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She smiles sweetly at me and fuck if its not the most beautiful sight. “But our car will be outside and you have a big speech to deliver. She reaches up and carefully straightens my bow tie. “Come on Evans, let’s go raise a shit load of cash.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

LUNA

“No need. Thanks, though.” Zach leans forward from our seats in the back of the limo and places a hand on the driver’s shoulder. He pushes open his door and walks around to my side, flashing cameras following his every move. Opening my door, he holds out a hand, and I slip my palm into his, slowly rising to my feet and finding my balance in these crazy-high heels. The cameras continue to flash from where the media is lining the red carpet entrance. It’s blinding, overwhelming, and like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.

Zach leans down and whispers in my ear, the shimmer of his breath sending goosebumps across my skin. “I don’t need to enter that building to know you’re the most stunning woman here tonight.” He leans down and kisses just below my ear. The noise from the crowd erupts, mimicking the way my body screams at the contact. “Fuck it. You’re the most stunning woman. Period. Just relax for me, Luna; imagine we’re back home on the veranda, and you’re giving me shit.”

I let out a nervous giggle as he interlaces our fingers and turns confidently toward the press, raising a hand as he acknowledges other high-profile guests and those screaming questions at him.

Panic races through me. I haven’t prepared or even thought about the questions.

“Mr. Evans!” one reporter shouts above the rest. “Is this your new girlfriend?”

Zach smiles and gently squeezes my hand in comfort. “If only I were that lucky.”

Turning his attention to me, the reporter smiles. “A woman who keepstheZach Evans waiting. Tell me your name.”

Zach holds up a hand. “Okay, buddy, let’s talk about what we’re here for tonight.”

Frozen in place, my eyes dart around, the conversation between Zach and the reporters passing me by in a blur as I fight to stay in touch with what I’m seeing. The glitz and glam are more overwhelming than I could’ve ever imagined. Zach moves his hand from mine to the small of my back as we make our way down the line of reporters and photographers, and I fight to maintain a plastered-on smile. It comes so naturally to him, but for me, I’m almost certain they can tell I don’t belong here, in this world.

“Hey, babe!” Like a beacon in a stormy sky, Felicity comes to stand next to me. Wearing an emerald dress that pools around her chest, hugs her tiny waist and full hips, and rides high on her right thigh, she looks every bit the goddess her fiancé describes her as.

“You look absolutely stunning.”

She chuckles. “Thank you. It’s just a dress from a high-street store in London, nothing too fancy or designer.”

My eyes nearly bug out of my head. “It looks like a Prada to me.”

“Angels look spectacular in anything,” Jon chimes in, placing a chaste kiss on top of Felicity’s head. She looks up at him and smiles.

Turning to me, he offers a reassuring smile, and I know he can tell I’m way out of my comfort zone. “You look stunning, Luna. No wonder you’ve got my AC all twisted up.”

Zach pauses his conversation with one of the reporters and whips his head toward Jon. Scanning down my body with a heated look in his eyes, he throws me a cheeky wink and then looks back at his friend. “You really blame me?”

Jon's shoulders shake, and he leans down to speak to me as Zach goes back to the media. “He’s like a puppet on a string. And I’m here for it.”

“I can already tellthis is your foundation,” I say to Zach as we enter the main room.

He leans down to hear me over the music. “Oh yeah, and why’s that, Rocket?”

“Because everything is gray. Well technically gray and silver, but still, there’s a lot of gray on display.”

Guiding us over to our table, where I immediately spot Kate and what must be Tom in deep conversation, he laughs. “Trust you to notice. It’s the colors of my foundation.”

I lift a shoulder as I set my clutch down, and he pulls out my seat. “Just saying what I see. It’s gorgeous though, really special.”

Across the walls, there are prints of children I assume the Hockey Now foundation has helped. Some of the picturesinclude Zach, but one in particular catches my eye, and I point to it. “Who’s that?”

He smiles broadly. “That’s Lucas. He was eight when his dad passed away in a car accident, leaving him and his family in turmoil. He’s an incredible winger, but without his dad around, his mom was struggling to pay for hockey and find the time to work, care for the rest of his family, and get him to and from practices and games. She reached out to Hockey Now via his school, and we were able to offer a grant. He’s a talented kid with a bright future.” He smiles and wraps his arm around the back of my chair as we take a seat. “He’s eleven now, and I can already tell he has a solid shot at a full ride in college if that’s what he wants.”

My senses tingle with emotion. “Wow, that’s quite something. To be able to support the dreams of young people like that.”

Bringing his face closer to mine, he opens his mouth to reply when Kate shouts across the table, “So, this is Tom. Sorry…” She giggles. “I meant to introduce him, but we got a little distracted.”

“Welcome to the group, Tom.” Jon raises his glass from where he and Felicity are sitting a few chairs down.