Delivering Josh’s gift would be a lot harder than planned.

I’m guessing I was the last person Josh expected to see barreling toward him at the Morelli Family’s swanky Christmas gala in Bishop’s Landing, which he’d attended with Shelby as his date.

I would have loved to have caught him alone to give him my gift discreetly. But the person stationed at the front door with the guest list hadn’t believed my cover story about having been invited by one of the Morellis to help them write a last-minute speech. Most likely because I was wearing an off-the-rack cocktail dress at what turned out to be a designer evening gown and tux sort of affair. And also maybe because when he asked which Morelli I was here to assist, I’d answered, “Leo?” with a hopeful question mark.

So, that’s how I ended up darting into the party past the armed guards who hadn’t thought the spritely girl with the large chest would present a problem—or run so fast. (The secret is wearing Converse with your party dresses, not heels. Though, now that I think of it, that might have been another red flag for Guest List Guy.)

Anyway, I had several henchmen in black-on-black suits chasing after me when I found Josh and Shelby power couple networking with a group of dapper men in tuxes and women dripping in jewels.

Not a great look. All those fine partygoers gaped at me when I came skidding to a stop in front of Josh with a brown office envelope clutched in my hands.

My heart cracked at the sight of him and Shelby together. They truly did look like the perfect power couple—tall and fair and regal as royalty as they stared down at me from on high.

“Neisha, is that you?” Shelby asked as if she barely remembered me. “What are you doing here?”

I ignored her and thrust the brown envelope at Josh.

“This is for you,” I told him, just as the security guards caught up with me.

“Miss, you’ll have to come with us!” one of them said, reaching out to grab my arm.

“Don’t touch her,” Josh ordered as if this was his party, not the Morellis’ and the guards were under his command.

To my surprise, the guy who tried to grab my arm took a few steps back and went into hover mode with the rest of the guards.

Leaving Josh free to give me and my envelope a cold up and down look before he asked, “What is this?”

“It’s a speech—two speeches, actually. The announcement speech you wanted from me. That speech will change hearts and minds and get people to vote for you, no matter their party affiliation. You can deliver it with Shelby standing by your side if you want.”

Shelby’s eyes lit up with excitement.