Page 2 of Running For It

“Those poor kids. Someone needs to show them love. They’re lucky to have you.”

“Did you put this entire thing together? I need to hire you to plan my next event.”

I never quite knew what to say in return.

“Thanks. When our robot overlords take over, I plan to be their favorite human.”

“They should thank the genie I told I wanted to spend my life helping people. I freed her after that.”

“I run on caffeine and fresh day-planner pages. Are you sure you can afford my rates?”

All of it said in jest, though from the expressions I got in return, most of the people here didn’t dojesting. The best responses I got were giggles andyou’re silly.

When I was dating Ramsey, I jokingly referred to myself once as Laffy Taffy. Frequently stale, just a little off flavor, and always ready with a horrible pun.

He’d corrected me. Told me I was more like saltwater taffy. I was sweet, fun to unwrap, came in the best flavors, and was his favorite.

“You’re a hard woman to track down. Most popular person here.”

Hunter’s voice behind me promised real conversation and summoned memories I liked to ignore. The kind that sent delicious shivers running down my spine, along with the ghost of his fingertips over my skin. Because those times when he’d joined Ramsey and me…

“Everybody wants a piece of me. What can I say?” I winced as the words passed my lips. He was totally going to take that wrong. I spun to find him standing there with Ramsey, and a tribe of butterflies leapt to life in my stomach.

“Can’t say I blame them.” Laughter danced in Ramsey’s green eyes. His presence made my heart whimper.

Hunter was just as breathtaking. Dark hair. Strong jaw. Long, skilled fingers.

I swallowed the lust surging through me. “Thank you for coming this evening, gentlemen. Your support means a lot to the kids.”

Hunter snorted in disbelief. “Did you just feed us a prepared line? Who are you, and what have you done with Violet?”

“I learned it from watching you.” I smiled sweetly. “Thought I’d communicate in your language.” Which was what I needed to remember. I’d pushed them out of my life because after a while, the stark difference between their public and private personas became too stressful to be around.

“Don’t we feel special?” Ramsey’s tone was playful. “I won’t hold you up. We just wanted to sayhiand congratulate you on a fabulous event.”

I turned up my smile. “Thank you. I’m going to pretend you mean that.”

“I do, Ta—” Ramsey shook his head.

Taffy.The pet name tugged at my heart. I didn’t dophonywith anyone, and I’d just about reached my limit here. “Enjoy your evening.” I walked away before I could say something I’d regret in the morning. Like,Maybe we could try again.

I tried to get back into the mingling, but every time I turned, I either saw Ramsey or Hunter, or was disappointed that I didn’t.

This wasn’t great.

As the event wound down, Hunter joined me again. “Fair warning. Don’t jump to conclusions; Ramsey promised to behave.”

My stomach lurched. “What does that mean?”

“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Ramsey’s voice carried from the center of the ballroom. He stepped onto a chair.

What was this? Morbid curiosity kept my feet frozen to the ground.

“Violet has been thanking each of you individually, but I want everyone to know how grateful I am—she is—that you’re all here tonight. This is such an important cause, and your support means the world to these kids.” Ramsey commanded attention without even trying, and looked and sounded good doing so.

But— “This isn’t so bad.”

“Excuse me. Hi.” A woman stepped up next to him. “Hello.” She waved at the crowd.

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