“Yup, that’s the one.”
“No offense, but do you think he’ll show up the day of?” she asks with a pointed look. “He doesn’t seem like the type of guy who would want to take part in a regency fair, and according to Veronica Burke, he’s a major ass.”
I didn’t take Bridget for someone who followed Veronica Burke’s social media, but okay. I file that fact in my tiny mental folder of “things Bridget Funk does that surprise me.” It’s a small folder, but occasionally, she says something so against her Grandma Chic personality that I have to note it.
She’s also not wrong about Jack. He’s not the most trustworthy human and typically doesn’t do things that make him uncomfortable.
“He’s not the ass that Veronica said he was—I can promise that anyway. But, we don’t have another option. We have to trust he’ll be there or accept that we won’t have that part of the novel conveyed properly the day of.”
Bridget taps her chin, deep in thought, and shrugs. “If he bails, I’ll have to manage the part.”
I snort and fan myself. “I don’t think I could handle you in such close quarters.”
“Well, let’s hope this Jack Parker comes through. I wouldn’t want to ruin my friendship with you with some sexual tension.” Bridget wiggles her brows. A smile I seldom see stretches wide across her cheeks, reminding me how gorgeous Bridget, with her auburn hair and rosy complexion, really is. “Because I don’t like many people, and I don’t feel like having to make a new friend.”
Trying to squash my surprise at Bridget’s declaration of friendship, I bring my tea to my lips. I didn’t know she considered us friends, but after five years of planning this fair together, maybe we have settled into something akin to friendship.
“From the sounds of it, he’s a modern-day Wickham anyway, so maybe he’ll settle into the role easier, and it won’t bother him as much.”
I laugh. “Yeah, maybe.”
No matter how much I adore Jack as a friend, I can’t deny his dating history is rather Wickham-like. He doesn’t put himself out there in relationships, typically settling for ones that are convenient or advantageous and ending them long before they reach any commitment stage.
He’s a cruel flirt—with just about everyone but me.
Not that I’ve secretly wished he would flirt with me because that would be silly.
It’s probably better that he never has—I couldn’t handle it. For Pete’s sake, I almost had a heart attack, because he reached up to put the biscuits away, and my mind, thoroughly plagued by that magazine spread and stare, betrayed me.
I swallow, recalling the way my belly swooped when his chest pressed against mine. My eyes zeroed in on the pulse above his collarbone, itching to trace the dips and curves with my fingers. He just had to lean his head down and—
A shallow breath escapes me. I clear my throat and join reality once more.
“You okay, there?” Bridget asks, slowly arching her eyebrow. It’s a pointed skill she humbly brags about with its frequent employment.
But I can’t blame her. Her eyebrows are fire.
“Yeah. Fine.” Slowly, I take another sip of tea, hoping the cup partially obscures the growing heat on my cheeks.
“Don’t get into character on me yet, Desfleurs. We’re still a week out.”
“All good. Promise. Only Aulie here.” I laugh nervously.
“You wouldn’t have a thing for attractive hockey players, would you?”
I choke on my sip of tea. “What? No.” I narrow my gaze on the hot liquid before me, avoiding Bridget and her fire eyebrows.
“So, this whole thing with Jack is—”
“Completely professional and entirely out of necessity. Neither one of us wants to do it.”
“Sounds good to me.” Bridget nonchalantly sips her tea. Suddenly, I’m overcome with jealousy that she has nothing in her life causing her panic, and she can do things like calmly sip tea. “So, we won’t have to worry about you two running off before you’re supposed to, like we did with Emma and James last year?”
“Nope. Everything will be completely proper. Scout’s honor.”
“Don’t keep it too proper. Nobody wants a boring Lydia. You’d kill her sparkle.”
“Wouldn’t want that,” I say, shifting in my seat and trying to ignore the little voice whispering that’s precisely what I’ve done in my own life.
