29. River

29

RIVER

I adjusted the platters of hors d’oeuvres, more to keep busy than the need to ensure each display was perfect. They already were, thanks to my team. While Fir and the chef kept Lusitana open tonight, the sous chef and a team of agency servers were with me at the Star Finders Foundation Charity Auction and Gala.

With a final check, I felt a hand slip into mine. The noise of the guests entering the venue became a distant hum as Adam guided me away from the bustle, his fingers interlocking with mine.

We slipped through a side door into the tree peony collection.

Adam didn’t hesitate. His lips claimed mine with a passion that stole my breath. “I missed you,” he said when he pulled away.

I searched his face, the blue of his eyes darkening. Did he miss me amid the chaos of the preparation for the event, or was it more? We were still together every night, even if, in the last two weeks, I’d barely taken my fill of him in a few stolen moments before sleep took us away.

“I don’t want to be auctioned off,” he said, pouting.

“Come on,” I laughed, “you’re not selling your body, just lending your mind for a good cause.”

“I know, but it means having to schedule time with someone else. That’s less time with you.”

“Baby,” I began, my tone softening as I reached out to touch his arm. My thumb brushed over the fabric of his sleeve. “We live together, remember? You’re in my space every day and night.”

His pout grew bigger, if that was possible, so I leaned over and sucked his lower lip into my mouth, humming my appreciation of his soft lips and sweet taste.

“Have you been happy there?” I asked. “At my place, I mean. Or have you thought about finding somewhere else to live?”

Why was I bringing this up now? I hated that my insecurities and my fear of losing Adam now that I had him took over, but it had been weeks since Lex and Noah found out about us, and he still hadn’t told his parents.

“In case it hasn’t been clear from the way I search for you even in my sleep, I am very happy living with you.” His brows narrowed. “Unless…do you want me to move out? Are we doing this wrong? Is it too fast?”

I put a finger over his mouth. “Hey, I love having you with me, and I’m definitely not suggesting you move anywhere. It’s just a little hard for me to work with your parents and feel like I’m lying to them whenever they ask about you.”

He opened his mouth to talk, but I kept my finger in place. “You need to take your time deciding how and when you want to tell them. I’m just expressing my feelings because I care about you so much, Adam. I want us to be able to communicate.”

“River,” he whispered, and the way he said my name felt like a caress and an apology.

“Tonight,” I whispered against the warmth of his lips, “when all this is over, it’ll be just us, and we’ll make up for the time lost over the last two weeks.”

“I’m holding you to that,” Adam murmured, his voice husky.

Reluctantly, I pulled away, my fingers tracing the line of his jaw before dropping to my side.

“Come on, I have work to do, and you need to go out there and be charming.”

“Fine.” He sulked but then straightened and gave me his most charming smile.

I’d pay a million dollars for it every day, but knowing he gave it freely whenever our eyes met was an instant rush to my heart.

I’m in so much fucking trouble.

Outside our hideout, the event buzzed with anticipation. While Adam left me to meet up with West and Drew, I moved through the crowd, seeking familiar faces among the staff. They were a well-trained team, but without Fir at my side, I felt the extra responsibility on my shoulders.

“Jenna, remember to smile and offer the canapés with both hands,” I instructed one of the agency servers. Her nod was earnest, her eyes bright.

“Mark, pace yourself with the wine pours—generous, but not too generous,” I reminded another, who gave me a knowing wink.

As the auction drew near, I took one final look around. The botanical gardens had been transformed into an elegant backdrop for the evening.

I took my place at the side of the room, with a full view of the kitchen door and the servers as they moved around each other like a choreographed dance.

The crowd hushed as the emcee took the stage, his voice rich and inviting.

Adam was first on the list, which both thrilled and terrified me. Despite my earlier reassurance, the reality of watching others bid on his time gnawed at me with sharp teeth.

“Let’s start the bidding for Mr. Adam Spencer,” the emcee announced, his words laced with enthusiasm. “A wordsmith whose skills are only matched by his compassion and philanthropism. The winning bidder will not only enjoy his company but also have access to one of the great marketing and PR minds of this city.”

I watched Adam, standing tall and poised, a light flush on his cheeks betraying the calm he projected. His eyes met mine for an instant, a silent plea for reassurance. I nodded subtly, my support unwavering, yet my stomach twisted into knots.

“Five hundred dollars!” called out a voice, igniting the first spark of the bidding war.

“Seven hundred!” another countered swiftly.

“Adam Spencer, folks, an entrepreneur who started a PR company with his brothers fresh out of college, determined to build up new businesses in our community,” the emcee continued.

“Two thousand!” a new bid echoed, more assertive.

“Three thousand five hundred!” The numbers grew, and with each raise, I was prouder and prouder that my man’s talent with words was being recognized by so many.

“Can we hear four?” the emcee goaded, his smile predatory.

“Ten thousand!” The room gasped collectively, followed by a wave of chattering.

“Fifty-five thousand!” The voice cut through the air like a knife, silencing the murmurs around the room.

“Seven hundred and fifty more!” It was the same voice, making the total an unusual fifty-five thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars. What a random number.

My pulse hammered in my ears, the sound drowning out the final gavel as the emcee declared, “Sold!”

My gaze darted across the sea of faces, landing on the figure behind the voice.

I would have recognized the profile even from a distance, even if I hadn’t connected the voice to it immediately.

Victoria stood poised at the edge of the gathered crowd, a sly triumph etched into the refined angles of her face. Her gaze locked on Adam’s.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he stood frozen on the stage. The emcee sang praises to Adam’s ability to command such a high bid and how the money raised would help the disadvantaged children of Cliffborough as well as their families.

Victoria bent her knees to pick up the train of her perfectly fitted dress. Her hair was styled to one side, and there was not a single flaw in her porcelain complexion.

She sauntered around the wide columns on the periphery of the room. Her eyes remained on Adam, but she slowed to a stop in front of me and smiled.

“Quite the generous donation,” I remarked, hoping to keep any kind of emotion from my voice.

“Adam’s worth every penny,” she responded.

Anger bubbled inside me.

Worth every penny?

Was he worth every penny when she put the note under my door on their wedding day? Was he worth every penny when he had to stand on a fucking chair to tell both their families she’d left him?

My eyes darted across the room to Adam’s brothers. Noah’s stare alone gave me the strength to keep my composure.

The moment stretched between us. If she was baiting me into a reaction, she was shit out of luck.

“Looks like you’ve got some planning to do,” I observed, my voice betraying none of my internal rage. Or the desire to claim Adam openly.

“It seems so,” she replied, resuming her measured walk toward Adam.

I fisted my hands beside me when she kissed Adam on the cheek.

“River?”

It turned to one of the servers. “Yeah?”

“We ran out of the smoked salmon hors d’oeuvres.”

“Check the cafeteria kitchen. We’re using their fridge for extras since they’re closed. If we’ve really run out, pick something else.”

When I turned back toward Adam and Victoria, all I saw was the red of her dress as she left through a side door.

I scanned the room, looking for Adam, but I couldn’t find him.

“Aren’t you going after them?” Noah asked, appearing out of nowhere.

“I…” I was as frozen in my spot as Adam had been on stage earlier.

“You have to go,” Emery said.

“What if they?—”

“No.” Noah cut me off. “This is not the time to go back to the sidelines. We’ve watched you do that all your life. Adam belongs with you, not that broomstick-less witch.”

“Please, River,” Lex pleaded.

It’s not that I didn’t want to go, but between seeing the pain in Adam’s eyes when he saw Victoria and witnessing her overbearing display of confidence, I’d lost all of mine.

Noah shook me. “Either you go or I will, and we both know that won’t end well.”

“And you think it’ll end better if I go in?” I laughed.

“Yeah, you won’t commit actual murder.”

I stared at the door they’d walked through and then remembered the fear and sadness in Adam’s eyes. My feet moved before my brain caught up.