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“
See
.” Ryan’s stupid grin got even bigger.

“Although, some advice for you, Mr. Fox, I hope you plan on using a much harsher tone next time or no one will take you seriously,” Niall added.

“Don’t encourage him, Niall,” I groaned.

Ignoring my response, Ryan nodded and gave Niall a ‘you better believe it’ look before returning his eyes to me. He then bowed his head and lifted my hand up to meet his lips.

“And you, you’ve rendered me speechless, Ms. Montgomery. Stunning. Absolutely breathtaking and you’re all mine.” Ryan smiled.

Blushing, I did a little curtsy. “Why thank you, Mr. Fox. You don’t look half bad yourself. I’ll admit you scrubbed up quite well for the occasion.”

He laughed and led me towards the waiting limo.

Once we were inside the car and on our way to the venue, Ryan turned to face me. “I’m going to have trouble taking my eyes off of you tonight.”

This time
I
laughed. Well, I was glad the day spent with Amelie worked its magic.

Amelie and I had spent the entire day at the spa, not that I’d ever admit that to Ryan. I got the lot. Everything from a facial, a body wrap, pedicure, manicure and my hair and make-up, I had got done. I wanted to look good and feel great. I hadn’t been to many events in my lifetime, only a few with my grandparents in Orange County.

When I was a child, my parents would often host charity events or designer showcases where everybody famous got invited. I can still remember sitting in my mom’s room, watching her, as she got ready and then I’d have to say goodbye because Connor and I were too young to attend. Sometimes, Alex would stay home with us but father usually forced him to go along to show him what he’d have to do when he took over the business.

I wanted tonight to be special, not only was I going to meet the entire New York Yankees team but I wanted to make a contribution to the great cause they were supporting. I felt it was the least I could do for Ryan offering to take me and I liked to think that my parents and my brother were looking down on me and were somewhat proud of what I was about to do.

“Do you like the dress?”

A smile appeared on my face as Ryan’s soothing voice filled the air. “It’s perfect Ryan, thank you.”

“It looks perfect on you.”

Blushing, I looked down at my stunning gown. It really was perfect and Ryan had surprisingly good taste, but then again he was always dressed well.

At the end of our shopping trip last week, Ryan spotted an Alexander McQueen dress on a window mannequin of a store. He practically dragged me inside, mumbling something about how he was the perfect designer for me. I never asked him why he thought that. He and the shop assistant spoke, and moments later she came out of the back carrying the most beautiful dress I’d ever seen.

The cream colored gown had the classic McQueen elements to it such as the high neck, the tight waistline and gold-embellishment. The bottom half of the dress was made of tulle, which slightly trailed at the back and had incredible gold floral designs creeping up the skirt. The entire top half of the dress was covered in the same beautiful gold trimmings.

Because the gown was the showstopper, I kept my hair and accessories to a minimum. My hair was a neat side ponytail, twisted around until it wrapped around itself and then loosely pinned in place. I wore tiny yellow diamond studs in my ears and a single, simple Cartier bracelet.

I tried not to think about the media that were going to be there. I was just glad to be attending such a fantastic cause. I just needed to keep reminding myself that.

Ryan had filled me in on the charity. It was something my father had also assisted with while he was alive. They helped raise money to help young homeless children and unprivileged families around the New York state by providing them with shelter and schooling needs. A lot of the kids got into sports as well, which helped to keep them off the streets. Ryan said he and some of the other players would go spend a day or their free weekends at the shelters playing ball with some of the children. Hearing all of this made me fall harder for him.

When the limo slowed at the last turn before our destination, I caught sight of the large sea of people gathered outside a tall building. Bright flashes of cameras continuously clicked, and suddenly the shouts and cheers happening just outside the doors interrupted the quietness of our limo. I immediately realized there were a lot more people here than I’d expected. This was a highly publicized event after all. Dread filled me. Darkness began to take over my vision. I could feel myself gasping for much needed air, my skin suddenly burning hot.
No! No! No!
This couldn’t be happening. Not while I was with Ryan. Not at this important event.
Breathe, Evangeline. Breathe!

“Bella, I got you. I’m right here with you. Just breathe, baby. We’re doing this together.”

I felt my body immediately calm upon hearing Ryan’s steady voice. I forced my way through the black emptiness until I found the tunnel of light― rushing towards it when I saw the familiar, comforting silhouette of the man helping to drive away my fears.

“
Evangeline
.”

My eyes flew open to reveal Ryan’s face just inches away from mine. Both his hands were placed on either side of my face while he watched me with a worried expression.

Oh no,
I’d humiliated myself. Was he going to say I was crazy and tell me that he no longer wanted me to attend the evening with him?

“Are you okay?” he asked, gently stroking my cheek with his thumb.

I stared back at him and nodded, mentally preparing myself for his next words:
I think I should do this on my own.

Ryan let out a big sigh of relief and relaxed. “Bella, you scared me half to death. Why didn’t you tell me you suffered from anxiety attacks?”
Huh?
That wasn’t the response I’d been expecting from him.

“I didn’t want to you to think of me differently,” I admitted. I might as well be honest about it.

“Baby,” he began, giving me a simple kiss on my lips. “I already see you differently, but not in the way that you’re thinking.” He kissed me again.

Lifting my hands, I grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him closer. My mouth opened eagerly to let his tongue slip inside. If it weren’t for the driver awkwardly clearing his throat, I would’ve let myself get carried away.

I felt Ryan chuckle against my mouth before he pulled away. He gave me a naughty grin and winked before turning towards the driver. “
Sorry,
Jack. Can you spare a few more minutes?”

The driver didn’t answer but Ryan took that as a ‘yes’. When his face returned to mine the grin was gone, replaced by a very serious expression. “You still want to do this? I completely understand if you can’t, or if you won’t, we can turn this limo right back around. A naked night in with you seems more appealing anyway.”

Although I wanted to get angry over his comment, I burst out laughing instead. I was thankful for this man coming into my life with his ability to take my mind off troubling things and make me laugh.

Pushing the thoughts of Ryan away for a moment, I thought seriously about the question at hand. I had to do this; I couldn’t keep living my life hiding from everything. I needed to overcome the obstacles that held my life like a prison.

With a deep breath I nodded.
That’s my little girl,
a voice that sounded much like my late father whispered inside my head.

“I’m going to do this, Ryan. It’s for a wonderful cause and I can do this.”

A proud smile stretched across his face. “I know you can, baby. I believe in you.” Leaning in for another quick kiss, Ryan added, “Alright, you ready to take on the world? They’ll expect some photos, so we can pose for a few, but as soon as it gets too much, you tell me and we’re straight inside, okay?”

I nodded.

“I’m one lucky son-of-a-bitch,” he mumbled shaking his head and adjusting his tux.

Before I could make a comment, Ryan opened the door and stepped out of the limo. Loud screams erupted and camera flashes went crazy. Once his door closed, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
You can do this. You can do this...

I heard the click of my door open before the loud screams flooded my ears again. I opened my eyes and turned to see Ryan smiling down with his hand stretched out, waiting for me to take hold of it.

I allowed myself another deep breath before I reached up and took his hand.

“Remember I’m right here with you, Bella. I got you,” Ryan whispered in my ear, once I was standing.

CHAPTER 17

Everything went by in a blur. There were cameras flashing, people asking for Ryan’s autograph― even a few bold women screaming out different ways they’d like to sleep with him. We posed for several photographs then Ryan politely declined the rest. Before I knew it, we were safely in the building.
You did it!

It felt much better to be inside, away from the crowd, away from the bright camera lights.

The ballroom was gorgeous. Decorated in a dark sapphire satin and fine white silk, the huge room looked like a perfect winter night, although it was summer outside. The ceiling glittered with thousands of tiny fairy lights, while large ornamental statues of half naked people and animal shaped hedges were placed carefully around the floor. The whole room felt overwhelming. I couldn’t help but think what Amelie would say if she got to see it. She’d love it, I was so sure.

Ryan, with a hand on the small of my back, guided me through the crowd.

“Did I already tell you how beautiful you look tonight?” he whispered leaning into my ear as we made our way towards the center of the room.

I smiled and bravely pinched him on the ass. He shot me a quizzical look, before grinning. “Oh, you want to play that game, Ms.―”

“Baby! There you are,” called out a voice. I recognized the face immediately as one of Ryan’s teammates, Scott, from the night Ryan got in the fight with Nick. As soon as Scott saw me his eyes widened. “Oh, and look at you. Jeez, you’re just breathtaking, Ms. Montgomery. I could stare at you all night long.” He stepped towards us and held an arm out to me. I raised my arm to greet him but instead he grabbed both my shoulders, pulled me in and planted a big kiss on my cheek.

“Back off. She’s taken and you have a wife, Bucky,” Ryan said sternly, grabbing me by the hips and pulling me back to him. An audacious smile appeared on Scott’s face causing me to giggle.

“I’m glad he asked you to come along. As much as I love little Annabelle, it will be
very
interesting to see how Baby behaves with another woman beside him other than his sister.”

“
Oh
? I thought you’d be used to that already.” I smirked.

Scott laughed. Ryan didn’t.

“She’s a keeper this one, Fox,” he replied, slapping Ryan playfully on the back of the shoulder.

“Are you hitting on all everyone’s partners again, Scott?”

I turned to see a petite, slender woman standing with her hand at her hip. Her blond cropped hair, square jaw line, and plump pink lips― complete with her emerald, floor length gown and large, silver jeweled earrings made her look like a delicate pixie. She looked older than me but I couldn’t tell by just how much. She was stunning.

“Hi there sweetie, I’m Cynthia.”

“Evangeline,” I replied, taking her outstretched hand and politely shaking it.

“This stunning, beautiful lady is my wife, Mrs. Heilmann.” Scott smiled, pulling his wife closer to him.

I smiled at the both of them.

“I don’t understand how she’s managed to put up with you for all these years,” Ryan teased.

“After three little rat-bags and a hot piece of ass for a husband, I don’t think she wants to go anywhere else. Anyway, I can ask the same question to Ms. Montgomery here,” Scott hit back. The two boys laughed.

“
Montgomery
? As in the late Rupert Montgomery’s daughter?” Cynthia blinked at me.

“Oh, sweet cheeks.
Yes
. But don’t embarrass the poor girl.” Scott rolled his eyes at his wife before shaking his head and mouthing, ‘
I swear
’ at Ryan and me.