Chapter 8
CHAPTER
EIGHT
SOPHIE
The staff from WVFY arrive early to the Ambassador Hotel just as Michael and Donald asked us, to help set everything up before putting on our glad rags. Almost as soon as we come back down, the doors are open, the guests begin to arrive, and the orchestra starts up.
I glance at a table, trying to not feel smug as I see the list of auction lots. I changed mine without telling Michael. Luckily my friend runs the printing department and was able to reprint them with my new offering – so I’m relaxed and ready for the evening.
“You look gorgeous,” Lorena, the evening news anchor says, kissing the air next to my cheek.
“Thank you. So do you.” I smile at her.
I made a big effort tonight for a number of reasons.
Firstly because Ava, Lauren, and I went shopping for dresses together and it was so much fun.
I couldn’t wait to wear this dress. It’s a silver crossover halter neck dress that clings to my body like a limpet.
It makes my bottom look a little bit big, but Ava assured me that it was perfect and to be honest I feel like a princess right now.
The second reason I wanted to make an effort because I’m going to be standing up on that stage. And even though I’m not going to be auctioning myself off exactly, I still want to look nice.
I sigh at the thought of the third reason. Because a certain man I spent a night with will be here. It’s embarrassing because I shouldn’t be dressing up for Liam.
Yes, after the christening it feels like there’s been some kind of change between us, but I’m not at all sure how that makes me feel.
Fundamentally things are still the same.
I might find him attractive in a physical way, but emotionally he’s a thousand miles away from the kind of guy that’s right for me.
At least it’s a beautiful evening. Through the windows at the end of the ballroom I can see the sun slowly sliding down the sky, casting an orange glow across the city, making the Kanawha River look like it’s on fire.
Lisa joins Lorena and me as we stand and smile at the guests as they walk in. She looks radiant in a black satin sheath that shows off her perfect shoulders. Even though she gave up competitive gymnastics years ago she still has the best muscle definition I’ve ever seen.
Lorena clears her throat. “Have you organized your highest bidder?” she asks me, kissing the cheek of a man who looks delighted to see her.
“What do you mean?” I reply once he’s moved on. “Won’t the highest bidder be the person with the biggest wallet?”
Her smile wavers. “Oh honey, no. You need to hit somebody up, someone you don’t mind having dinner with. My friend’s boss is bidding for me. He has a lot of cash and he loves to give it away. I’ve already promised him the best night on the town.”
“I’m not offering dinner,” I tell her, relieved because I might have dodged a bullet.
“You’re not?” She frowns. “I swear I saw that on the list.”
“I had the list reprinted.” Yes it was a waste of paper, but I paid for it myself.
Lisa is grinning at me. “Did you tell Michael yet?”
“Nope.”
“So what are you auctioning if it isn’t dinner?” Lorena asks.
“I’m going to give somebody a personalized weather forecast every day for three months. They tell me where they are and what they’re doing that day and I’ll tell them if they’re going to get rained on or have beautiful sunshine.”
It’s a genius idea. And yes, it’s more work than going out for dinner for a night because I’m going to make sure I do it right. But I’ll do it on my time so it won’t affect the team.
“Oh I love it.” Lisa grins. “I would so bid on that.”
“Do it,” I tell her. “I’ll give you the best forecast you’ve ever had.”
I turn to see Ava and Lauren walking toward us. Ava is wearing the gorgeous red dress she chose when we went shopping last week. It’s perfect for her, enhancing her new post-Charlie curves, her skin glowing and pearlescent against the deep ruby fabric.
“Look at you,” she says breathlessly, hugging me tight. “Everybody’s going to want a piece of your forecast.”
“Will you bid on me if nobody else does?” I ask her, remembering Lorena’s warning.
“Everybody’s going to bid on you,” she tells me. “Not because you look amazing – which you do by the way – but because they know what a great meteorologist you are.”
“This is why I love you,” I say. I give Lauren a hug next. She’s as beautiful as Ava, wearing a midnight blue dress with a Bardot neckline and a cinched waist.
“You’re gonna knock this out of the park,” she whispers to me.
“Thank you.” I’m feeling lucky to have them as my friends. Then I feel a weird sensation. My skin starts to prickle like it’s suddenly gotten cold in here. I glance over Lauren’s shoulder and see him.
Liam’s standing with Myles, the Salinger brothers devastatingly handsome in their tuxedos. They look like they should be in a cologne ad, not laughing about something as they wait for Ava to join them.
Myles sees me and lifts his hand, smiling. I wave back as Lauren releases me and starts talking to Lisa, who apparently knows Lauren from the bakery she runs.
Against my will, my gaze shifts to the man who knows how to push every button I own. It clashes with his and my muscles tense. His gaze wanders lazily over my face, my shoulders, down to the dress I’m wearing, then just as slowly he lifts it back up until he catches my eyes.
There’s something deliciously sensual about the way he doesn’t look away. Just stares until my cheeks start to burn.
His dark hair is casually ruffled, his freshly-shaved jaw in contrast against the stiff collar and bow tie just beneath it. I’ve never met anybody as comfortable in his own skin as Liam Salinger. He could be wearing nothing but a thong right now and he wouldn’t blink an eyelid.
His confidence is annoying. I wish my body didn’t respond to his so much. It would be so much easier to deal with him then.
“Sophie?” Lisa says.
I blink and look at her.
“I’m going to head for the bathroom before we have to mingle,” she repeats so I can hear her. “Are you coming?”
“Yes, good idea.”
As I follow her I’m so aware that Liam is still watching me. I glance over my shoulder once more, and he isn’t smiling anymore. There’s a darkness to his eyes that I could get lost in if I wanted to.
“Watch the—oh shit!” Lisa calls out, as I slip on something on the floor.
My arms flail like windmills as I feel gravity doing its thing, pulling me down toward the ground.
Lisa lunges forward and wraps her crazily strong arms around my waist, catching me right before I hit the patch of what looks like spilled champagne that caused my stupidly high heels to lose their footing.
“Oh my God,” she says. “I’m a fucking hero. I just saved you.”
“Does that mean we have to get married now?” I ask her.
She grins. “Definitely.”
We both start to laugh because it’s such a ludicrous situation. She’s swept me into her arms like I’m Scarlett and she’s Rhett except she’s only five feet six and definitely doesn’t have a moustache.
She hauls me upright, and though my dress is wet at the hem it’s barely visible.
“Okay?” she asks.
“I’m okay.” I nod. Then I glance behind me – and Liam is still standing there watching.
But that dark look that shook me to my core is gone. Instead, he’s laughing and so is Myles while Ava is shouting at both of them, though I can’t hear what she’s saying.
And it’s weird, but I prefer this. Being around Liam is so much easier to deal with when he’s not being dark and dangerous.
I can take the mocking, laughing Liam.
It’s the one who looks like he wants to eat me instead of the three course charity banquet I find scary.