I smirked and started up the steps to the front door of my folks’ house, a bubble of excitement causing an extra pep in my step. Lady clearly felt the same way as she bounded ahead of us.
Dinner at the ranch was something I looked forward to each Sunday. I wasn’t sure if it was the excitement of what new wine would be discovered that month, or simply the fact that I loved being surrounded by my family. It was really the only time me, Landon, Noah, and Hailey were under one roof. We rarely saw each other after we’d all graduated from high school and headed to college. Landon started racing in high school and moved up so fast, he never actually attended college. And now that he wasn’t racing any longer and was living back in Waco, there was a better chance we’d all be here on Sundays.
Of course, there were some family dinners at the ranch I had hated in the past. Mostly when Landon had brought a date, which wasn’t often. It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy for him when he was dating someone; it was that weird little tinge of jealousy I got seeing him with someone.
“Oh man, that smells good,” I said as we walked into my folks’ house and made our way to the kitchen. I could already hear everyone laughing and couldn’t wait to get in on whatever it was.
Landon chuckled. “Sounds like the party started without us.”
“Sure does!”
The second we walked into the kitchen, I spotted Hailey. Her light brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her cobalt blue eyes seemed to sparkle with happiness. I could instantly tell that something was different. She seemed to have a glow about her that lit up the entire room. She jumped off the counter and walked over to her brother, wrapping her arms around him.
“I hear you’re going to be auctioned off!” Hailey said with a giggle.
Landon rolled his eyes and gave her a playful push. “Don’t tell me you’re on the committee now,” he groaned.
Hailey smiled as she took a drink of wine and shook her head. “Nope. But someone let it slip that you were up on the auction block.”
I felt my eyes widen as my father and Noah both laughed. As handsome as they both were—with their light brown hair and eyes the color of the sky—they were lucky I didn’t think of volunteering one of them for the auction before Landon’s name flew out of my mouth. Well, Mom would have been pissed to share Dad, and my brother was already dating someone.
“Who blabbed?” I asked, pulling my phone from my purse and searching for Janet Monroe’s number.
Hailey shrugged. “Not sure, but I’ve already had three of my friends cancel their plans for that weekend since they’re now planning on attending the charity ball. The committee is thinking they will sell every plate this year and might have to add some more tables!”
I frowned, not liking the idea of Hailey’s friends bidding on Landon.
“Oh, this is wonderful!” my mother gushed.
Turning to her, I forced a smile. Her own smile faltered, and I knew she could sense something was off. She had that magical power most mothers had. Never mind how stunningly beautiful she still was. My father used to tell me I was a mini version of her. Her brown hair was pulled up into a loose bun on top of her head, and it flopped to the side as she tilted her head and asked, “Is everything okay, sweetheart?”
“I’m not sure,” I answered honestly, and then hit Janet’s number on my cell phone.
“What’s all the excitement I heard?” Addie Lewis asked as she and Emmit walked into the kitchen. Each week our folks took turns hosting Sunday night dinner.
“Your son has volunteered to do the charity date auction this year for Children’s Hospital of Austin!” my dad said, giving Landon a sympathetic smile.
“Are you insane?” Emmit asked.
Landon’s mother, Addie, let out a squeal of delight. “Oh, Landon, this is wonderful! How did they talk you into it?” She hugged him and then gave him a kiss.
Landon shot me a look over Addie’s shoulder. “I was signed up without my knowledge.”
Addie drew back in surprise, and once again the guilt of signing him up hit me right in the chest. Or maybe that was regret I was starting to feel.
Janet’s voice came through my phone. “Hello?”
“Janet, it’s Emmerson. How in the world did it get out about Landon Lewis?”
Addie’s eyes widened as she looked from me to Landon, and then back to me before she whispered, “Ohh, I see.”
“Emmerson, sweetie, I know what you’re thinking, but I figured if word got out, we’d have more plate sales. And more plate sales means more money for the hospital.”
“But the charity date auction participants have always been announced at the ball.”
Janet laughed. “Emmerson, it’s Landon Lewis. He’s one of the most eligible bachelors in Texas! How in the world could we keep this a secret? I know you don’t seem to find him attractive, but the rest of the world does, and he’s going to bring in top dollar with his date.”
I spun around and walked out of the kitchen as quickly as I could. “I never said I didn’t find him attractive!” I whisper-shouted into the phone. “He’s my best friend, Janet, and I signed him up without him knowing!”
There was a chilling moment of silence before she slowly spoke. “He…doesn’t…know? People magazine reached out to us about the charity date auction after news got out that Landon was going to be in it! And you’re telling me he doesn’t know?!”
“Of course he does…now! But I agreed on his behalf and he’s not that happy with me, and now you let everyone know…” I sighed and dropped down into my father’s desk chair. I hadn’t even noticed that I had walked into his office. “He’s never liked the limelight, Janet. And now I’ve thrown him right back into it because I’m a selfish bitch and a terrible friend.”
“I’m sorry, Emmerson. Your family does so much for the hospital, and I let my excitement get the better of me. I’ll tell the reporter from People no comment, and we won’t bring it up again. If anyone asks, I’ll let PR know we don’t release the names of the volunteers ahead of the ball.”
I closed my eyes and let out a relieved breath, even though the cat was clearly already out of the bag. “Thank you so much, Janet. I appreciate you being sensitive about Landon’s privacy on this.”
“Of course. I guess a part of me went a little crazy, thinking this might be one of our biggest charity balls yet, and I let my judgment slip.”
I sighed as I mumbled, “You and me both.”
“Will you let Mr. Lewis know we’ll handle it all?”
I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. I suddenly felt so tired, and I had no idea why. This charity ball really was taking up way too much of my time, and although it was for a good cause, I was going to resign from the committee when this was all said and done. “Yes, and thank you, Janet.”
I hit End, dropped my head back against the chair, and closed my eyes. Why in the hell had I volunteered Landon? I never stopped for one second to think about the press that would be involved in this event. It was supposed to be a local event, though; I honestly never dreamed freaking People would be covering it.
“Everything okay?”