International Player(25)

I chuckled, and we made our way, side by side, to the venue room.

Volunteers greeted us as we headed toward our seats. We’d barely get two steps at a time before someone else greeted Truly with a hug and a smile and some piece of news they wanted to share or a question they’d been dying to ask her. They acted as if they knew Truly, even if she was convinced they didn’t. They told her how pleased they were to see her and asked after Abigail. It was nice to see her have so much attention. The spotlight looked good on her.

“This is our table,” I said as we arrived. “Right at the front.” I pulled out her chair and she took a seat.

“That was exhausting,” she said. “All those people talking to me. I didn’t recognize half of them.”

“It’s nice. They care about the foundation and your family.”

She nodded and reached for the water, her wrist so delicate, I wanted to wrap my fingers around it to give her strength.

“Let me,” I said, taking the bottle before she could and pouring her a glass. “No wine?”

“God, no, can you imagine? My speech is right at the end. I’ll have one to calm my nerves and before you know it, I’ll be funneling alcohol into my mouth.”

“Interesting image and doesn’t exactly sound like you.”

She laughed. “Maybe no alcohol now, but I’m going to hold you to tequila. I’ll have earned it if I survive this.”

“You’re going to do more than survive,” I said, completely sure of that. The thing I didn’t understand was the way I couldn’t take my eyes off her and how my hands were hot with a need to touch her.

That wasn’t who we were.

We were friends. She was my best friend’s sister-in-law. And I was here for the children of the rehab center. Truly wasn’t a girl I wanted in my life for a standard three-month cycle, which was why I needed to get myself under control. Sure, she was beautiful. And funny. And clever and great to spend time with. But that wasn’t why I was here.





Thirteen





Truly


I glanced up from the podium, locking eyes with Noah, as people applauded the Volunteer of the Year winner. Noah’s expression was bright and encouraging, and it was easy to imagine that he was here as my date. He’d been so attentive. Flirtatious even. It was so easy to get sucked in by his charm and those blue eyes. Which was exactly why I’d wanted to avoid spending time with him. I was way too old for crushes.

Adrenaline coursed through my body. The speech had gone off without a hitch. People had laughed at a couple of my jokes, and I’d even managed to look up into the crowd. The fact that I’d written in red pen “LOOK UP” at the end of every paragraph had helped.

I took a breath and looked away as the winner took the stage. I passed over the envelope containing the spa certificate. Vivian was one of our longest serving volunteers, and someone I’d known since I was a kid.

“Congratulations,” I whispered into her ear as I kissed her on the cheek. “And thank you for all you do.”

She pulled me into a big bear hug and began to cry.

She mumbled a few thank yous into the microphone and then I led her off stage to rapturous applause.

Noah was at the bottom of the stairs and took both our hands as we negotiated the steps in our high heels.

“You were wonderful,” he whispered as he led me to the table. “Let’s get out of here.”

He scooped up my evening bag and led us to the exit.

“Hey, what about the dancing?” I’d been sure he’d make me stay for the dancing part of the evening because it was the exact opposite of what I wanted to do.

He paused and looked back at me. “You want to stay?”

“No, of course not, I just thought—”

He took my hand. “We have tequila to drink.”

Noah. Tequila. Me. It seemed like a bad combination. A dangerous one. But before I had a chance to object, he pulled me through the crowd. His determination, the way he gripped my hand tightly, it was as if I was his responsibility, his to keep safe.

The car was idling outside when we pushed through the hotel’s revolving doors. Noah helped me in before going around to his side.

“Did you find somewhere?” he asked Bruce.

“Certainly did, sir. It’s just a few minutes away.”

Noah nodded and sat back, not letting go of my hand, like we were on a date. He was just being friendly and supportive but it was too easy to enjoy. “You were astonishing tonight.”

“Astonishing? Because I didn’t have a full-blown panic attack on stage?” I poked him in his arm, trying to remind myself that we were friends. That the touching was just . . . nothing.

“Don’t give me that. You know you did well.”

I grinned at him. “I’m pleased with how it went. Did you notice they even laughed at my jokes?”

“I did. And you stayed connected to the audience, glancing up all the time. I’m proud of you.” He tightened his grip on my hand.

“Thank you. You deserve the credit, too. You helped me with the speech, calmed me down before the event, gave me confidence. And you being here? It means a lot, Noah. I know you have plenty of other things you could be doing.”

“There’s nothing I’d rather be doing.” He held my gaze and swept his thumb across my palm.