Fool for You (Southern Bride 7)

“Your son has volunteered to do the charity date auction this year for Children’s Hospital of Austin!” my dad said, giving Landon a sympathetic smile.

“Are you insane?” Emmit asked.

Landon’s mother, Addie, let out a squeal of delight. “Oh, Landon, this is wonderful! How did they talk you into it?” She hugged him and then gave him a kiss.

Landon shot me a look over Addie’s shoulder. “I was signed up without my knowledge.”

Addie drew back in surprise, and once again the guilt of signing him up hit me right in the chest. Or maybe that was regret I was starting to feel.

Janet’s voice came through my phone. “Hello?”

“Janet, it’s Emmerson. How in the world did it get out about Landon Lewis?”

Addie’s eyes widened as she looked from me to Landon, and then back to me before she whispered, “Ohh, I see.”

“Emmerson, sweetie, I know what you’re thinking, but I figured if word got out, we’d have more plate sales. And more plate sales means more money for the hospital.”

“But the charity date auction participants have always been announced at the ball.”

Janet laughed. “Emmerson, it’s Landon Lewis. He’s one of the most eligible bachelors in Texas! How in the world could we keep this a secret? I know you don’t seem to find him attractive, but the rest of the world does, and he’s going to bring in top dollar with his date.”

I spun around and walked out of the kitchen as quickly as I could. “I never said I didn’t find him attractive!” I whisper-shouted into the phone. “He’s my best friend, Janet, and I signed him up without him knowing!”

There was a chilling moment of silence before she slowly spoke. “He…doesn’t…know? People magazine reached out to us about the charity date auction after news got out that Landon was going to be in it! And you’re telling me he doesn’t know?!”

“Of course he does…now! But I agreed on his behalf and he’s not that happy with me, and now you let everyone know…” I sighed and dropped down into my father’s desk chair. I hadn’t even noticed that I had walked into his office. “He’s never liked the limelight, Janet. And now I’ve thrown him right back into it because I’m a selfish bitch and a terrible friend.”

“I’m sorry, Emmerson. Your family does so much for the hospital, and I let my excitement get the better of me. I’ll tell the reporter from People no comment, and we won’t bring it up again. If anyone asks, I’ll let PR know we don’t release the names of the volunteers ahead of the ball.”

I closed my eyes and let out a relieved breath, even though the cat was clearly already out of the bag. “Thank you so much, Janet. I appreciate you being sensitive about Landon’s privacy on this.”

“Of course. I guess a part of me went a little crazy, thinking this might be one of our biggest charity balls yet, and I let my judgment slip.”

I sighed as I mumbled, “You and me both.”

“Will you let Mr. Lewis know we’ll handle it all?”

I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. I suddenly felt so tired, and I had no idea why. This charity ball really was taking up way too much of my time, and although it was for a good cause, I was going to resign from the committee when this was all said and done. “Yes, and thank you, Janet.”

I hit End, dropped my head back against the chair, and closed my eyes. Why in the hell had I volunteered Landon? I never stopped for one second to think about the press that would be involved in this event. It was supposed to be a local event, though; I honestly never dreamed freaking People would be covering it.

“Everything okay?”

The sound of Landon’s voice stirred up butterflies deep in my belly.

I opened my eyes and met his gaze from across the room. It struck me how incredibly handsome Landon was. It wasn’t the first time I had noticed it, but for some reason right then, with the way he was looking at me, it felt different. My heart sped up a bit, and I slowly dropped my gaze, taking in every inch of him.

His dark hair was cut short, and he wore a baseball hat that was turned backward. My stomach did a weird dip, and I had the urge to cross the room and kiss him.

Landon’s blue eyes seemed to light up the room, and when he raised one brow at me, I felt a rush of warmth run the course of my entire body until it pooled in the depths of my womb.

Oh my goodness, I want this man like I want my next breath.

With a quick shake of my head, I tried to remember the last time I was with someone. Almost a year, and the guy I’d dated had ended up being a complete waste of my time.