to do good and help out the kids in our community. She’s unbelievably smart, and she’s damn near perfect at her job. Thank you for letting me be here tonight with you, sweetheart. I’m so proud of you, and I hope we get to spend every holiday together going forward. You’re the best Christmas present I could ever ask for.”
Lacey grins at me and her hands settle over her heart. Seeing her happy makes me want to do everything in my power to make sure she keeps smiling like that. Fake boyfriend, best friend, or some guy she forgets about in five years, I don’t care. I’m going to make it happen.
I walk down the stairs and head for our table. Aiden whistles and Maggie presses a kiss to my cheek, then I turn my attention to Lacey. I cup her chin in my hand and tilt her head back.
“Hi,” she says, and she wipes her eyes.
“Hi, Lace Face.”
“That was some speech you gave up there.”
“Someone mentioned wanting a yacht. I thought this might be better.”
“You called me sweetheart.”
