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I stared at Hannah for a minute and noticed the pink flush of her cheeks and the her coy smile. “Who put that dreamy eyed look on your face?”
“Me?” she shot back entirely too innocently.
“Yeah, you. Who’s that sexy dress for?”
Hannah arched a brow at me. “Who says you have to buy a dress for a particular person?”
“Um, your logic about two minutes ago.”
“Old news,” she replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. “I just want to look so hot that all the single men in attendance ask me to dance. No more.”
“You’re lying to me, but that’s all right. I’ll get answers out of you yet. I always do.” She hadn’t mentioned anyone in particular she was interested, certainly not anyone in town, and that piqued my curiosity. A lot. Instead of calling Hannah on it, I slipped back into my own fitting room and took one last look at the dress before I took it off. It was sexy and sophisticated, perfect for the Night of a Thousand Heroes.
Perfect to make Cal swallow his tongue, not that I cared about that.
I didn’t.
Well, maybe a little.
Cal
“You will be the prettiest girl at the ball.”
Rosie looked up at me with a wide smile, took a step back and twirled in a half dozen circles until she was sure I had a good look at every inch of her green dress.
“Thank you, Uncle Cal. You look very handsome.”
I laughed at just how grown up she sounded. “Good job, Princess. You remembered exactly what to say.”
She preened at the compliment and waved me inside, taking my hand as we walked through the foyer and into the living room. “Tell Daddy,” she whispered. Loudly.
“Tell me what?” Antonio entered the living room from the kitchen, everything done up right except the bowtie that hung lazily around his neck.
“That you look very pretty tonight, Antonio.” He glared at me while Rosie giggled like crazy. “Want some help with that tie?”
He looked down at the tie, back up at me and shrugged. “Nah, I look sexier like this. Mysterious too, like I’m too cool to be bothered to tie my tie.”
“Or that you just don’t know how.”
His grin widened. “My explanation sounds better.”
“Every man is entitled to his own delusions. Ready to go?” I didn’t feel like a loser, not at all, for attending the fundraiser with my best friend and his daughter. Nope, not at all. Just because I was single didn’t mean I needed to have a date on my arm. Especially any old date.
I wanted Teddy.
“Let’s go. I can’t wait to see the show.” My so-called best friend clapped his hands, looking far too pleased at the prospect of Teddy ignoring me all night. “Hope they have popcorn.”
“There’s no popcorn at a ball, Dad!”
I hoped Antonio was wrong and there was no show worthy of popcorn, but I wasn’t holding my breath. Teddy had ignored my every attempt to reach out to her. Day after day, I called and left message. I sent flirty texts, pleading text and even funny texts. I got nothing back.
Nada.
But tonight, I had Teddy right where I wanted her. She couldn’t run away, and better yet she wouldn’t. Because despite everything, she was a nice girl.
“What’s that smile for?” Antonio and I stood flanking Rosie as we entered the hall that had been decorated for a ball, her excited gasps of surprise giving me time to think.
“I was thinking how Teddy would hate it that I called her a nice girl.”
“So much,” he laughed. “Please do that when you see her. Pretty please.”
I shook my head. “I value my jewels too much, but thanks.” Tonight wasn’t about getting a rise out of Teddy, no matter how beautiful she looked when she was angry and irritated, it was about telling her how I felt.
As soon as I figured it out. I still had an hour. Maybe two.
“Daddy, Daddy! Look! Aunt Teddy looks like a queen!” The awe in her voice stole my attention, first down at little Rosie and then I followed her line of sight until my gaze landed on Teddy.
Holy fucking smokes. She was regal enough be a queen in her royal blue, but it wasn’t just the dress, it was how she carried herself. It was sexy as hell, showing off cleavage, curves and just enough leg to make a man have ideas about seeing the other leg, and everything else the dress hid from view.
Antonio cleared his throat at least twice before I managed to tear my eyes away from Teddy and to him. “Ready?”
“Yes. Hell no.” I was ready to see her, up close and personal, but I still had no idea what I would say. I couldn’t tell Antonio that, so I stood a little taller and squared my shoulders. “Damn right I am.”
