Page 87 of Against All Odds

“How does it feel to see your usually stern boss turn into a Romeo?” Wyatt asked matter-of-factly.

Ellie laughed. “It’s charming. I love a good love story. I’m a romantic.”

“Then why are you still single?” Wyatt flirted.

“No. No. No.” I warned both of them. “She works for me. You can’t, Wyatt.”

“Mind your own liaisons,” Wyatt mocked, “and leave me to handle mine.”

Ellie chuckled. “I’m not married because I don’t believe in the institution. I’m also on a break from men of all kinds.”

Wyatt put a hand to his heart. “You wound me.”

While theyflirted,to my chagrin, I scanned the room, catching sight of familiar faces—business owners, ski instructors, boutique owners, hoteliers. They were all here. So were the Vikars.

Alexa stood near the bar, talking with Natasha and Grant. She’d been behaving. It had been a shock for her when Juno said she needed a break from her mother and wanted to live with me full-time. I’d tried to convince Juno otherwise, but she’d said she’d go back once school started, but during the summer, while she interned at the current mayor’s office, she wanted to stay with me.

I caught a glimpse of Mackenna, who gave me a thumbs-up sign, and the band around my chest eased. I watched for Sable, and she didn’t disappoint.

She wore a simple black dress, her hair swept to one side,anda wary look on her face. Casey was animatedly chatting beside her, probably trying to distract her from whatever suspicions she had about why she’d been dragged to my party. Casey had told me she hadn’twanted to come but Casey, Mackenna,andNatasha had campaigned hard.

Sable had been uneasy, Natasha told me, feeling like she didn’t fit in. But she did, I thought. She so did. She had a thriving business, and right now, with her courage, her grace, and her elegance, she outshined everyone in the ballroom. This town had a lot of amends to make—I had several to make as well to this woman who’d stood strong when the world had turned on her, including me. I couldn’t take back my words, take back the hurt I inflicted on her—but we could move forward. At least, I fucking hoped so.

“That her?” Wyatt came up to my side.

“Yeah.” I took his glass of Scotch and downed what remained. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to her.”

“I cannot wait.”

By the time we reached her, Sable was frowning.

“Sable, I’m so glad you made it.” I wanted to tell her she looked beautiful, but I curbed that. It would only piss her off.

“They made me.” She wiggled her eyebrows to indicate Mackenna and Casey, who stood on each side of her, preventing her from escaping, I thought.

“Hi.” Wyatt held his hand out. “I’m Wyatt, Heath’s much better brother.”

Sable’s eyes glinted with amusement as she shook my brother’s hand. She introduced him to Casey and Mackenna.

She mingled. I mingled.

I watched her. She ignored me.

Wyatt flirted with her. She was entertained by him.

“Can’t believe your brother is doing you like that,” Natasha teased as she leaned into her husband, Fred, who had an arm around her.

Alexa was not with them any longer. She’d taken her seat at her table with her father. I’d expected her to decline the invitation, but she’d come and brought her father along. It was her way of making peace, telling me that we were going to behave like good co-parents and exes. I hoped to God she wasn’t going to revert back to the bitch that went after Sable and accused her daughter of not being loyal to her because she didn’t like her ex-husband’s girlfriend.

Everyone settled at their tables, and the first course was served. The music continued, and I walked around the tables, checking in with everyone, which was part of my job. Another part of my job was to give a speech after the main course was cleared and dessert was served.

The band had just finished a song, and the timing couldn’t have been better. I strode up the few steps to the microphone, my heart pounding harder with every step. The chatter in the room began to quiet as people turned their attention to me.

I adjusted the mic, cleared my throat, and started.

“Good evening, everyone. I want to thank you all for coming tonight to celebrate another promising start of the season. This is always one of my favorite nights of the year—seeing all of you, the people who make this town and its businesses thrive.”

There were murmurs of agreement, polite smiles, and a few scattered claps.

---