Page 10 of Piercing Eyes

“I seriously doubt that.”

“I’m not kidding. I have no sense of rhythm whatsoever. Please tell me we don’t have to dance.”

Now I’m really intrigued. “Tell you what. You give me one dance, I won’t ask for anything else.”

“Are you serious?”

“Rory,” I say in a very solemn voice, “it’s for a good cause.”

She gives me an unamused look in return. But then, shaking her head, she says, “Fine. One dance. But I’m only saying yes because you’re my boss.”

When we arrive at the venue, it’s decked out for the occasion—white flowers everywhere, champagne fountains, the works. But I can barely focus on any of it because of Rory. Her black dress hugs every curve, and she’s radiating beauty in every possible way. My hand hovers near the small of her back as we navigate through the crowd, but I stop myself from actually touching her, knowing that would cross a line I shouldn’t cross.

At our assigned table, I spot my former Stallions teammate Luke and his wife—my sister Thora. They both know exactly how complicated things are with Rory. When they spot us approaching, I catch their quick exchange of glances, but they both stand and introduce themselves to Rory warmly. I’m grateful they’re acting like it’s totally normal that I brought her as my plus one, even though I know I’ll be getting an earful about it later.

Dinner feels dangerously natural. Watching Rory laugh at Luke’s stories about our playing days, seeing her and Thora make easy smalltalk—it all feels right in a way that makes my chest ache. When Luke casually feeds Thora a bite of his steak, telling her she has to try it, I catch myself imagining doing the same with Rory. The thought of that kind of easy intimacy with her, of being able to reach for her hand whenever I want, of having her here not as my assistant but as my date…it’s torture.

Sweet, exquisite torture that I shouldn’t be letting myself think about.

The auction starts after dinner, and Luke and I immediately fall into our old competitive ways. When a dinner for two at an exclusive restaurant comes up, we start driving up the price, grinning at each other across the table like idiots.

“Come on, man,” Luke calls out as I raise my paddle again. “You know Thora’s been dying to try that place.”

I just shrug and raise my bid higher. Back and forth we go until we’ve pushed the dinner package well past $10,000. It’s worth every penny—it’s all going to the kids’ program, and the look on Luke’s face when I win is priceless.

Later, when the DJ starts playing dance music and people begin filling the floor, I turn to Rory with a grin. “Time to pay up on that dance you promised.”

“Oh God,” she mutters, but lets me lead her out there. The bass thrums through us as we start to move, and she wasn’t kidding about having no rhythm—but watching her try to find the beat, her face scrunched in concentration, might be the most endearing thing I’ve ever seen.

“Here,” I say, placing my hands lightly on her hips. Christ, it feels good to touch her. “Just follow the beat like this.” I guide her movements, and after a few moments, she actually starts to get it.

Until I let go, and she loses the rhythm again.

“See?” she says, laughing. “I’m hopeless.”

“No, you’re adorable.”

She flushes, her eyes darting away before meeting my gaze again. As she continues to dance out of sync, she leans in so I can hear her above the music. “That was really amazing, what you did during the auction.”

“It’s for a great cause.” I shrug. “When I was a kid, my parents struggled to pay for extra-curricular stuff. I almost had to quit the team at one point. Now that I can help make sure other kids don’t have to face those same struggles…well, it’s the least I can do.”

She looks up at me then, really looks at me, and the way her expression softens makes my heart bang violently against my ribs.

“I had no idea you grew up like that,” she says. “It’s really good of you to give back.”

The music shifts to something slower, more intimate, and I feel her start to pull away.

“Wait,” I say. “This is a good song.”

“I can’t.” She smiles at me, but there’s something else in her eyes, too. “I gave you one dance, that was the deal.”

Before I can convince her to stay, she moves away. Suddenly she’s moving through the crowd like she can’t get away fast enough.

“Rory!” I push past other couples, trying to keep sight of her black dress in the sea of people. By the time I make it outside, she’s standing at the edge of the valet area, arms wrapped around herself as she stares up at the night sky.

“Are you okay?” I ask, though I can see she’s not.

She shakes her head. “I shouldn’t have come tonight.”

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