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“You’re a great dancer, Lily,” Ian said.
I shrugged. “Hardly. You’re like Justin Timberlake.”
He laughed and I joined in with him, unknotting the muscles I was tensing.
“Anyway, I enjoyed that,” he said, lightly touching the side of my face. I moved my face and picked up my wine, taking a sip. A central stage lit up, and a couple took their place in front of the microphone.
“Good evening and thank you all for attending the 15thAnnual Finch Fanatic. I’m Arthur Finch, and this is my fiancée, Rita Wallis.”
The attendees started to cheer and clap.
“Finch Fanatic raises money for national charities to help children in need and combat poverty. Our last event raised over five million dollars. That’s lunch money for some of you. There has been a change in the presenters this evening. An honorable and pleasured addition to our foundation has graciously agreed to announce our list of charities that we will be sponsoring this year. It is with honor and pleasure I introduce a name synonymous with business as well as philanthropy, Jonas Crane.”
My eyes widened as my heart beat to a staccato pulse.He’s here?I looked over at Ian and saw he was as surprised as me. Jonas walked onto the stage and everything else disappeared. One word sprang to mind.Stunning. His looks were mesmerizing and combined with his presence, he outshone all those around him. He was dressed in a designer tux that fit his lean muscular frame beautifully. His dark, wavy hair hung longer than I remembered and swept back from his chiseled face. But what made me truly catch my breath were his sea blue eyes that moved over the crowd. The eyes that bore into mine in my dreams. Then there were the sensual lips that I remembered touching all over me. His eyes flashed on me, and a trace of a grimace formed, but instantly morphed into a broad smile, showing off his perfect set of teeth.
I, like the crowd, couldn’t look away as he took the podium. Before he could speak, a statuesque buxom blonde in a gorgeous blue gown came up to him and planted a kiss on his cheek. I knew before Ian whispered to me that she was Melissa Finch. Her head tilted upward, showing her perfect profile and the pearly white smile that had a pageantry-winning lilt to it. I had no doubt that if she had ever been in one, she would have been the winner. She stood next to Jonas with confidence, and I realized I was now the one with a grimace on my face.
“Ladies and gentlemen, my beautiful daughter, Melissa. Maybe we’ll have a double wedding?” Arthur mused, and the crowd clapped.
Jonas smiled at Arthur. He shook his hand, kissing Rita on the cheek.
“If you match my contributions and throw a party like tonight, I might consider it,” Jonas said.
The crowd went wild.
My fingernails dug into my hands. Even though we were not together, I wasn’t prepared to see Jonas move on. But this wasn’t just him moving on. She was like Dani. A perfect match for him. I was happy when the lights dimmed, as I knew well enough I wouldn’t able to hide the pain that gripped me.
Ian reached out and rubbed his hand on my arm, leaving a trail of warmth as well as an offer, if I was willing to take it. I wasn’t. If I touched him I would fall apart. I was barely holding it together. Knowing Jonas was with her, and may have touched her like he touched me, hurt deeply.
Jonas launched into a speech about the Arthur Finch foundation and the list of charities with a video and power point presentation accompaniment. We were all spellbound as he went through the value that the charitable organizations brought to society like a true professional, inflicting the right intonation, and pausing at just the right moments. I was enthralled by his skill and proud of him at the same time.
Jonas paused as he reached the end of the list, his tone softening. “The final charity to make our list this year is an equally worthy addition. The Salomé Love Legacy.”
The image that appeared next was of my parents and me at the first Perchance to Dream.
My jaw dropped open and I covered it with my hand. “How is this possible?” I spluttered.
“I don’t know,” Ian answered absently. “These things are usually set well ahead of time. Congratulations.”
I then realized the picture had come from the Salomé Love Legacy’s website. I had given Jonas the information weeks ago along with Ms. Parker’s contact information. She would have had all my mother’s binders, including a detailed diary with the progress of the event.
I was enraptured as Jonas continued his speech, speaking eloquently about the story I had shared with him about my parents. Tears flowed down my face in an endless stream to my heart.
He looked directly at me. “I will end with this special video that was created for tonight. Please enjoy.”
The hall filled with an instrumental ofAdiago Cantabilefrom Beethoven’s,Pathetique. I didn’t know where to go or what to do. He had completely undone me. My heart spilled over with love and gratitude as memories of our first night together came to mind. He had thought of me almost as too innocent that night, until he took possession of my body. We’d come together, and I knew even in those moments, and the subsequent days that followed, I was falling in love with him.
My shoulders shook and Ian lightly touched my back, alerting me that I needed to get a hold of myself. I gulped in air and dabbed my eyes with the facial cloths from my clutch. Then, I joined in on the applause that was deafening in the hall.
“If you would excuse me, I need to be alone for a few minutes. I’ll be right back,” I said quickly.
The lights were rising in the hall and I didn’t want anyone to see my tear-streaked face or the overwhelming emotions that flooded me. Ian rose, but I turned and walked briskly away, not awaiting a response. I quickly maneuvered around the tables until I made it out of the hall. I walked outside, welcoming the cold air that cooled my skin. My mind was racing around all that I had seen this evening.
Finding a bench, I sunk down and tried to comprehend what had happened. Jonas helped fund my dream, my legacy.
“There you are.”
I looked up to find Jonas charging toward me. My heart pounded in my chest as he stood before me, the electricity of our connection sparking between us and stealing my breath.
