Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Luna
After my talk with Rage on the way to L.A., I start feeling foolish all over again. Stress and anxiety can mess with your brain, and that doesn’t mean I’m going crazy. I did get a prescription for some anti-anxiety meds to help me rest when I’m alone, but otherwise, I’ve thrown myself into work.
Candy asked me to work on the silent auction.
She’s busy collecting donations, and I need to find the best way to set up the auction itself, as well as the aesthetic.
People will be able to fill in their names, phone numbers, and the amount they want to bid on sheets of paper set in front of each donation.
I decided we’d have tables set up along the perimeter of the ballroom the event will be in, with photos and whatever details are necessary.
There are some high-priced items, like luxury vacations, medium donations like signed sports memorabilia, and less expensive things like gift certificates to popular restaurants and spas.
She’s done a great job procuring things, and it’s been nice to lose myself in something beyond my day job.
Things at Shadow Security are actually kind of slow, despite the huge commission to run security for Dusty Peaks. That’s going to bring in a lot of money, and I’ve been running background checks on everyone involved in the project, but beyond that, there isn’t a lot to do.
Shooting just started last week, and Allora is there now to audition.
It’s going to be incredible fun if she gets a part.
I know Lacy too, who’s already got a part, but Allora and I are closer.
We’ve become something I would venture to call best friends, even though it’s only been a few months.
She doesn’t have many close girlfriends either, just Lacy and a couple of others, and all of them live and work far from her home in Oceanside.
Which means we’ve spent a lot of time together.
I’m so excited for her. Not because she aspires to be a big TV or movie star—that’s not what she wants—but because it’s part of her moving past what happened to her.
Being kidnapped. Raped. Almost sex trafficked.
It was incredibly traumatic, and she needed something special to bring back a sense of normalcy.
I’m so lost in thought, I’m not paying much attention as Candy and I explore the event space.
I’ve got a tape measure, and I’m trying to figure out how many eight-foot tables we’ll need for the auction items. Candy is off with the event planner for the location, so I’m almost on top of them when I hear them whispering in the hallway.
“…not acceptable!” That’s the event planner’s voice.
“I told you the money will be there Friday.”
“It better be. Otherwise, I’m going to have to let the spot go.”
“Don’t do that. I told you, Garth has been a little cagey about finances, but we had a nice influx of cash after the press conference. He’s got the money wrapped up in money market accounts and other investments, so we can make as much as possible for the charity. That’s all.”
“Candy, I’ve extended this as long as I possibly can. But if you don’t come up with the deposit by Friday, I’ll have no choice but to release the reservation.”
“I know, okay? I’ll get you the damn money!” Candy stalks around the corner in the opposite direction, and I quickly duck down another hallway.
Not my circus, not my monkeys.
But still, I feel the urge to find out what’s going on. To dig deeper and get answers.
That’s what got you into trouble ten years ago, I remind myself firmly.
You’ve come a long way since then—don’t borrow trouble.
As much as it pains me, I push it out of my mind and go back to my list.
“There you are.” Candy comes around the corner with a bright smile, not so much as a hint that she’s in danger of losing the event space.
“I think we’re going to need twenty tables,” I tell her, going over my notes.
She nods, listening intently. “Great job. The venue will provide whatever tables we need for no extra charge, but someone will need to be here during set-up so they’ll know that those particular tables aren’t for dinner, but for the auction.”
“I’ll be here,” I say. “No worries.”
“Great.” She glances at her watch. “Listen, I have a meeting with the company donating the gift bags. Will you be okay on your own here?”
“Of course. I have Elliott’s SUV.”
She nods. “Great. See you later.”
She hurries off in the opposite direction, and I finish making notes about set-up.
We’re going to need display materials as well.
Sign holders and stands, and some way to display things like football and hockey jerseys.
The local professional hockey team, the L.A.
Phantoms, has generously offered a few items, including signed jerseys and pucks, and I don’t want to just lay them on the table.
We also have to think about security. Even rich people can be dishonest, and it would be too easy to pick up a signed puck while everyone is eating and slip it into a purse or bag.
I’m going to mention this to Elliott—I’m sure he’ll have ideas.
But it’ll be costly to mount the jersey in a frame, so I have to consider more affordable options.
I don’t care what anyone says, money is a problem for the event.
I walk outside and head to Elliott’s SUV. As I get in, I see Candy standing on the street talking to someone. It’s a man, probably in his thirties, and they look…cozy.
Oh, yikes.
The guy leans over to kiss her and she wraps her arms around his neck.
Oops.
I definitely wasn’t supposed to see that, so I slide down in the seat, just peering over the dash and watching him palm her ass. Then she gets in her Mercedes and speeds off, leaving the guy on the street.
He looks familiar but I can’t place him.
One of the fighters?
Dammit.
Why did I have to see this?
I don’t care.
I shouldn’t care.
But I do.
With a frustrated sigh, I put the key in the ignition and start it up.
I have to pick up Elliott in an hour anyway, so I might as well head that way and watch him fight.
Or practice. Or whatever it’s called. Toby supposedly has some jiu-jitsu experts on site today, giving both him and Elliott a lesson or something?
I don’t understand how it all works but Elliott is focused and even leaner than before.
He’s dropped ten pounds since he started and if his body was beautiful before, it’s spectacular now.
His abs are even more defined and those beautiful oblique muscles practically call my name every time I see him without a shirt on.
Last night, I licked them for a long time before moving on to licking other things.
I’m still thinking about that when I arrive at Toby’s gym and walk inside. It’s hot and stuffy—like air conditioning would somehow make them less manly—and I sink into a chair by the wall.
Elliott is on a mat with a guy I don’t recognize, and they’re rolling around.
The other guy taps out and he and Elliott exchange words.
Then they do the same move again, and this time Elliott taps out.
It’s fascinating to watch them practice individual moves, especially since I don’t understand much at all.
“You must be Elliott’s girlfriend.” A man sinks down next to me, and I realize it’s the man Candy was kissing.
I’m so startled I nearly drop my purse.
“Sorry—didn’t mean to scare you. I’m Neil, Toby’s agent.”
“Hi.” I blink, staring at him. “We, uh, met last time we were here.”
“Luna, right?” He’s got one of those million-dollar Hollywood smiles, with teeth that are perfectly straight.
“Yes. Hi. Nice to meet you.”
I manage to put a polite smile on my face. “How long have you been Toby’s agent?”
“A couple of years. I used to fight, but I had some injuries that ended my career.”
“It can be dangerous,” I acknowledge.
“Agreed. That’s why I opted to retire while I was still healthy and move to a more lucrative profession. I handle quite a few athletes.”
“Oh, interesting.” I’m still smiling, but all I can think about is that kiss.
“Will you be at the exhibition matches?” I ask politely.
“Of course.” He nods. “I’ve procured quite a few donations for Candy and Garth.”
“How, uh, do you know them?”
“Candy and I used to date. We grew apart. It happens. She can be a handful sometimes. Like a lot of women, you know?” He winks like it’s something I should know merely by virtue of being a woman.
“But we ran into each other again last year and it’s obvious she’s changed.
We’ve slowly been rebuilding a…friendship. ”
I nod, trying not to read between lines I wasn’t supposed to see. “Isn’t she dating Garth?” I don’t know if my question is as innocent as I try to make it, since his eyes narrow slightly.
“I think that relationship will end after the event,” he says with a shrug.
“Oh.” What am I supposed to say to that?
Luckily, Elliott uses that moment to come over and drop a kiss on my lips.
“Hey, honey. How was your day?”
I smile up at him. “Busy! Looks like yours was productive.”
He nods. “It was.” He glances at Neil. “How’s it going, Neil?”
“Good to see you, Rage.” Neil nods and then excuses himself.
“What was that?” I ask curiously.
Rage watches him go. “He wasn’t hitting on you, was he?”
I laugh. “Not that I could tell but even if he was, I wouldn’t have noticed.”
“Yeah? How come?”
I lower my voice conspiratorially. “Because my boyfriend is so much hotter than him.”
He chuckles then kisses me again. “Let me jump in the shower and then we’ll get out of here.”
“I’ll be here.”
I watch him walk into the back and grin at the sight of his ass. And broad shoulders. Pretty much all of him.
Mine.