"Lilli—" he was about to run his hand through his hair. I grabbed his wrist, stopping him from messing up his hair so early in the night. That movement had his arms around my waist.
"I’m sorry for being jealous, insanely jealous, of your...friend." The word friend came out in disgust.
"Aidan, I’m not going behind your back. I can barely think past my daily schedule for you to worry about me being with someone else. Besides, I would never do that to you and have never given you a reason to believe that I would."
He hugged me tighter.
"Forgive me? Please?" It was such a pleading question. I didn't understand why he was so desperate for me to forgive him.
"Of course I will, but just stop, okay?"
He nodded. As I pulled away I saw him quickly wipe his cheek.
"Aidan?"
"It's nothing," he mumbled.
"But—?"
Before I could finish my sentence, his lips were on mine. He pulled away from me and looked into my eyes.
"I don't want you to be upset with me. When you left me at the table, it killed me. I don’t want to hurt, especially by making you think that you would—"
I kissed him.
After returning to the table and going through the multiple course meal, the entertainment began. First, would be the speeches. Then, the children's choir would perform, followed by the auction and ending with the orchestra.
Aidan and Viola made their way to the stage. They both took turns discussing the foundation. It was going really well, until...
"I would like for my wife to join us on stage this evening," Aidan announced.
I shook my head.
"Lilli, go," Maggie whisper shouted. I looked at her and shook my head. She grabbed my arm and walked me onto the stage.
I smiled nervously and leaned into Aidan as he pulled me tightly to his side.
"You are so going to pay for this." I whispered.
"Ooh...promise?" He whispered back and when I looked at him, he was sporting his crooked grin. The hot bastard!
He took a step toward the podium after Viola talked about the foundation, the children's homes, thanked the contributors and announced my involvement.
"Lilli is the newest addition to the Isobel's Heart Foundation. I find it a little ironic that the foundation will now be jointly run by another strong woman with a similar passion to my grandmother, Mrs. Isobel Iverson."
At first I was taken aback that he had announced my 'joint’ involvement. Viola was beaming next to him as they both turned to look at me. Viola quickly hugged me and Aidan kissed my cheek, pushing me toward the podium.
"I didn't plan to speak," I hissed to Aidan.
"Just speak from your heart, Lilli. You will do fine." He kissed me chastely, standing close to me as I turned to the podium and looked out over the audience.
I smiled broadly, terrified.
"I, uh, hadn't planned on speaking tonight. I would like to thank you all for coming and for helping the foundation." All of a sudden I found a groove and went with it. "The children that we are helping tonight are not only beautiful and brilliant, they are also strong in their own special ways. Tonight you should congratulate yourself in making a difference for them. Thank you."
I stepped away and Viola was first to my ear.
"You are amazing, dear. That was perfect."
"I'm going to kill your nephew when we get home, by the way." I whispered into her ear and she hid her giggle in my shoulder.
Aidan finished speaking and announced the children's choir from one of the children's homes performing for us tonight. We stayed off stage as they sang multiple songs. Once they were finished, I hugged each one of them, as did Viola, before we returned to our table.
The auctioneer took the stage. I almost did laughing when he announced the first item up for bid.
"Our first item for bid tonight...is a dance with Mr. Iverson, himself." The auctioneer turned to Aidan and motioned for him to take the center stage. Aidan looked nervous. I couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled from within my chest.
I turned to Viola.
"Did you do this?" I whispered across the table.
She winked.
"He likes making you unexpectedly nervous, let's see how he does."
Maggie and I giggled ferociously.
"Remind me to never anger you." Jason mumbled to Maggie. We laughed harder.
"That would be wise, big man," Maggie flicked his nose playfully and then kissed his cheek. They were adorable together.
"So, do I hear one thousand dollars?" The auctioneer started. "Mrs. Iverson?" He looked directly at me.
I tapped my chin.
"I don't know..." the crowd laughed "Is there anyone else back there? You know, like Brad Pitt or..?"
Aidan scowled at me playfully and I laughed hard.
"One thousand dollars!" I turned to see a tall, voluptuous red-head in the middle of the room.
I looked at Aidan who was fixated on my reaction. I shrugged and giggled.
"Two-thousand dollars!" Now it was Aidan's Aunt Anne bidding.
"Three-thousand," Viola shrugged and then whispered to me, "Might as well try to get as much for him as possible."
I laughed.
"Four-thousand," I announced and raised my glass to Aidan, who looked relieved.