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“No more so than I.” Rory shrugged, slipping an arm around her. Vi snuggled closer. He sensed no pity, only bone-deep empathy.
Stars blinked in a hazy sky. Rory saw a spire of smoke curling from the scrub brush, not close, but still on the property. He rose and went to the railing, then joined her again. “I think your uninvited guests are back. I’ll let Tavo know.”
“How aggravating.” Vi blew out a breath. “Good thing I have Cyrus.”
Rory nodded. Cyrus afforded him peace of mind too. He sat up straighter. “Hey, I almost forgot. Are you up for a big ask?”
The faint line between her brows deepened into a rut. “Ask away.” Caution wound through the simple words.
“The whopping big deal of charity fundraisers happens on New Year’s Eve. I go for business because it’s hard to beat the networking opportunities.” He turned to face her. “I hope you’ll go with me as my date.”
Vi made a face. “I’ve heard Paige talk about this fundraiser. It’s one of those high society dress-to-the-hilt deals, isn’t it?”
“All that and a box of chocolates. I will enjoy the evening far more if you’re with me.”
A frown twisted her lips. “I don’t know, Rory.”
“You don’t have to decide tonight, but I won’t be asking anyone else.” His breath hitched. “I’m done being stupid.” He still hadn’t told her about his horrible date with Melissa. With what had transpired tonight, however—another instance of his foolishness could wait.
“Let me think about it. It’s a hard one.” Her eyes looked far away.
“Why? There’s more to it than the event.”
The light in her eyes had vanquished. “Rory, most people have more than one skeleton in the closet.” She rose from the chaise. “I need to go. Thank you. This has been … lovely.” Her voice broke on the last word.
Only he’d spoiled it, but he didn’t know how. “Are we good?” he asked softly, trying to repair the damage.
In the yellow light, her eyes gentled into two violet stars. “You’re fabulous, Red. Walk me to my car?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
On lunch break, Vi peered in Paige’s fridge. Ham and cheese or PBJ? Gala or no gala? She opted for ham and cheese and pulled out the ingredients. As she assembled a sandwich, Rory’s request came to mind.
Paige strode in. “Hey, mija. How did the prequel go last night?” The dark-haired woman said the word playfully. She peered at Vi’s sandwich and began to make her own.
Vi chuckled. “Surprisingly fun. You’re the little bird who helped him put it together?” She took a crunchy bite. Cyrus’s wolfish eyes pleaded for a snack.
“So, I’m a little bird now, huh? Glad you had a good time. Goodness knows, he worried about it enough.” Paige finished with the mayo and pressed the top layer of bread into the meat and cheese.
Vi took another bite of the sandwich and chewed. “Paige …”
Paige placed her plate and sandwich on the table. She opened a cabinet, found a bag of chips, then sat. “What, mija?” Her brown eyes pierced Vi.
“I, uh … Rory asked me to be his date to the gala.” Vi toyed with a crust of bread. “I told him I’d think about it.”
“Well, you need to think fast, because the gala is this Saturday night.” Paige’s brisk tone left no wiggle room.
Vi reached for the chips. “He said it’s a whopping big deal.”
Paige snorted. “Dead-on. The gala is the front-runner with no competition for charity events. Rory’s participation is crucial. And he needs a date. Besides—” Her eyes danced. “Rory in a tux is a sight not to be missed.”
Chips forgotten, Vi took a deep, slow breath. “Okay. Take me to gala school.”
Paige’s eyes flashed. “He’ll be thrilled.” She retrieved a memo pad from the fridge and handed it to her. “Make a list. The first thing you need is the right dress.”
“Don’t you have a dress I can use?”
The other woman frowned as if Vi had suggested going in dirty scrubs. “Mija. No one wears borrowed attire to the gala. First impressions for everyone else, but you need to knock Rory’s socks off.”
