I stare at him as I drop his hand. I fold my arms across my chest and reply tartly, "You'll be comin' as my what then?"

"That's just it. I won't be comin' as your anything. I will be there in a mask and we can hang out but I will be treating you as if you're my friend," Ryan says hesitantly and I am instantly disappointed. I can't decide if I want to scream or cry. 

"You're keeping your cover for the party?" I cry out and he shrugs, "Rory is going to be there. Aurora is going to stay in the van and listen in through your earpiece and she'll alert me of any suspicious activity."

My jaw sags slightly and I feel my eyes grow three sizes, "I am still going to have an earpiece? Didn't we just establish that I need to stay away from the case?"

He nods, "Yes, you don't have to seek Rory out but Austin, Aurora and I still have a job to do. New Year's Eve is the perfect place for handing out uppers. We have it on good authority that both Rory and Theo will be in attendance and Rory is planning on distributing there."

I roll my eyes, "I need to be focused on making a profit and making sure my guests have a good time. I am not about to be scanning the crowd for drugs or playing secret agent while Aurora listens in to all of my conversations. That and I can guarantee if Rory thinks I am unattached he'll be the one planting his lips on me at midnight. Is that what you want?"

Ryan pushes his hands down indicating for me to settle down, "I've already thought about that. How about at a couple minutes before midnight we sneak back to your office and have a proper toast. It can just be us for a few moments and after the ball drops we can go back and join the party." He stares at me scowling at him so he adds, "Sawyer, you're going to be pulled in a million different directions that night, it's not like I was going to be able to be by your side as you run the show. At least this gives us a private moment at midnight."

I look at him as I ponder his idea. I guess it could be nice being alone as the countdown plays out. I think to having a private toast and I instantly remember the lock on my door. I let the frustration melt away as I smirk and he instantly knows something is up.

"I'll agree to the earpiece and to the private moment at midnight," I say. He knows there is more coming so he urges me to continue, "But only if we don't sleep together tonight and we wait until tomorrow. At midnight. In my office."

I can tell I've thrown him off and he doesn't know what to say. He was willing to hoist me onto a countertop in a fancy brew-house bathroom but he's second-guessing my office? So I add, "My door locks and I am the only one with a key."

He smiles and finally gives in, "Fine. Midnight in your office tomorrow."

"We'll start the new year out with a bang," I tell him with a wink and he laughs loudly. Whatever tension there was between us is long gone and I am so glad to be back to normal.

********

The day is finally here. I've been planning this moment since Halloween and I couldn't be more excited.

I arrived at the winery at five o'clock and found an eager Tinsley waiting for me at the front door. She's wearing a red sequin top with a black mini skirt and she has a matching red and black masquerade mask in her hand. She notes my jeans and tee combo and says, "You can't be wearin' that to the party?"

I laugh as I stick the key in the door and reply, "No, my outfit is in my bag here. I just wanted to make sure everything was done before I put it on. I won't be able to climb onto anything or bend over once I squeeze into it." I push the door open and I watch the closed sign flutter against the glass as I push it shut. I flip the lights on and the whole room instantly comes to life.

We decorated everything in silver and gold for the party. Silver table cloths drape over the pub tables and matching napkins line the booth table tops and bar areas. We found gold and silver string lights to hang over the photo booth area and we dropped extra masks all over the bar. It looks chic and the new dark furniture and paint job make the place feel brand new. We installed three flat-screen televisions to go behind the bar and we decided to play old black and white movies until the ball drops.

"Is this what you pictured?" Tinsley asks as we gaze around the space and I smile before I answer, "It's better." She places a warm hand on my shoulder and I am really proud of what we've managed to accomplish. I hear a knock on the glass behind me and I spin around to see the sommeliers, Chicken and George, waiting to be let in. They pull me in for a hug as they enter and Tinsley is just as excited to see her old crew. She hands them their new uniform button-down shirts and they go back to the bar to set up. As they wander off I find Betsey Peters, the woman who is going to be handling the food, also waiting to come inside. Tinsley leads her back to the kitchen and I am glad we had a full training day yesterday. Everyone meshes well together and I have faith that everyone will excel at their jobs.

Annabeth is the last to trickle in and she is in her full attire when she arrives. She picked out a royal purple sequin dress that exposes her back and flatters her belly. Her auburn hair is pinned into a 1920's bob and her mask matches her purple dress perfectly. She points to my hobo chic get up and says, "That ain't appropriate for any party darlin'."

I shake my head, "I need to go get ready. We have about twenty minutes until doors open."

"Well get to gettin' then. You're the host, you need to look fabulous," she tells me and I look around the room once more before picking up my garment bag and heading back to my office. As soon as I'm inside I drop the bag on my chair and plug in my curling iron to touch up my hair. I liked how Annabeth managed a bob and I think with the sparkly headband I brought I can pull off a faux one.

I situate the band how I want it on my forehead and start tucking my hair into the elastic. I curl some loose pieces that frame my face and when I am done I have achieved the desired look. I quickly manage to pull off a smokey eye and I finish my face by painting my lips a dark burgundy color. I then slide on my silver flapper-style dress and I shimmy so the sequins look like a disco ball against the door. I strap my favorite silver and rhinestone heels on and as I look at myself in the mirror I am pleased with how quickly I managed to pull it all together. I hear a knock at the door and I call out that it's open. My mother pushes her face into the crack she's made and she smiles, "All ready I see." She pushes the door further open, "just wanted to check on you before the place fills up."

I unplug my curling iron and reply, "Everything is ready. I hope my blood, sweat and tears make tonight a success." I turn to face her and she pulls a small Tiffany blue box out from her purse. She hands it to me and I am thrown off by the unexpected gift. I pull at the white ribbon and slide the lid off. Inside is a silver charm bracelet with a little silver wine glass charm attached to it.

"How you didn't already have that is beyond me," my mother says as I hold the bracelet in my hand.

I laugh and reply, "I must be easy to shop for." She comes closer to me and offers to clasp it onto my wrist. She holds my hand and says, "Tonight is all you, Sawyer. We're proud of you and I can see you are taking this seriously."

I nod, "I am. This place means a lot to me. Thank you for having faith in me and thank you for the bracelet." I swear I see a tear pool in my mother's left eye but she blinks it away before it can spill over. My mother was proud of me when I brought home Jackson Hemming that Christmas in college, but I can tell this is a different kind of pride and it means the world to me.

She glances to her watch and says, "Doors open in two minutes shall we get out there?" I flick my gaze to my reflection one last time before pulling the office door open. I follow her into the hallway and find my father, Austin, Margot, Ryan, Tinsley, Gus and Annabeth all waiting for me by the main entrance. They clap when they see me and I fight back tears as my heart swells. I have never felt more loved than I do right now.

I raise my hands to the door and excitedly say, "Shall we get this party started?"