Page 142 of Sassy Love
I swallow and force a smile before ending my pitch. “Alysandra and so many others like her and her daughter are why Serenity needs your help. Currently, we are at capacity. But through the kindness of others, we hope to extend our operating hours and house capacity, along with adding fundamental services to get women back on their feet and regain their independence, including reentry into the workforce and counseling. So, I ask, humbly of you, to donate. Thank you.”
I turn off the microphone and rest it on the small table by the chair. I leave the last slide with the smiling faces of some of our past guests at Serenity, hoping their stories will influence the people in this room to donate as much as they can.
Lawson meets me at the bottom of the stairs, his jaw clenched, his cheeks shimmering with tears that have streaked down his face. I cup his jaw, and he grasps my hand. “You killed it, Princess. Look at all those shattered hearts.”
He turns back to the people at the tables, now busy quietly discussing. Devastation wrapped around a few. Couples pulling checkbooks and phones out as they flip over their name cards to scan the QR codes to donate again.
“God, I hope it’s enough,” I breathe, and Lawson pulls me into his side.
“Me too, baby. Me too.”
The night recovers as the music rises and folks migrate to the dance floor. Before I have a chance to object, Harry is asking for the first dance, and I can’t say no.
He spins me around as Lawson looks on, sitting with his family.
“You’ve done one hell of a job here, darlin’. You should be proud,” Harry says as we travel across the dance floor.
“It was a team effort,” I say with a small smile. I study his features, looking for pieces of Lawson in them. With every beat of the song that passes, I find familiar angles and those deep blues that have held me captive for weeks. Mostly, it’s the kindness and unwavering support that I now know Lawson inherited from his father.
Lawson has no idea how lucky he is.
“Somethin’ weighing on your mind, Carlie?”
He swings me around, and we turn back the other way, my dress twisting over my legs with a slow swish. I can’t look at him,and his grip on my hand squeezes briefly. “A problem shared is a problem halved.” Harry nods with an encouraging look.
“So much rides on these donations. Without them...”
“You’ll find another way.”
I look up into his eyes, so similar to the ones I adore. “I don’t know if I can.”
“Luckily for you, darlin’, it’s awe, not an I.”
I huff a laugh.
He’s right. Of course he is.
“That son of mine isn’t going to let you down, and neither are we. If this is important to you, it’s important to us.”
“That’s so generous of you,” I say, trying not to let the emotion swelling on my face show.
“You do for family.” He spins me out and catches me on the return. “I have a feeling that includes you.”
My mouth pops open as a smile grows on his face. The song ends, and he leads me back to the table, returning me to my seat. Louisa rises, saying, “Must be my turn, my love.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Harry says, nothing but deep love running through his gaze.
The two words register, sending warmth through my chest. A warm hand slides over my own. I turn it over, lacing my fingers with his, my focus still stuck on Harry and Louisa as they cross to the dance floor for the slower song, and he wraps her in his hold automatically.
Hashtag marriage goals.
Millie grins at me from across the table. I know that cheeky damn look. What have she and Louisa been scheming up?
Warmth leans into my shoulder as Lawson’s hand tracks a path over my palm. “Care to dance, Princess?”
The smile that blooms on my face is second nature.
Was Harry right?
