Connor tugged me closer, possessive energy radiating off him. “It’s called long distance. I knew the moment I met her I couldn’t just toss her aside.”
God, how did he know that was exactly what I needed to hear?
I didn’t think, barely breathed. Just turned, curled my fingers into his suit jacket, and kissed him.
And without hesitation, his hands settled on my waist, his mouth meeting mine like we’d kissed a hundred times, like he wasall in. Showy, cocky, but warm. Solid.
When we pulled apart, his voice dropped, softer. “Just wanted to make sure you’re still coming over tonight?”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
“I’ll wait for you,” Connor said, looking at me but clearly directing the warning towards Sebastian that he couldn’t ambush me again.
Sebastian smoothed his tie. “Well, good luck with long distance, you two.” And then his smile turned smug. “I guess I’ll see you at Alex's wedding.”
The wedding. The wedding of the engaged couple, the whole reason for this party. The wedding where Sebastian would be invited as a guest.
I’d just claimed Connor McNamara as my boyfriend. Now, when he showed up without me, Sebastian would know I lied. I'd spent the past year trying to clean up the mess he'd made of my reputation, telling everybody that I'd made up the fraud, that I'd overreacted.
Now he'd have more ammunition, telling everyone who would listen that I’d invented a boyfriend, that I was unstable, desperate, and pathetic. He’d reframe everything—my whistleblowing as delusion, my career change as breakdown, my entire life as one long failure.
Sebastian brushed past us to leave the storage room, his shoulder nudging Connor’s in some stupid display of masculinity, reminding me that Sebastian wouldn’t just destroy what was left of my reputation. He’d poison the well against Connor too.
Connor exhaled. “Well that was—”
“I need to get back to work,” I said quickly, already turning away before he could see my panic rising.
Back at the bar, I grabbed a martini glass and started rimming it. Chocolate sauce. Crushed candy cane. Maybe if I kept my hands busy, I could stop them from shaking.
Connor
Shit.IthoughtIwas doing the noble thing, stepping in to shut up that asshole. Instead, I’d put Hannah in an impossible situation.
Smooth, McNamara. Really smooth.
I wanted to apologize, to tell her I’d figure something out. That I’d suddenly develop a shellfish allergy so severe I couldn’t risk the wedding reception. That my apartment would flood. That I’d be called away on urgent business to… literally anywhere else.
But before I could even open my mouth, Hannah shut me out. She marched back to the bar and threw herself into customer service mode—all smiles, generous pours, friendly chitchat with every guest who approached.
Just not me.
The party swelled around me, getting louder as the alcohol flowed. I tried to find a quiet corner, but there wasn’t one. Every time I shifted, someone else wanted to make small talk or congratulate me on my promotion.
I lasted ten minutes before retreating to Victoria’s side.
She clocked my discomfort, angling her body to create a buffer between me and the crowd. I may have been her COO, but in moments like this, she acted more like a protective older sister than my boss.
“You okay?” she murmured between conversations.
“Fine,” I lied, and she didn’t push.
So I watched, disconnected. Sebastian said his goodbyes to Alex—all backslapping and promises to “circle back on those numbers”—then left without a backward glance at Hannah.
Something caught in the corner of my eye as the balcony door swung open. Kate ducked back inside looking absolutely drenched, wrapped in an oversized suit jacket—and made a beeline for the exit. And Kate’s fiance Paul—who I hadn’t even seen arrive at the party—steered her out with a firm firm at her back.
So I turned back the performance, forcing a soft smile onto my face, still feeling a residual surprise of seeing Victoria being so emotional as she sang to her boyfriend. Her whole life had been flipped upside down this year, and I’d been along for the ride… yet with Cruz, it seemed she’d found true joy.
A moment later Mallory slunk through the balcony doors, looking damp and uncharacteristically serious. Nick followed, completely drenched.
