Chapter 35

Saturday night – Milwaukee – The Children's Hospital Charity Gala - Ellie

I'd been running around all evening making sure everything was perfect. Mary kept telling me to relax and enjoy myself, but that wasn't in my DNA. Apparently, the stick had secured itself firmly back up my ass tonight. I'd checked the bids on the silent auction too many times to count, had asked the caterers so many questions they'd politely requested that I leave the kitchens, and had turned the crystal rose vases so often that one of the other volunteers asked me if I was all right. When Meg came trotting up to me with a glass of champagne, I happily accepted it.

"It's gorgeous in here, Ellie-phant," Meg said. "You did a marvelous job."

"Thank you," I said, smiling proudly as I took in the scene.

"And you look like a million bucks too," Meg continued.

"Thank you." I curtsied. "So do you."

I was wearing a strapless satin pink evening gown that hugged my curves yet still looked classy to me, like something Grace Kelly would have worn. I'd tried on about two hundred dresses before settling on this one, so I was glad to hear all that time and effort had been worth it.

Meggie was wearing an adorable short sparkly black dress with a peplum. She was inches shorter than I was, but she always managed to look perfect. Even in her flats, which she insisted on wearing because she claimed she had Hobbit-like feet.

"Where's Jeremy?" I asked, glancing around.

"Poor guy," Meg replied with a sigh. "He got waylaid by a man asking about woodworking. Normally he loves to talk about it, but the guy made the mistake of asking him if he makes cutting boards, which is pretty hack for a true woodworker from what I understand."

I laughed. "Good to know I shouldn't expect a cutting board as a wedding present from you guys someday."

Meg waggled her eyebrows. "Speaking of your future wedding, do you still have your date with Dr. Hottie next week?"

"Yes," I replied, squaring my shoulders. "And it's just a date. Don't start trying to marry me off to him yet. I don't want any pressure."

"Just wondering," Meg said with a curious little smile on her face. "By the way, dinner was perfect. And the auction starts in an hour, right? What's next?"

I glanced over toward the far side of the ballroom and bit my lip. "The band. Apparently, they've been getting ready for the last couple of hours behind those curtains, but Mary won't let me talk to them. They must be snobs or delicate artists or something. She said they insisted no one else come back." I rolled my eyes.

Meg smiled and lifted her champagne glass. "As long as they're snobs who play good music."

"Oh, they are. I went to see them play a few times this summer. They're great. Nothing too heavy. Appeals to all ages, that sort of thing. They're called Lazy Sunday."

Suddenly, Meg found something very funny.

"What?" I asked, frowning.

"Nothing. Here's to Lazy Sunday." Meg lifted her champagne flute in the air again.

I did the same, and we both took a drink.

As if on cue, Mary came running past us toward the stage at the front of the ballroom. The curtains were still drawn, but there was a microphone in front of them. She climbed up the short staircase on the side of the stage and hurried over to the mic.

I frowned again. "What's Mary doing? I'm supposed to introduce the band." I made to start forward, fully intending to throw down with Mary if I had to. I had made plans, and plans must be adhered to.

Meg's hand on my arm stopped me. I glanced back at her, still frowning. "What?"

She pointed toward the stage with the hand that still held her champagne flute. "Just watch."

Dumbfounded, I stopped and stared as Mary adjusted the microphone and cleared her throat. "Good evening, everyone. And thank you for coming to the Sixteenth Annual Milwaukee Children's Hospital Charity Gala Ball."

The ballroom erupted into applause, and I glared at Meg. What was going on? That was supposed to be my speech.

"Watch," Meg mouthed.

"The auction winners will be announced later," Mary continued, "but first we have a huge surprise for all of you."

Hmm. I guess Lazy Sunday was a surprise. Huge though? Not really. Don't oversell it, Mary.

"This band has agreed to make a very special appearance tonight. And in addition to a donation of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, they've agreed to match every other dollar that's donated tonight. It's my pleasure to announce Milwaukee's own number one hit country music band. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Whiskey Smoke."

My jaw fell to my chest as the curtains swung to the sides to reveal Luke's band standing there. The music from their most popular song began to play, and I couldn't believe it as I watched Luke and the other guys from the band who I'd met sing the song that had put them at the top of the charts.

The crowd was singing and clapping and dancing along.

I turned to Meg and blinked. "You knew about this?"

Her sly smile told me she did. "Yes, but let's just say it's been a recent development. Very recent."

I shook my head. "That's why Mary wouldn't let me go backstage."

"Uh huh. And let me tell you how difficult that was for the poor lady. You're very bossy."

"You're calling me, bossy?"

"It takes one to know one." Meg laughed. "And I think you're missing the point, Ellie. Luke is here for you. Not for the charity."

"What?" My head snapped back to watch. Luke looked so good. He was wearing perfectly fitted jeans, a brown belt, and a sapphire-colored, button-up shirt with a brown leather jacket and boots. No arm sling. In fact, he was strumming his guitar.

He was here…for me? Half a dozen emotions collided in my chest. I couldn't help it. Tears filled my eyes, and I spent the next two minutes dancing along to Whiskey Smoke's hit song while Meg danced beside me.

When the song came to an end, Luke strode forward and spoke into the closer microphone. "Hi, everyone, my name is Luke Knightley, and I was born and raised here in Milwaukee."

Another big cheer came from the crowd and several people yelled "Luke!" as if they knew him.

"I want to dedicate this next song to someone I've known since I was a kid. Someone who's always been there for my sister and who was there for me when I really needed her. She's also responsible for putting together this gala tonight. Let's give her a big round of applause. Ms. Ellie Hoffman."

Another big cheer from the crowd and a huge round of applause ensued while more tears welled in my eyes. Aww. He'd even used Ms. instead of Miss because he knew I was a big ol' feminist. "What is he doing?" I breathed. My chest tightened with some emotion I couldn't identify. Pride? Hope? Both?

Luke didn't stop there. "Ellie is also a Milwaukee native, and I came here tonight not only to sing for y'all, but to surprise her. You see, I'm hoping she'll give me a shot at taking her out on a real date because—at the risk of sounding like I'm sixteen again—I want to be her boyfriend, and I would be honored if she says yes."

My brows shot up. "What?" Oh, goddess. I couldn't breathe.

I turned to Meg, who merely nodded and said, "It's about time he figured it out."

"Ellie," Luke said, though I knew he couldn't see me in the crowd. "Give me another chance, please. And this song is for you."

He strolled back to the original microphone and soon the strains of Summer Nights came strumming from his guitar.

I remember a girl

With long blonde hair

Smile in her eyes

But so many cares

Oh. My. Goddess. Summer Nights. He was singing Summer Nights like it was about me. Wait. Had it always been about me? No. It couldn't be. Somehow that thought didn't compute. I just stood there transfixed, swaying to the music with Meg at my side.

When that song finally ended, and Luke put down the guitar, he came down off the stage calling my name.

"Let's go," Meg said. She grabbed my hand and started toward him, pulling me along behind her. It only took a couple of minutes for us to find each other in the crowd and when we did, our gazes locked, but Luke didn't say a word. He just picked me up in his arms and spun me around.

"Your arm's better?" I asked like an idiot.

"Yep."

"Has…has that song always been about me?" I asked next, choking back tears.

"Yeah. It has. I just never admitted it 'til now."

Meg rolled her eyes at him.

"What are you doing here?" I asked next.

"Fixing my mistake. Please, Ellie, I was an idiot when I let you leave. I love you. I think I've always loved you. I can't say I'll never make a mistake, but I promise I'll never purposely hurt you. I'll never cheat on you. And I'll never leave you."

My breath caught in my throat. Was this really happening? "Oh, my God, Luke. Are you serious?"

"So serious, baby." He pulled me into his arms and kissed me for all he was worth. Then he whispered in my ear, "And believe me, the next time you ask me to spend the night with you, the answer is going to be hell yes."