For Everly

  “Okay.” He reached up and stroked her cheek. “I wanted to ask you if you’d be interested in going with me to this charity ball thing on Saturday. It’s being touted as a New Year’s gala, but they wanted it on the weekend.”

  Her eyes widened. “This coming Saturday?”

  “I know it’s late notice. I wasn’t going to ask you because I usually hate these things and I didn’t want you to have to suffer with me. It’s a bunch of pretentious people pretending to be interested in a cause for a chance to see and be seen among other pretentious people. But the food’s good.” He tried a winning smile since her expression had grown dubious.

  “I don’t own anything suitable to wear to a ball,” she began.

  “I can fix that.” When she was about to argue further, he said, “I’ll resort to unmanly begging, I swear. Isn’t there some saying about suffering for love?”

  He didn’t think about what he’d said until he said it. He couldn’t help but feel exposed as she studied him in silence.

  “If that’s true,” she said at last, “then I guess I don’t have any choice. I’ll suffer with you, Mr. Parker.”

  * * *

  Cole knew how to make up for a lousy Christmas gift, Everly would give him that.

  The day of the ball, she attended salon and spa appointments with Cole’s mother and sister. He treated them all to the works. By the time Everly was in Brenda’s car on the way back to Cole’s parents’ house, she’d been massaged, buffed, and glammed to a point she didn’t even recognize herself.

  She loved the way her stylist had done her makeup so much that she splurged and bought some of the outrageously priced cosmetics so she could do touch-ups if she needed to. And her hair! She felt like she’d stepped off a runway. Whatever they had done to enhance her natural color made her ecstatic to be a redhead. The elegant up-do they’d given her had her fearing every tiny brush of wind between Brenda’s car and the house.

  Fortunately, she made it inside with her hair still intact. All she had left to do was slip on the ball gown that Brenda and Avery had helped her pick out the day after Christmas. It really had been a steal thanks to post-Christmas sales. That relieved Everly, even if Cole insisted on paying for the dress.

  “You’re going to knock Cole on his ass,” Avery declared, lifting her glass of wine in a form of salute.

  Everly caught the other female’s gaze in the full-length mirror and smiled. Avery was stretched out on the bed in what had once been her childhood bedroom and was now a spare. Sam was downstairs with his grandparents while Avery helped Everly get ready.

  It was surprising how comfortable she was with Avery in the room. Cole’s family had a way of making people feel like they belonged. It hadn’t taken an hour into the ball gown shopping trip for Everly to relax and enjoy herself. Maybe it was because she’d known Wyatt for so long and was so close to Cole now. Whatever the reason, she felt lucky just to have them in her life.

  “If I do,” she said, “it’ll be because I trip in these heels and he tries to save me.”

  Avery snorted. “You’ll be fine. I know you didn’t want to wear heels because you’ve got legs for miles and no one’s likely to see them anyway. But you’ll know you’re wearing fabulous shoes and you’ll show that confidence to the world.”

  Everly couldn’t argue. She studied herself in the mirror with something bordering on disbelief. The black gown was deceptively simple. The sleeveless bodice had a sweetheart neckline and hugged Everly’s curves to the middle of her ribcage. There, a one-inch band of diamante crystals met the flowing, floor-length skirt. She hadn’t wanted a large, poofy gown. This one oozed sophistication and suited her tall frame. For the first time in her life, she truly felt beautiful.

  “You should wait to put on the shrug,” Avery suggested. “Let Cole see how incredible your shoulders and neck look with your hair swept up like that. He’ll want to attack your neck with his lips.”

  Her face heating up, she caught Avery’s gaze again. Seeing the other woman’s grin, she couldn’t help but grin back.

  “Speaking from experience, I wager?”

  “Drives Mike out of his mind,” she confirmed. “We don’t go to many fancy events, but it’s always fun to dress up when we do. Just wait until Cole sees the bustier you’ve got on underneath that dress paired with those heels.”

  “You’re going to have me red as a tomato when Cole gets here,” Everly said, touching her burning cheeks and wishing she didn’t color so easily.

  Just then, the doorbell rang.

  Avery leaped from the bed. “Don’t move. I have to get my camera. I’ll be right back.”

  As Avery set her wine down and dashed from the room, Everly battled the nerves she’d been suppressing all day. She’d be meeting some of the city’s most influential people that evening, including Cole’s teammates and much of the team’s coaching staff.

  How in the world was any of this possible?

  The door opened again and Avery hurried in. Everly had found that Cole’s sister did everything with a great deal of energy. She imagined that could only help when keeping up with a five-year-old little boy.

  “He found them,” Avery said, lifting a bag as she entered. “Well, I’m thinking Margaret did, but who knows? He might’ve, considering how smitten he is with you.”

  “Found what?”

  “The perfect accents to that gown.”

  Avery pulled out several boxes and began opening them. Everly’s mouth fell open over the amount of glitter she saw.

  “Jesus…these are real,” Avery said with wide eyes, holding up a choker and matching teardrop earrings that appeared to be made of diamonds. The choker mimicked the band of crystals around Everly’s bodice.

  “How did—?”

  “Mom called Cole after we picked your gown and told him what to look for as far as style. He said he wanted to get you something. Oh, man…a matching bracelet and hair clip.”

  “I can’t wear that,” Everly said, her voice an octave higher than usual. “That all had to cost more than my grandpa’s house.”

  “You have to wear it.” Avery walked up to her with the choker and began putting it on her. “It would be a sacrilege to women everywhere if you didn’t wear these gorgeous accessories.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. Put on the earrings.”

  Sighing, Everly gave up and took out the tiny diamond studs she had in her ears. When she felt the weight of the earrings Cole had bought her, she almost picked her argument back up. Avery gave her a look that mothers had perfected over the ages. Everly snapped her mouth closed. She put the earrings on and allowed Avery to clasp the bracelet on her right wrist and secure the sparkling clip in her hair.

  When Avery turned her so that she could see herself in the mirror, Everly’s breath caught. She looked like she belonged on the cover of Vogue.

  “You’re going to have them tripping over themselves on the red carpet,” Avery said.

  “Red carpet?” Everly echoed. “What—?”

  “Wait one minute, then come downstairs,” Avery interrupted. She reached out and gave Everly a quick hug. “I want full details when I see you next, okay?”

  “Okay. But what was that about a red—?”

  “One minute, okay? See you downstairs.”

  Everly shook her head as Avery ran back out the door. The action had her new earrings swinging and catching the light. She couldn’t help but stare at her reflection for another long minute, trying to memorize this moment.

  Look at what life could hand you when you least expected it, she thought. She would hold onto this mental image whenever she felt that things were too tough to get through.

  Putting her small stud earrings in her little black clutch and making sure she had all of her makeup, she picked up her black shrug and took Avery’s advice by leaving it off. She carried the clutch and shrug in her left hand and used her right to hold her skirt while she descended the stairs. The entire time, she prayed she did
n’t catch her heel and fall on her face.

  Cameras flashed as she reached the landing and turned to descend the rest of the way into the foyer. Cole stood beside his parents and sister, all of whom held cameras. She felt for a moment like she was going to the prom, something she hadn’t experienced in high school. Despite the bright pops of light, Everly kept her attention on Cole.

  His reaction was even better than she’d imagined. He looked like a destitute man who just won the lottery. His jaw remained unhinged even as she stopped in front of him.

  “Hello, Cole,” she said. “Are you ready to suffer together?”

  Chapter 48

  From the moment Cole took her hand and bent to kiss the back of it, Everly felt like she was floating on a cloud of happiness. His family insisted on them posing for some photos together before they got into the waiting limo. Although Cole griped and complained, he grinned through it all.

  On the way to the ball, he poured her a glass of champagne and lifted one of his own in a toast.

  “To the most beautiful woman in the world,” he said. “Thanks for suffering with me tonight.”

  She smiled. “Thank you for making this such a special day.”

  They tapped their glasses and sipped. It tasted divine, Everly thought. A perfect touch.

  When they arrived at the ball’s location and the driver walked up to open the door, Cole caught her gaze and said, “Try not to look too shell-shocked. You never know where these pictures will end up.”

  She tilted her head in confusion as the door opened. Since the driver reached down to help her out, she didn’t have time to think about it. She took the driver’s hand and held her skirt so she could emerge from the limo without stepping on it. When she looked up, she was nearly blinded by brilliant flashes of light.

  “Told you,” Cole said as he joined her.

  There really was a red carpet, Everly realized. Fortunately, the champagne helped ease her nerves enough that she threw on a smile as soon as she saw the cameras. Cole smiled and gave a wave as his name was called out, making it look natural. He presented Everly his arm so they could make the long walk up the carpet and into the venue.

  “Who’s your date, Cole?” one reporter asked.

  “How long have you been seeing each other?” another queried.

  “Whose design are you wearing, sweetheart?” called out a third.

  Cole leaned down and said, “Don’t worry about responding. It’s all par for the course.”

  She nodded and followed his lead. They were instructed to stop in front of a banner bearing the event’s branding. After a minute of them getting photographed together and fielding a slew of questions from the crowd, the staff person manning the station asked her to step away from Cole. She did so, figuring they wanted some promotional photos just of him. When she moved further down the carpet to where the staff person indicated, she was shocked that a number of the cameras followed her.

  “Hey, Everly!” shouted a voice above the crowd. “You’re lookin’ extra sizzln’ hot, little mama.”

  Javier waved at her from near the door to the venue, which was clogged with people. A woman she assumed was his date clung to his arm.

  Laughing, Everly waved back. Cameras went off like they were capturing the first lunar landing. Behind those cameras, people murmured. She heard enough to guess they were wondering who in the world she was.

  Cole once again joined her. “They all think you’re a model,” he said in a low voice as she took his arm. “Technically, you are. I’ve never dated a model before. I feel like a king.”

  She elbowed him, feeling her face flush. But a wide smile stayed on her face.

  It took another ten minutes to get inside. Portable heaters lining the walkway kept her from getting too cold in just her shrug. Once they entered the ballroom, she had to work on controlling her reaction to the opulence of the décor. The room was so vast that she could barely see the other side.

  “How many people are expected to be at this thing?” she asked.

  “About five thousand,” he said.

  Her eyes widened. “How much per plate?”

  “Ten thousand.”

  “Whoa.”

  “Yeah. The bulk of the money will be made with the silent auction they’re holding over the course of the evening, though. A lot of sports memorabilia and artwork.”

  She absorbed everything he said as she observed the people around her. He introduced her to a number of people, some of whom were very famous. Though it was a challenge, she worked hard on keeping herself contained. She didn’t want to be the weirdo fangirling through the ball.

  During their rounds, she got to meet the team’s owner and greet Caroline. The older woman looked stunning in a bold red gown. She seemed genuinely happy to see Everly again.

  “There’s Abigail,” Cole said when they’d found their table, deposited her shrug, and had a couple more glasses of champagne in-hand. “You haven’t met Marshall’s wife yet, have you?”

  “No. I’d like to, though.”

  They approached a petite blonde female wearing a deep blue ball gown as she placed a wrap over the back of a chair at a nearby table. When she looked up and spotted Cole, a warm smile appeared on her lovely face.

  “Uh-oh,” she said with a twinkle in her blue eyes. “Here comes trouble.”

  “You’re not still holding the incident with the juggler against me, are you?” Cole asked as he released Everly’s hand and embraced Abigail.

  “You’ll never live that one down,” she said.

  Something about the look in Abigail’s eye when she backed away from Cole’s hug made Everly’s smile waver. Maybe it was just a little jealousy over the fact that they shared an inside joke she didn’t understand, she thought.

  “Abigail, I’d like you to meet Everly Wallace,” Cole said, stepping back to her side and placing a hand on her shoulder.

  Abigail’s cheerful gaze moved to Everly. “I’ve heard so much about you, Everly. Marshall told me all about your modeling experience.”

  Everly blinked, not expecting the comment. “Oh. Thanks. It’s so nice to meet you.”

  “Where is Marsh, anyway?” Cole asked, glancing around.

  “You know him. He’s off with the team, probably taking a shot to get him through the night.”

  Cole laughed. “Can’t say I blame him.”

  “Go on and hunt him down for me, Cole. I want to get to know Everly better, and women can never say what’s really on their minds with you guys around.”

  When Cole looked down at Everly, she smiled. “Go on. Have fun.”

  “All right. I’ll be back shortly,” he said. He leaned down to give her a quick kiss. “Make sure you say lots of great things about me. Feel free to embellish.”

  She laughed. He kissed her again before he walked away.

  “Would you walk with me over to the bar?” Abigail asked her. “I wouldn’t mind a cocktail.”

  “Sure.”

  Everly found herself floundering as the shorter woman fell into step beside her. She and Cole hadn’t discussed exactly what details they were going to share with people about their relationship. What if she said the wrong thing?

  “There was a time when Cole would have headed right for the bar himself,” Abigail said. “He tends to spend more time with his teammates than with his dates. It was one of the reasons I decided we weren’t compatible.”

  The implication that she’d dated Cole had Everly stumbling for words.

  “Did he not mention that we dated before I met Marshall?” Abigail asked when she saw Everly’s expression. “Don’t worry. It wasn’t for very long. Like Rebecca, I didn’t like coming in second place to Cole’s career. Once the season starts, you’ll understand.”

  Everly wasn’t sure why Abigail was saying such things. Was she trying to warn her off in some strange sense of female camaraderie because she felt that she and Rebecca had been burned? Why would that be the first thing she brought up? It certainly set
the conversation off on an awkward note.

  “I’m glad you found your match with Marshall,” Everly said at last, glancing back in the direction Cole had gone and wishing he’d return.

  They reached the bar. “Cosmo, please,” Abigail told the bartender. Her gaze returned to Everly. “I’m glad, too. Marshall is very open and trusting. He treats me like royalty.”

  Was she implying that Cole wasn’t like that? Everly didn’t know how to respond. When the bartender handed Abigail her drink and looked at her, Everly raised her full champagne flute and shook her head. They turned away from the bar and headed back to the tables.

  “So…did you have a nice Christmas?” Everly asked, struggling for a good topic.

  “We did, yes. Marshall’s family lives in the area, so we spent it with them. How about you?”

  “It was great. Cole’s family is so nice. I love them to death.”

  Abigail stopped walking. Everly couldn’t read her expression, but she thought the other woman looked surprised.

  “You celebrated Christmas with Cole’s family?”

  “Um, yes.”

  Abigail sipped her drink. Then she said, “Everly, can I be frank with you?”

  Not having much choice, she shrugged. “Sure.”

  “Okay. I feel it’s only fair to tell you that Marshall and I consider Cole to be a part of our extended family. If we find out that you’re milking him for his money or trying to increase your social stature by sleeping with him and you then break his heart, we will hunt you down.”

  Everly was sure her expression was rather comical. Since she would never do any of those things, the suggestion that she would left her aghast.

  Eventually, she said, “I understand. I’m not like that.”

  Smiling, Abigail took another sip of her drink. “I think I believe you. Well, I’m happy for you both.”

  The tension in Everly’s shoulders eased. “Thanks.”

  “Hopefully you’ll make a changed man out of him. I’d love nothing more than to have someone to do things with when Marshall and Cole are out with the boys.”

  “That would be nice.”