Page 63 of The Game Plan
“Reese.” Laura reached for his hand. “It’s a pleasure to see you again. Go Kings!”
“Thank you,” Reese replied, giving her hand a small squeeze before he released it. “We’ll do our best to make the city proud.”
Her security whispered in her ear, and she bid them goodbye, heading into the ballroom to mingle.
“I just met the mayor,” Sutton whispered to Reese. “She finally came!”
She tried to get the mayor to so many events in the past, so she was so pleased that she came to this one.
“I met her for the first time a year ago when she came to a game,” Reese said as he took her hand again. “She helped with the coin toss.”
“That’s fun! I like when they get a guest to do the coin toss.”
Music began to play, and Sutton realized it was the cue for the ushers to filter people into the ballroom for the speeches, including her introduction of the CEO.
“Ready?” Reese asked, giving her hand a squeeze.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied, nerves settling in her belly. She told Reese about her speech a few days ago, and he helped her prepare for it, listening to her read it out loud and giving her a few pointers.
“You’ve got this,” he murmured, walking her to the stage set near the front of the room.
She watched as more people filtered in, the tables filling quickly as they filed in from the concourses.
“Break a leg,” he said, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek before he stepped away to take his seat at their table.
She carefully walked up the stairs, holding the yellow silk up so she wouldn’t trip, letting the train down as she made her way to the podium in the middle of the stage.
She pulled the cards from her clutch and set them down on the solid surface of the stand and looked out at the crowd. Giving them her best smile, she began, “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. For those who don’t already know me, my name is Sutton Cooke. I’m the event manager for Somebody’s Child, and as the organizer of this event, I think I speak for us all here at the foundation when I say thank you for coming to tonight’s event.”
A round of applause sounded through the room, and she waited for it to die down before she continued.
“At Somebody’s Child, our main goal is to help children in any way we can. Whether that is in the hospital, the classroom, or on the football field, we aim to enrich the lives of children everywhere.”
Her grin widened as the players in the room cheered.
Glad I went ahead and included that part.
“I would like to give a special thanks to the state of Tennessee and the city of Knoxville for their continued support and generosity for Somebody’s Child, ensuring our continued success in helping the children of this great state.”
She cleared her throat, switching to her last card. “To tell you more about our mission and continued efforts, I’d like to introduce our CEO. Please help me welcome Mr. Justin Young to the stage.”
She stepped back from the podium as he walked onto the stage, giving her hand a quick shake before he took over the podium, and she headed off-stage.
Taking a few deep breaths, she made a beeline for their table.
Reese stood and pulled out her chair for her, and she slipped into it, a shiver sliding through her when he dropped a kiss on her bare shoulder as he sat.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
A couple of hours later,Reese found himself on the dance floor with Sutton for the second time that night.
Holding her close as they moved across the floor, she laid her cheek against his with a sigh.
“Tonight has been fun,” Reese said, peeking down at her. “I bet the rest of the team thinks so too.”
He could see the side of her lips kick up, and she leaned back to look up at him. “Thank you.”
He spun her around and drew her back into his arms, her eyes round. “First a two-step and now a spin? I’m impressed, Mr. Vaughn.”