“Exactly. We’ve only been online until now, but next week is the opening of our brick-and-mortar location. We still have a lot of boxes to unwrap and some last-minute shelves to put up.”
“Wow, will you even have time to recover after tonight’s event?”
“Not really. Timing isn’t great, but it couldn’t be helped. We were hoping to open this week already but weren’t ready, and we can’t afford to stay closed much longer. We’re having a hair and makeup party, and everyone who attends gets a discount for the lingerie.”
I remembered Ryker being worried that his sisters were taking on more than they could chew, and it sounded like he was spot-on. When I came out, I twirled around a few times.
“Ready?” Tess asked.
“Oh, yeah.”
“So, my brother surprised us all when he told us you and Avery were coming.”
I grinned. I’d just wondered why she wasn’t asking anything about Ryker.
“I’ve always wanted to come to a Ballroom Gala,” I replied, unsure what else to say. It was true after all.
“I see. So you’re just here for the gala, not for my brother?”
***
Ryker
One thing I loved about the Ballroom Galas was that the time we put into organizing them also doubled as family time.
I arrived at the venue before the event began to oversee the last preparations. I was just about to shoot Cole a message when I saw Heather and Tess coming out of the changing room. What was Heather doing here so early? She looked stunning. I had to admit, when she’d described her dress, all I could do was picture her out of it. The top was tight, and her cleavage tempted me. All I wanted to do was pull her closer and touch all that soft skin until she blushed just for me. But we were not alone. Yet.
Tess waved at me. “Hey, brother.”
“Hi!” Heather said shyly.
“I asked her to come a little earlier so I could explain a few things.”
That made sense, except the glimmer in my sister’s eyes told me that wasn’t the only reason. And how exactly had Tess known Heather’s number?
Before I had the chance to ask anything else, Skye joined us too.
“Avery’s already all set up,” she said. I peeked at the corner we’d set up for kids. It wasn’t all that usual to bring kids to high-profile events like these, but we’d set it up this way from the very beginning, and our donors loved it.
“Oh, Skye, Heather agreed to participate in the raffle.”
Wait, what? Hell, no. I’d asked Heather here because I wanted to spend time with her. If she danced half the night, we’d barely exchange a few words. Heather wasn’t going to dance with anyone but me.
“Perfect. Come with me to our table so I can tell you exactly how it works,” Skye said. My sisters exchanged a glance. I bit back a smile. Yeah, I was starting to put two and two together. As was often the case with my family, I could guess the general gist, but not the depth or the intricacy of their plan. Life in the Winchester clan was just one surprise after the other.
“I’ll just check on Avery real quick,” Heather said. “I’ll find you later.”
Skye nodded.
As soon Heather was out of earshot, I focused on my sisters.
“You asked Heather here earlier on purpose?” I asked Tess.
She smiled. “Of course. You didn’t think I’d wait until the event starts to meet the woman who’s got you all tied up in knots, right? I wanted to have enough time to get the right picture of what’s happening.”
“And?” I asked.
“I only had about ten minutes with her.”
“So you didn’t get the picture?”
Tess jerked her head back. “I’m offended. I already got all the intel I needed.”
“In ten minutes?”
“Yep.”
“I’ve known Heather for three weeks.”
“What can I say, I work fast.”
“I’m impressed. So?”
Tess smiled saucily. “Who said I’ll tell you anything?”
I groaned. Skye elbowed Tess. “Tess! This is a time-sensitive matter. You can tease him another time.”
“So good to know that at least one of my sisters loves me unconditionally.”
Skye winked. “I can’t help it. Have to go, though. Need to finalize some details. You’ll have to fill me in later.”
After Skye left, Tess tilted her head, sighing. “I think she’s trying to protect Avery and herself from heartbreak and getting their hopes up. It’s hard on kids to just see people walk in and out of their lives, you know?”
“I know.”
She looked at the kids’ corner, wringing her hands. “I understand where Heather is coming from, wanting to protect Avery. The day Mom told us Dad left, I thought she’d just meant he wasn’t coming home that evening. I waited on the windowsill for him that entire week. I waited for him to come back for years. Right until he remarried.”
Jesus. I had absolutely no comeback. She’d never told me this.
“Tess...”
She waved her hand. “Let’s not get into all that. We’re talking about Avery and Heather right now.”
“She told you everything you’ve just said?”
“Not in exact words. She just told me her story and I inferred the appropriate conclusions.”
“Right....”
“Oh, by the way, Mom and Mick are coming tonight.”
“What? They never attend.”
“I mentioned you invited a lady friend and her daughter. I think it was a strong incentive.”
I barked out a laugh. These things only happened in my family.
“I need to check on a few last-minute details. See you later?” she asked.
“Sure.”
I wanted to say something more on the subject of Dad, but honestly, I didn’t know what, and Tess usually folded into herself whenever she spoke about him. I didn’t want to spoil her mood.
Looking around, I realized that a few guests had already arrived. Damn! I’d wanted to talk to Heather before it began. She was at the kids’ corner, speaking to a little girl.
I stopped right next to them. Heather bit her lower lip when she saw me.
“Avery, this is my friend Ryker.”
Avery looked up at me, stretching out her tiny hand. “Hello, Mr. Ryker. I’m Avery.”
Heather laughed, ruffling her daughter’s curls. I crouched on my haunches until my face was level with Avery’s.
“Nice to meet you, Avery. You like it here?”
“Yes. I feel like a princess.”
“He’s the one who sent us the invitations,” Heather clarified.
“They were so pretty. Mine said Miss Avery. Mommy, can I go back and play?”
“Sure.”
She darted right to the slide the next second. I rose back up, watching Heather intently.
“I’m glad you came,” I said. “Hope Tess didn’t drive you too crazy.”
“Not at all. She explained how everything works. Can’t wait for the raffle.” Wiggling her eyebrows, she added, “Think you’ll get lucky for one dance?”
“Ms. Prescott, are you teasing me?”
“What do you think?”