Page 127 of Beyond the Stroke

He’d needed to come to the event early to meet with the foundation chairs so he’d gotten ready and left even before I’d gotten home from visiting Cal with the dogs.

I take a moment to watch him. His charismatic smile, the way he’s genuine and engaged. He’s mesmerizing.

Suddenly, his eyes find mine and his smile widens. I watch him excuse himself and make his way over to me. As he advances, his confident stride and sexy grin cause my heart to stutter. It’s like watching a tidal wave approach. Fascinating and eloquently beautiful, even though you know it’s got the power to destroy you.

He greets me with a kiss on the cheek, but the way he possessively places a hand on my waist to pull me toward him provides the overwhelming crash I’d anticipated.

“You look…” He shakes his head like he’s lost for words. “Stunning.”

His touch is gentle, but there’s heat beneath it. A smoldering, patient heat that sits low in my belly. And when his hand slides to my back and his fingertips graze the exposed skin of my backless dress, it’s effortless, like his hands were always meant to find my skin.

As he leads me around the room, introducing me to people, his hand never strays far. Sliding from the small of my back to my lower hip, then grazing my arm before brushing my waist with the kind of ease that sets every nerve on fire. I should be focused on smiling and nodding, but all I can think about is how those same hands might look pressing my thighs open.

Finally, we stop at a standing table with Winnie, Whitney, and some of Rory’s teammates, and I’m thankful for the support. I’m already overheated and we’ve barely touched.

There’s a large crowd of people near the tables on the far side of the room, and I notice Rory’s parents are among them.

“What’s going on over there?” I ask.

“Oh, didn’t you hear?” Winnie’s eyes light up. “There’s a Covey up for bid.”

“What?” My heart stops.

Suddenly, I feel naked. Exposed.

I glance down to make sure I’m still fully clothed because the thought of something I painted being up for silent auction at one of the largest galas in North Carolina is sending me into a spiral.

“Well, it was in the silent auction,” Logan says, “but so many people were bidding on it, they’re planning to move it to a live auction.”

I’m stunned at Logan’s response. That can’t be right.

“Let’s take a look.” Rory’s hand finds the small of my back again as he urges me forward.

Once we’re closer, I see the painting. They’ve moved it to an easel on the stage. It’s one of my larger pieces. I’d started it small, but the scene demanded more space.

It’s a golden-hour ocean scene. The first painting I’d done after meeting Rory.

The sun is low in the sky, casting a warm, golden reflection across the water. The edges of the painting are a deep blue, with the color fading into warmth the closer the water is to the setting sun. From where we’re standing it’s hard to see, but I know it’s there. The barely visible silhouette of a swimmer in the distance.

While I’m standing frozen in front of my own work, Rory’s parents approach.

“Mom, Dad.” Rory’s voice is warm and steady. “You’ve already met my wife, Summer.”

“Right.” His mom gives me a quick glance, but seems unbothered and distracted.

I don’t know what I expected from Rory’s parents tonight, but they’re acting even more strange than the night I announced we were married.

“How is your evening going?” I ask, trying to keep things light.

“If you must know, Lucinda Boswell is getting on my last nerve. She kept outbidding me in the silent auction for this painting.”

“Oh?” My heart skips a beat. Rory’s mom is bidding on my art? That’s the last thing I would have expected.

“You know the anonymous beach artist.” She motions toward the stage. “It’s up for auction. I had told Lucinda how much I wanted it and now she’s on a mission to claim it for herself.”

Not just bidding, fighting over it.

As more people gather, Whitney joins us and greets her parents.

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