Instead of simply inviting one to dance, you had to buy a ticket for the person you wanted to dance with. There was a raffle for every dance—only men bought tickets for the first few rounds, and only ladies for the next ones. All the money went to charity, of course, though this wasn’t the main donation, just provided an element of surprise and kept everyone laughing and guessing.
When we were brainstorming ways to keep the balls entertaining and unique, Tess came up with the idea, citing Gone with The Wind as inspiration. I had no idea what the movie was about, but Tess talked our ears off, and before we knew it, we’d all agreed to it. It proved to be a success.
“I’m thinking we should also participate in the raffle,” Ryker said. As organizers, we’d stayed out of it because we had plenty to do.
Skye laughed, but Cole nodded in appreciation. “I’m with you, brother.”
“I’m sure I’d bring in the most tickets,” Ryker continued.
Cole cocked a brow. “When I’m competing against you? Ha! No chance.”
Josie looked between the two of them. “Well, well. The Flirt vs. the Charmer. I’d pay money just to watch that.”
Tess clapped her hands. “We don’t have time for brainstorming now. Hunter, your speech. And by the way, your pretty wife could totally join the raffle. Josie, what do you say?”
“For a good cause? Of course.”
“No,” I said firmly. The whole group turned to look at me. The corners of Josie’s mouth twitched. Ryker and Cole shook their heads. Tess and Skye were radiant.
“We need to make the rounds for this ball,” I said. “I want to introduce you to everyone as my wife. You won’t have much time for dancing.”
No one seemed to buy my explanation, not even Josie—the corners of her lips twitched again. I was a territorial bastard. I just didn’t want to share her.
“I’m going to the restroom to freshen up before you start introducing me, husband.”
The second she was out of earshot, my cousins pounced on me.
“So, is it just me, or did he sound jealous?” Cole asked.
“Not just you,” Skye co
nfirmed. She was grinning from ear to ear. If possible, Tess’s grin was even bigger.
“Did you tell her how you feel?” Tess asked.
“Not... explicitly,” I admitted.
“What are you waiting for?” Skye asked.
“What if it ruins everything? What if she doesn’t feel the same?”
Tess tilted her head. “You always take chances, Hunter. You’re going to hold back now?”
“What exactly do you feel?” Skye went on.
Cole cleared his throat. “Let’s not corner him before the speech.”
Ryker sighed dramatically. “Yup, let the man focus on his speech. He’s a goner for Josie anyway. Even I’m not that clueless.”
I didn’t get another word in, because the evening’s moderator called me into the main room. Showtime.
Getting up on a stage and giving a speech wasn’t one of my favorite activities, but over time, I’d learned to view this as an opportunity rather than something to dread. The better my speech, the easier donors would part with their money.
At the end of it, I pulled out a check, reading the sum out loud before handing it over to our treasurer. I always set the bar high, donating six figures. People tended to follow suit.
Josie watched me from right next to the stage for the entire duration of my speech. Tess and Skye were right, of course: I had to tell her, but having the guts to do it was another story.
Josie was the star of the night, and not because she was my wife. Well, partly because of that. Several regulars weren’t shy about expressing their surprise that I’d married.