“Holy shit,” I whisper as I take in the sight of Ty. He’s in a fitted black tux that makes his shoulders look wide and his hips narrow. His inky-black hair has been tamed into a sleek style, and he’s holding a bouquet of red roses in his hands.
I bite my lip and step back into the foyer so he can come inside and shut the door.
“Turn around,” he murmurs softly. His eyes are on fire as they rake over me from head to toe.
I toss him a sly smile and slowly turn in a tight circle.
“Dear God, stop,” he mutters, and approaches me from behind. The flat of his hand glides down my spine, from my neck to where my tattoo ends, right above my rear. “This is the most beautiful ink I’ve ever seen.”
I smile softly and glance back at him over my shoulder. “Thank you.”
I have a line of brightly colored flowers that fall down my spine on vines.
“What kind of flowers are they?” he asks softly, his fingertips tracing the lines of the vines up and down my spine, sending goose bumps all over my body.
“They’re rose of Sharon.”
“What do they mean to you?”
“I’ll tell you later. It’s a long story.” I turn to face him. My breath stutters at the primal lust burning in his eyes. “Thank you for this dress.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I think I need to thank you for wearing it. I knew the color would make your eyes shine, and it does. But I had no idea that little treat was waiting for me on your back.”
“You look completely hot yourself, counselor.”
He smirks and holds the flowers out for me. “These are for you.”
“They’re lovely.” I bury my nose in the soft, fragrant blooms and take a deep breath, fussing over them. “Mmm, they smell great.”
I turn and head for the kitchen to put the flowers in water.
“Are you ready?” I ask as I return to the foyer.
“When you are.”
“We’re not taking the Jeep?” A classic red convertible Mustang is parked in the drive.
“It’s a beautiful night for a drive in the ’Stang.”
“Uh, I worked on this hair for a long time, Ty. It’s not convertible-safe.”
He laughs and presses a button in the car and the roof closes smoothly. “Better?”
“Thanks.” I sit in the soft vinyl seat. “I didn’t know you were into classic cars.”
“I like to tinker.” He shrugs as he pulls onto the highway. “It’s a hobby, not an obsession.”
“Ah, so that’s why you like to change your oil yourself.”
“Yeah, I suppose so.” He nods, smiles warmly, and takes my hand in his, then pulls it to his mouth. “You are stunning, Lo.”
“It’s the dress.” I smooth my free hand down the soft skirt.
“It’s the woman wearing it,” he murmurs, and kisses my hand again. “Are you okay with coming to this thing tonight, given that Jack will be there?”
“We live in a small town, Ty. I see Jack here and there. I can’t avoid it even if I want to.” Jack is the athletic director for the school district, and given that this is a fund-raiser for the high school athletic department, Jack will be there.
“I’ll be by your side all night.”
My gaze turns to his profile as he pulls into the recently built O’Malley Center, which houses a five-hundred-seat theater and a grand ballroom for special occasions. “He won’t threaten me here. It’s too public.”
“You still haven’t told me what he threatened you with last week.” Ty turns his gaze to mine, but I just shake my head and look away. “You will tell me eventually, you know.”
Not if I can help it.
The valet opens my door and offers me a hand, helping me from the car. Ty is quickly by my side.
“You’re tall in those shoes,” he murmurs in my ear. I’m just the right height that all I have to do is tilt my head up slightly and my lips will meet his.
So I do.
I press my lips to his in a chaste, simple kiss before he presses his hand to the small of my back and ushers me into the ballroom.
Round tables are covered in black tablecloths with white place settings. Simple centerpieces of orange, fall flowers grace each table. At the head of the room stands a podium, and along one wall is a long line of tables full of silent-auction prizes.
Ty snags two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and hands me one. “Shall we go browse?” He gestures to the auction tables.
“Sure.”
The auction items range from spa days and handmade quilts to ski packages and trips for two to Mexico.
I sign my name on a trip for four to Disneyland, and Ty raises his eyebrows. “Are we going to visit Mickey?”