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Ivy composed herself. “I am sorry. I just meant the storm last year.”
“I knew what you meant. And I’m sorry. That must have been exasperating.”
A blizzard had blown through the Northeast. The city had been spared the worst of it, but roads to the north had been treacherous, and attendance had been reduced to those who lived in town and a few guests who had flown in earlier in the week. (And Vicky had spent the evening at home, worried Noah had been swallowed by the storm, but that was another story.)
Alec chanced putting his arm around Ivy again. “It wasn’t great. Ivy may or may not have spent most of the day railing against the weather gods. A whole bunch of extra donations poured in the next day, so maybe it worked.”
“Yeah, or maybe your invite list is full of people whose reflex reaction to any problem is to throw money at it.”
Vicky, Ivy, and Alec all turned to look at Ryder. He shrugged, flashing her a boyish grin.
So much for him behaving himself. Was she going to have to muzzle him?
Ivy, who had been staring at him for the last few seconds finally burst out. “Ryder? Ryder Prince, is that you?”
“In the flesh.” He waggled his brows. “But I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.”
Vicky had simultaneous urges to roll her eyes and to laugh. She did neither.
“Oh, Ivy Steadman. Pleased to meet you.” She shook his hand. “And do you know my boyfriend, Alec?”
Ryder nodded to Alec. Vicky doubted the men had met in person. Ryder traveled in very different circles than the clean-cut, upstanding Ames. But it wasn’t like there were that many young billionaires in New York (even those who were only billionaires by trust fund like Ryder), so of course, they were familiar with each other.
“Oh wow,” Ivy continued. “I’m sorry, Ryder. I didn’t recognize you at first!”
He chuckled at that. “Was it the suit, the setting, or the company?”
He looked over at Vicky and winked.
Ivy knit her brows together and looked back and forth between them.
“So . . . wait . . . Are you two here together?!” She gasped. “Oh, Vicky, I’m so happy for you. I know it’s been a heck of a year . . .”
Oh dear. How was she going to break this to Ivy without embarrassing her further?
“You two make the cutest couple!!”
Ryder leaned over to Vicky, and asked in a stage whisper, “Do you want to tell her, or should I?”
Ivy looked at her, looking slightly nervous. “Tell me what?”
“Well, um . . .”
“Oh, no. You’re not together, are you?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Ivy buried her face in her hands. “I am so sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight.”
Alec squeezed her gently against his side. “It might be all the sleep deprivation working around the clock promoting the event.”
Ivy nodded. “You may be onto something there. Buy me a cappuccino at the dessert bar? Before I humiliate myself further?”
Alec chuckled. “Sure thing, sweetie. Nice to see you both.”
He and Ivy nodded their farewells before making a beeline for the refreshment tables.
“Well, that was fun,” said Ryder, grinning beside her.
