Page 36 of From Ice to Grace
“Why don’t the two of you dance?” Hannah suggests before looking at Lucas, a clear plea for help in her eyes.
“Nobody else is dancing,” I say, gesturing toward the dance floor. “There’s no way I’m going to be the only one?—”
My words get caught in my throat when my gaze lands on the beautiful woman walking into the room. The braid she always wears is gone now, instead her hair is tumbling over her shoulders in almost white waves. Her blue eyes pierces my soul from across the room, sharp enough to cut through every wall I’ve ever built. And that dress…gold, glittering, and impossible to ignore.
Avah Johansson is stunning.
An absolute knock out.
Lucas clears his throat from behind me.
“We’ll dance too,” he offers, but I can’t bring myself to tear my gaze away from the woman who’s currently in a heated discussion with her brother. For some reason she’s tugging on her dress, while nervously scanning the room.
“Avah’s here,” I utter, before realizing what I just said. “I mean, EJ’s here.” I gesture toward the two of them and Hannah waves them over.
Avah’s eyes meet mine before her gaze narrows.
Something akin to excitement stirs within me.
And for the first time since I’ve arrived, I’m not completely dreading the night.
8
AVAH
“Tell me again why I’m here?” I ask my brother, tugging on the ridiculously tight dress I had to get at the last minute. “And why on earth couldn’t you wait five more minutes for me to get the right size dress?”
I was busy packing up my life when EJ phoned and insisted I join him for the season opening gala. I thought after his date with Liz, he’d ask her to come with him, leaving me to pack without anyone witnessing how my life is falling apart.
EJ looks down at me, his blue eyes, just like mine, filled with sudden exasperation.
“Why is it such a hardship to accompany your brother to his charity events?” he asks, grabbing a glass of champagne from the waiter and handing it to me. “It’s like you don’t get free drinks and food, not to mention an all expenses paid shopping trip.”
“It’s not a shopping trip when you drag me to one store and insist I take something before your timer buzzes. That’s a hostage situation.”
“You’re exaggerating,” he says with a huff.
“My butt won’t agree with that.” I tug on the dress again, hoping I can somehow get away with standing with my back toward some kind of wall all evening. Nobody should see anybody in a dress this tight. It’s practically a second skin. At least it covers everything…just more tightly than I’d like.
“Besides, you’re the one who insisted I buy you a dress. I was more than happy to wait while you get ready. But you practically shoved me out the door—” he turns to me, his eyes flashing with accusation, “—-telling me you’ll get dressed in the dressing room and do your make-up in my car.”
Glancing away, I try to hide the guilt of keeping something from him. Insisting on getting dressed in the boutique wasn’t my best plan, but it was the only option. All my dresses are already packed and I wasn’t ready to tell him about my visa. That would be admitting defeat, because he’ll either insist on helping me or tell me it’s a good idea to go home. Neither option is acceptable to me at the moment.
So here I am, tugging on a dress that’s one size too small.
“Yes, well that’s what you get for telling me I had to be here on such short notice.” It’s a flimsy excuse for a comeback, but it’s what I’ve got.
“Mm…So, it’s not because you’re hiding something in your apartment?”
Like a million halfpacked moving boxes?
“Well, if I was, I’m not telling you now.” I take a sip of my drink, giving him a smile and hoping it will throw him off. My gaze falls on Hannah, who’s waving from where she’s standing with her husband, Lucas.
“Aves—”
“Let’s go say hi to the others,” I say, desperate to change the subject. “You paid for the dress, you insisted I come, so let’s go do what you’re supposed to do. No point in delaying the inevitable.”
He sighs, leading me further into the room. The place is beautifully decorated, as usual. Elegance and dollar signs rolled together. The entire team is present, all dressed in their best suits. Most of them are dateless. Looking at the way Lindgren is talking and smiling with a few ladies, I can’t help but wonder if it’s that way by design. I have no doubt that the Rangers’ PR team knows exactly what they’re doing when it comes to impressing donors and sponsors. If these people need the undivided attention from world class athletes, then that’s what they’ll get.
