her breath. “My God, the magic you worked on that man...”
“Me?”
“Yes, you! Who else? Ridge agreed to do more movies because of you.” She elbows me with surprising strength for being such a pint-sized woman. “I think someone’s in love. Honey, keep a leash on him, whatever you’re doing...it’s working beautifully for you both.”
I...
Just when I didn’t think anything else could shock me tonight, here comes an atom bomb.
My insides sink.
Because of me, she said.
I’ve chased him out of his home.
Out of retirement.
Back into everything he hates.
“Excuse me,” I force out. “I just...I need to speak to someone.”
“Of course,” Bebe chirps. “Enjoy the night, and thank you again. Lord knows I tried everything to woo him back to the screen for years, and you did it in weeks. The Prince is back, and I don’t think anyone cares about the why!”
I nod, swallowing the bitter taste in the back of my throat.
God.
I’m overwhelmed. The terrifying, exhilarating possibility that Ridge feels something deeper makes my heart pound.
It’s insane even considering it when we’re worlds apart.
Still...he cut a deal for more films, the very thing he hates, all so he could slay my dragon.
All for little old me.
Eep.
“Hey, Grace! Over here!” Amy calls out, seeing me blundering around like a lost gazelle. “Who’d you kill for that dress?”
She gives me a hug, and so does Alicia.
“It does the job. You two look fantastic.”
Honestly, they do. Amy has her long hair curled and pinned up, while Alicia’s hangs long and straight.
“You have no idea. It’s a relief to get out of mom attire for once!” Amy lifts her dress. “Heels even. No yoga pants, t-shirts, and Crocs tonight.”
“No ponytails either,” Alicia says, flicking her hair with a smile. “I haven’t worn a formal since high school. I swear, the entire town is here. Look, Bella Larkin brought the big guns!”
I look over and see a curvy, elegant-looking woman with piercing eyes and styled brunette waves. She’s in a long flowing baby-blue dress, Drake Larkin hanging on her arm.
“Damn,” Amy hisses, watching them float through the crowd. “I wonder if they feel upstaged, having folks even richer and more famous than they are here tonight? Then again, with Ridge moving here, that’s kinda already happened. They’re rich and famous but not like...movie star famous.”
“Amy, hush!” Alicia jabs her sister playfully in the side. “They’re good people. If only they’d brought Edison to the party. Did you hear what that crazy horse did last week?”
I shake my head.
“While the ruckus with the cops and those thugs was going down at your place, Edison chased down this punk kid who thought it’d be cute to steal fireworks from the Dallas Days festival coming up next month.” Alicia smiles, shaking her head. “I guess Bella took Edna into town for a stroll, and Edison went looking for his mare. It’s true what they say, he’s part bloodhound. And I guess he’s an honorable deputy of the Dallas Police now, too.”
“Only thing I wonder is which one’s luckier,” Amy says, her eyes following the happy couple. “Him for marrying a girl that rich, or her for marrying a dude that hot.”
I smile and shake my head. Of course, I’ve heard the story of Bella, Drake, and Edison a dozen times. Bella seems so normal making the rounds. It’s easy to forget she inherited her grandfather’s massive wealth and an oil company.
Drake didn’t come from money. He was a salt of the earth security type from what Ridge told me. And yet somehow the stars decided they were meant to be.
They met.
They fell in love.
They’re clearly making it work.
Could that be my ever after with Ridge?
“Uh-oh, watch out!” Amy claps her hands against her cheeks, leaning toward me. “See over there? Miss Marcellus, our old gym teacher. She’s never seen in public.” She nods at an older woman with short grey hair and what looks like a permanent scowl glued to her face.
Amy Berland’s keen insight is one of many reasons why I enjoy our friendship.
“I’m just a little overwhelmed.” Glancing around the crowded room, I nod at their wine glasses when my gaze makes it back to them. “I need another drink.”
They look at each other, then at me.
“Oh, we know exactly what you need,” Amy says with a wicked smile.
“We’ll fix you up right,” Alicia echoes.
A few minutes later, all three of us have a shot of tequila, salt on