Page 33 of Secret Pucking Unicorn

“Okay, close your eyes,” Abby, Kendall’s friend and co-worker, tells me. I do what I’m told, and she swipes the eyeshadow across my lids. When she steps back, I blink at the transformation. My eyes, normally a boring steel gray, look almost silver with the dramatic shadow.

“Oh my goodness, how did you do that?” I say in awe.

She shrugs. “I’m a raccoon shifter. Smokey eye is my birthright.”

Kennie giggles next to me as Abby works her magic on her. Not that Kennie needs magic. She’s beautiful in an ice-blue gown that hugs her curves and perfectly matches her eyes. Bedard is going to lose his mind when he sees her.

I finish putting on mascara and lipstick and appraise myself in the mirror. I hope Declan thinks I look pretty. This past week since we’ve reconnected, it seems like there is a bond that wasn’t there before. I’ve always been attracted to him, and he’s always been kind to me, but I never got the feeling he saw me as anything other than a friend. Now there seems to be an…awareness…between us that wasn’t when we were younger. Maybe the stars are finally aligning for me, and I’ll find the connection to someone I’ve always longed for.

I slip into my gown, and Mallory zips it up for me. My eyes mist over when I remember I had to go ask the cleaning lady of the dormitory I lived in to zip me up when I was dressing for prom. I wasn’t included in the primping with the other girls. No giggles and gossip, no shared hopes for the evening. I was alone, dressing myself in a gown I got in the clearance section of a bridal boutique in town. The moment I saw it I prayed it would fit and I could afford it because the shade of green reminded me of Ireland and the fields of clovers I’d scour with Sophie and her brothers trying to find four-leaf clovers. I never found one, but I still felt lucky to be there with them.

“What are you doing for jewelry?” Daphne asks with a slight smile on her lips.

I bite my lip in consternation. “I didn’t wear any for prom and I don’t have anything. I’m not a jewelry person.”

“Huh,” Daphne says. “You should at least wear a necklace.”

“Yeah, you need a necklace,” Brick chimes in. “Let’s see what we can find…”

“No, I don’t need anything, I’m fine.” I appreciate how kind they are, but I’m okay with how I am.

“Oh, look,” Kennie says, holding up a small gift-wrapped box. “I wonder what’s in here?”

We’ve been friends long enough I know not to trust her innocent air. She’s up to something. I confirm my suspicion when she hands me the box. There’s a slip of paper taped on top of the green and white striped wrapping paper. I flip it open, and my eyes get misty when I read the message.

Saw this and remembered hunting for four-leaf clovers with you. I hope you’ll wear it. -Declan

I slip my fingernail under the tape and reveal the small wooden jewelry box with a Celtic knot inlay in a lighter color wood. It’s beautiful, but nothing compares to what I find when I lift the lid. On a delicate silver chain is a pendant in the shape of a four-leaf clover with the leaves a gorgeous green gemstone—I can’t believe it’s emerald, it’s probably colored glass—and around the clover is a round filigree frame in silver in a Celtic knot design. It’s beautiful and reminds me of happier times.

“Oh my, how gorgeous,” Teagan exclaims. She is wearing a glittery black gown that skims her body. “Lift your hair. I’ll put it on you.”

I turn around and lift my hair off my neck so she can place the chain around my neck and do up the clasp. I’ve left my hair down with the sides pulled back with exquisite silver combs Mallory lent me. For once, my curls are cooperating and falling in tidy ringlets down my back. After she fastens it and I let my hair fall, I touch the pendant where it sits at my collarbones. I can’t believe Declan remembered our childhood games and thought to get me something both beautiful and meaningful. I’m already hopelessly in love with him. He doesn’t need to do things like this to make me fall even harder. I’m afraid to hope gestures like this mean he has similar feelings for me.

A knock on the door of the suite we’re using to get ready signals the guys are here to escort us. Other than Daphne, Mallory, and Kennie, we’re all single ladies. It’s a group thing and not specific dates. Declan is by far the most handsome of the single guys—all the guys—easily eclipsing Carter, Stone, and Alvarez. A shiver flows through me when his gorgeous blue eyes slowly sweep over me, from head to toe. The smile curving those lips I’m dying to kiss stirs butterflies in my tummy.

“You got it. I hope you like it,” Dec says when he walks over to where I’m standing by the sofa in the suite’s seating area.

I reach up to caress the pendant and his eyes follow my movement and then glance down to the swell of my breasts, visible thanks to the v-neckline of my gown. Nothing excessive is showing, but the maturing my figure has done from teenager to woman has changed how the dress fits. If the slow blink and faint blush are anything to go by, Dec likes the changes.

“You look beautiful,” he says, his voice tinged more with the Irish lilt I’m used to from growing up, rather than the Scottish brogue he most often sports since his time in boarding school. The butterflies in my stomach take wing and there is no stopping the smile spreading across my face.

Reaching up to brush the lapels of his black suit, I say, “You’re looking very dapper yourself, Mr. Mackenzie. I love the tie.” His tie is the Mackenzie family tartan and the green of it matches the green of my gown perfectly, like we are meant to be together. He wore a black tuxedo for prom and was the best-looking guy there, but this is a whole other level of gorgeousness.

Daphne walks over with her cell phone at the ready. “I need a picture of you two. There will be a blue carpet and a step and repeat downstairs for more formal pictures. You have to recreate your prom photo and let us show them side by side on the jumbotron at a game. We’ll get prom pics from all the team.”

“Great idea, Daph,” Teagan calls out.

“Don’t forget about me,” Carter exclaims. “Randi and I need a picture together too since we went to one of my Barrister Balls together.”

“If Mac and Carter get pictures with Randi, I want one too,” Stone says with a mock pout. At least, I think it’s pretend.

In the end, I get my picture taken with everyone on the team, including Brick. Daphne, Mallory, and Kendall make their guys do prom pose pictures with them too. Logan holds Daphne’s belly, looking smug. Can’t blame him. Daph is gorgeous in a midnight-blue floor-length gown with an empire waist highlighting her Birdie bump and chiffon ruffles at her shoulders. She is radiant. I love seeing her happy and loved. I hope I have that someday, too.

We walk into the ballroom and I’m in awe of how elegant it looks. I realize it’s not a single ballroom, but a series of them with partitions open to create a massive space. Casino games are dotted throughout, inviting guests to gamble for fun with proceeds going to the charities tonight’s gala is supporting. There’s a stage with a dance floor, tables for dining, bars and food stations, and what looks like a lounge area at the far end of the space.

Teagan waves to get everyone’s attention. “Don’t forget we have the player auction where the winner will get to spend half an hour with you. Please remain in the ballroom for your allotted time. If you choose to rendezvous outside of the half hour, that’s your business. But for those thirty minutes, you are representing the Devil Birds, and we want to keep it PG. You can play blackjack, dance, eat. Karaoke is down the other end.” She points to the lounge area. “Whatever. Make sure they have a good time, but don’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable. If there is a problem with anyone getting too handsy or inappropriate, signal for security. They’re in black suits with gold ties and have earpieces. They’ll take care of it.”

“There’s an auction?” I ask Dec.

---