by Toni Mari
With a tiny shake of his head and a self-mocking smile, he drawled, “Happy to help if you really think people would want my signature.”
Erica hugged his hand and with a megawatt smile said, “You know they would. Thank you. Thank you!”
“Daddy! C’mere,” Mandy called, waving to a dark-haired man. “Come meet Cory and Jane. This is Cory’s hat. It looks good on me, huh?” She struck a modeling pose.
The man swatted the hat brim. “You would look good in a paper bag, my precious.” He gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek.
Mandy glanced over her shoulder at Cory, not knowing whether to be embarrassed or thrilled at her father’s attention. Mark chuckled and turned his dark, enigmatic eyes to us. I immediately smiled at the warm, loving pride in those deep depths. “Hello, Cory and Jane. I’m Mark.” He held out his hand.
I shook it, still smiling foolishly. “The ‘M’ in EMA Rescue. Erica, Mark, and Amanda.”
“That’s me. Smack in the middle of my two lovely ladies.”
Erica grinned. “Mark, this is Cory Banks, he is a reining rider, and a gold medal winner at the World Games. He just came strolling through the door and fell into my hands like a gift from the heavens.”
Mark shook his head with humor. “If I knew what a reining rider was, I am sure I would be extremely impressed.” He shrugged. “My girls are the horse experts. Nice to meet you, Cory.”
Taking Cory’s hat from Mandy’s head, Erica kissed Mark’s cheek and said, “Let me take Cory and show him around.” She handed Cory his hat and led him toward the celebrity corner. He looked back over his shoulder at me. “Later,” he mouthed with venom in his look. I gave him a thumbs-up “Love you.”
Mark had turned away, following Mandy into the crowd. Michelle pointed to a single table on the other side of the room. “You’ll work the ticket table. People donate an arm or a leg. You measure it on their body. Then, they drop their tickets into the cups by the baskets they want to win. You’ll be pretty busy, so I’ll assign someone else to work with you.”
I pulled one of the metal folding chairs out from under the table and plopped down into it. I rested my elbow on the table and put my chin in my hand. So much for me being the big shot tonight. Cory effortlessly outshone me again. Erica had her hand on his arm. She was introducing him to the other celebrities. He was shaking hands, laughing. Every once in awhile, he adjusted his hat. I sighed.
People trickled slowly into the room. The well-dressed lady by the door was in full meet-and-greet mode. Soon she would be sending people my way for tickets. Where was that price sheet? I picked up a roll of tickets the size of a small pie. It was heavier than I thought and slipped out of my hands. As I grabbed for it, I managed to knock it off the table, and it bumped across the floor, unraveling like a ball of yarn. I pushed my chair back and dropped to the floor to start coiling the tickets back up.
“Hi, Jane.”
I jumped at Shawn’s voice and banged my head on the table. Rubbing it, I carefully backed myself up and stood. “Hi,” I said sheepishly.
“You okay?” He bent down and picked up the tickets, handing them to me.
“Fine. Are you here to sign autographs too?”
He made a face. “Not quite. Michelle sent me to work the ticket table with you.”
“Oh. Great, then.” I straightened my chair. “I’m not really sure how to do this. I was looking for the price sheet.” I put the ticket roll down.
“What’s it say?”
“Twenty for an arm’s length. Forty for a leg. And Fifty for an arm and a leg. How are we supposed to do this?”
“I saw them last year. Here, let me show you. Hold out your arm.” He moved closer, holding the first ticket even with my fingertips, and then, capturing my hand with his long, strong fingers, he slowly unspooled a length along my arm. “Like this.”
I pulled my arm away from his flirty touch. “I get it.”
He rolled the tickets back up, sliding his bottomless brown eyes to mine. With a quirk of his eyebrows, he said in a low, intimate voice, “Now, let me show you how to do a leg.” Before I could move away, he knelt and placed a hand on the inside of my thigh. He smoothed the row of tickets down my inner leg, his fingers caressing the flesh through my jeans.
Putting a hand over my pounding heart, I quickly stepped back. “I get it.”
Pop! Cory slammed a cup on the table. “I brought you a soda, Jane.”
I jerked, swinging around to face him. Waves of hostility rolled across the air as his blue eyes focused on Shawn.
Shawn stood and squared his shoulders, returning the glare. Cory’s jaw tightened. I pictured Cory coming across the table and laying Shawn out flat. He had done it before to a football player, and I had no doubt he could take Shawn down.
Moving in front of Shawn, I snapped, “Cory, remember Shawn. He’s on the dressage team, too.”
“Yep.” Cory gave a brief nod, still no smile.
Shawn didn’t back down. The corner of his lip lifted in a sneer. “The cowboy.”
My head swiveled between them. Neither moved. I walked around the table and put my hand on Cory’s chest. “He’s working the ticket table with me. We have to sell the tickets by the arm and the leg. I mean, we measure them on a person’s arm. That’s what Shawn was demonstrating.” I laughed nervously. “Not all of us are famous and can sit around signing autographs.”
Cory’s eyes dropped to me and turned stony. “I’d rather sit here with you.”
Shawn put his hands on the table and leaned toward Cory. “I would be happy to sign autographs to raise some funds for the cause. And I wouldn’t complain about it either.” His voice matched the sneer on his face.
Cory stiffened, taking a threatening step forward. I pushed him back, and turning to Shawn I spit out, “Cory got thrown into this deal without being asked, but he is happy to help out.”
Cory whispered in a low voice, “Let him sign autographs. I’ll sit here and sell tickets with you.”
Shawn fingered the roll of tickets he still had in his hand. “Sell tickets, sign autographs, whichever. I’m at your service, Jane. Whatever you want me to do, babe.”
Cory surged against me, but I shoved him away from Shawn. “Be back in a sec,” I tossed over my shoulder. “Stop it! He’s trying to rile you up.” I pushed Cory again until he turned around to walk with me. “I’m sorry I made you come. I didn’t know Erica would ask you to be a part of it. She was really excited that you were here, and that could be good for me.”
He rubbed his hands over his face. “I don’t mind helping. I just don’t like leaving you with that dude.”
“Shawn? Please. He’s just being friendly because I’m on the team now.” I glanced around. “I don’t want to cause a scene.”
The steely look returned to Cory’s eyes. “He’s being a little too friendly. I see that again, I’m coming back to straighten him out.”
I clutched his arm. “Cory! Please don’t be such a redneck in front of these people.”
His eyes turned icy. Setting his jaw, he peeled my fingers off. “Don’t worry, princess, I won’t embarrass you.” Tugging his hat down, he stalked away.
Chewing a fingernail, I watched him fling himself down into a chair and stretch his long legs out. From across the room he held my gaze, anger simmering in his tight jaw. Darting a look around the room for Erica, I started toward him. He needed to relax, before she noticed. Erica was thankfully on the other side of the dance floor completely unaware. Cory was no longer staring at me, having started talking to an attendee. I turned and hustled back to my table before Erica noticed the line that was forming.
Shawn was measuring one woman’s arm with tickets. Two more were waiting a turn. He didn’t acknowledge my return, so I picked up the other roll of tickets, took a deep breath, and said, “How can I help you, ma’am?”
Before I knew it, our cash box was stuffed, and Erica was tapping a spoon against a glass loud enough to be heard over the din. Silence des
cended on the room.
“Hello, everyone! Hello? If you would please take your seats. We’d like to start serving dinner.” Erica spoke in a strong, clear voice. She didn’t need a mike from years of projecting her voice across arenas to riding students. No one had trouble hearing her. “Please remain seated until we have everyone served. We wouldn’t want anyone bumping a waiter and wearing dinner,” she said with a light laugh. “There will be plenty of time to shop the Chinese auction after we’ve eaten. Thank you. I will turn you over to our marvelous caterer, Marty.” She took one step back and pointed to a rather large-girthed man in chef’s white.
The line at our table immediately thinned. Food was more important than shopping. I ripped off the tickets I just measured and handed them to the middle-aged man whose leg I just goosed, accepting his money with a smile. I turned to the next girl in line. She shook her head at me with a withering look. “I can help you,” I encouraged.
She glared through squinted eyes and stayed where she was, sending the customer behind her toward me. Whatever. As I lined the row of tickets up with the woman’s arm, Shawn said, “Hi, Courtney.”
In a syrupy sweet voice with all trace of hostility gone, Courtney replied, “Shawn, it killed me when Alison beat you at the show. You and Donner are so much better than she is.”
“Thanks. I’ll miss having you on the team this year. I’m sorry you didn’t make it.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. Courtney was the rider I managed to nudge out of fourth place in the rankings at the last show. That explained the hostile look.
“I can’t believe I won’t be coming. The judging was messed up that day. My scores should have been higher than, you know, what she got.” She flashed a look in my direction.
I pretended to be concentrating on measuring, showing no sign that I had heard anything. Shawn casually defended me as he rolled the tickets down her arm. “Jane rode really well. She deserved her scores.” My eyes flicked to his face. Quick as lightning, he winked. Courtney didn’t see it because she was busy caressing his waist with her fingers.
“I hope that horse of hers doesn’t ruin the team’s chances. At least my horse is consistent.”
“The team will do great—they have me after all. Twenty dollars.” Shawn flashed a charming grin at her, effectively taking her mind off the subject.
As she put the bill in Shawn’s hand, she slipped her arm around him. “I’m really going to miss seeing you.”
“Yes, you are, but I’ll be happy to give you my autograph.” He chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
I laughed too. He was incorrigible.
Mandy and two other short people came running over. She slapped a paper down on the table. “Hi, Jane. We got signatures. Look!” She held up a hand-drawn picture of a horse, and sure enough Cory’s signature was across the bottom.
I smiled. “Good for you.”
Mandy came behind the table and tugged on Shawn’s shirt. “Look!”
He handed Courtney her wad of tickets and sat down, holding out a hand. “Let me see.” Once again, I was amazed at the attention he so easily gave to Mandy and her grade school friends.
“We all drew horses to look like Jet. Cory said we were artists and we touched his heart. So, he drew a heart under his name. See. Cory Banks.” She pointed to the little heart under Cory’s name. The other two girls showed off their drawings too. Shawn’s eyebrows dipped down as he studied the pictures.
Courtney whirled around. “Cory Banks is over there? Is he the one in the cowboy hat? No way! I gotta meet him. I’ll be back.” She threaded her way to the other side of the room, weaving through the tables and dodging waitresses.
Shawn watched her, the light in his eyes dimming. He mumbled something that sounded like, “Don’t bother.” He turned to Mandy with a wan smile. “It’s a nice picture, Mandy,” he said as he handed it back to her.
“C’mon girls. Let’s go show our moms.” The three little mice pattered off.
With a noisy sigh, Shawn stood up. “I’m getting something to eat.”
#
Chapter Twelve
Erica came and sat next to me, pulling the cash box to her. She tucked a few loose tendrils of hair behind her ears. “How are we doing?” She opened the box and grinned at how stuffed it was. She looked at me, nodding. “You and Shawn did well. You’re a good team.”
“What a great way to sell the tickets. People get a kick out of saying they’re giving an arm and a leg.”
She patted my knee. “Thanks for coming. And for bringing Cory.” Her lips parted in a genuine smile.
Warmth poured over me like bright sunshine. I grinned, nodding endlessly. “Anytime. I’m happy to help. Call me again if you need anything. I mean, I would like to help the cause, the rescue horses. Well, I would help you, too, if you needed anything. I mean, you could call me to just ask whatever.” I should have shut up after the first word. Could I sound any dorkier?
Erica sat forward and gave me a little hug before she stood. “You’re sweet. Go grab something to eat. I’ll take this box for now. We’ll give them one last chance to buy after dessert, then start giving out the loot.”
I stared after her. She thinks I’m sweet? I touched my shoulder where she hugged me. I wiggled in glee. “Erica Flame likes me,” I sang to myself.
“You ready to go eat?” Cory stood in front of the table.
I jumped. “Where did you come from?” I stood and pushed the chairs in. “Sure, let’s go.”
We weaved through people in the room. “Where are we supposed to sit?” I scanned for empty seats. “There are no empty seats.”
Cory put a hand on the small of my back. “I have an idea.” He guided me to the kitchen doors and pushed through. Kitchen workers rushed around, banging trays and calling out food orders. He stopped one as he hurried past. “Excuse me. Can you tell us where the employees eat?”
The kid pointed to a door at the back of the kitchen. “On a nice night like this, we eat outside.”
“Thanks, dude.” Cory grabbed two loaded dinner plates from the counter, and we went through the door onto a patio scattered with a few picnic tables. It was a warm, clear evening.
Cory set the plates down, and we sat next to each other. He set his hat down on the table, too, and immediately dug in to the food. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was. Mmm, this is good.” He kept shoveling food in. I couldn’t tell if his silence was still angry or just hungry.
“Umm, things going okay? I know it’s not your thing, but people seem to be coming to your table. That’s good right?” I tasted the chicken.
“It’s fine. People are friendly.”
Nope, still couldn’t tell. “Mandy and her friends were thrilled with their signed pictures.” He nodded. “And Erica said I was sweet and hugged me!”
Cory paused in chewing. “As long as it wasn’t that Shawn guy hugging you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Are you going to start that again?”
He swallowed. “I don’t like the way he looks at you, and he better not touch you.”
Really? I shoved my plate away and crossed my arms. Where was all this hostility coming from? Shawn barely spoke to me. We were only working at the same table. Seriously, girls threw themselves at Cory all the time. Did I threaten to beat every one of them up? With a huff, I pointed a finger at him. “This, from a former player who has all the girls at this party drooling over him. One guy talks to me and you’re flipping out?”
Cory glared at me, hurt. “I haven’t noticed anyone but you for ages.” He slammed his chair back, grabbed our plates, and strode into the building. I smacked myself in the head and jumped up to follow him. When he dropped the plates on the counter and pushed through the swinging door out of the kitchen without looking at me, I grasped his arm to stop him. “I’m sorry I said that.”
After a silent moment, he drew me down a hallway away from the party until we were alone. Taking a deep breath, he picked up my hand. “I’m not proud of my past. And I’m
sorry I’m not classy like these people, but I see how that guy looks at you. I can’t stand it.”
I stroked his cheek. “I’m not looking back. That’s what you have to remember.”
“I’m scared a guy like him is going to steal you away from me.” He cupped my chin and kissed me. Softly at first, and then with more intensity. I put my arms around him, pulling him closer, trying to show him how only he made me feel. His hands snuck under my shirt and he rubbed his thumbs along my ribs, kissing my neck, my jaw, nibbling my ear. His lips came back to mine, possessively covering my mouth, leaving his mark. Just when lack of oxygen made me dizzy, he stepped back.
I stared at him, my mouth open, sucking in air. He straightened my shirt and smoothed my hair down. “Better get back in there.” He kissed my forehead and lead me in.
For the rest of the party, I barely spoke to Shawn, but I couldn’t get Cory’s words out of my head. What did he mean ‘a guy like Shawn’? Good-looking? A dressage rider? And how did Shawn look at me? He was a flirt, that was obvious, but he didn’t mean anything by it. Cory was worried for nothing.
#
Chapter Thirteen
“My first event with the team is coming up. I’m riding a clinic with Robert again, which is always awesome. And I’ll also ride with Erica, which is wigging me out. I mean, she’s so famous.” I chattered around bites of turkey hoagie. “And Melinda will be there, and I’m sick of her showing me up. Now there’s Alison, too, whose witchiness makes Melinda look like my fairy godmother.” I groaned. “That Courtney girl told Shawn that my horse wasn’t consistent. I so don’t want to be the weakest member on the team or look stupid ’cause Windsong sees a boogie monster.”
Cory raised his eyebrows, chewing slowly. His long legs were stretched out, feet crossed at the ankles, butt on the edge of a hay bale. Comfortable, casual, all cowboy down to his boot tips. He could be comfortable anywhere. But me, I was always worrying about something.
Here came the accent. “You interested in making friends or competing in the championship with your horse?” Whenever Cory was making a point or trying to persuade me of something, his southern drawl became more pronounced.
