My skin crawls as he casts his sleazy gaze over me. “I don’t know you.”
“No. No, you don’t. But we could change that.”
I shake my head. “I don't think so. I’m here for Mark.”
He snorts. “Half the women at this party are here for Mark.”
My heart sinks.
“He’s a bit of a man whore, you know? Gets around.”
For a moment, I’m thrown, but I straighten myself out and stare him down. “Are you supposed to be one of his friends?”
He grins. “We’ve known each other for years.”
“So why are you trashing him?”
His mouth falls open, but a squeal to my left gets my attention.
“You must be Cassie.”
A blonde bombshell with curls in her hair and smelling of flowers descends on me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and giving me a side hug.
“I am.”
“Mark’s been so nervous waiting for you to get here. Let me take you to him.”
I turn, meeting her brown-eyed gaze. “That would be great.”
“Cassie, is it?” the creepy guy says.
The blonde’s nostril’s flare. “Come on.”
She pulls me away.
“Thank you for that.”
I really hope she’s not one of Mark’s women. She’s a similar age to me, I think, but she’s flawless. I feel dumpy in comparison.
“What did Ian say to you?”
I roll my eyes. “He was hitting on me, and trashing Mark in the process.”
She narrows her eyes. “He was what?”
“I’m sorry. Is he your boyfriend?”
She laughs and shakes her head. “No, he’s an old friend of Mark’s, but he’s just creepy. I don’t know why Mark still lets him hang around.”
I swallow hard. She’s clearly close to Mark. Why am I here?
“I’ve told him before he’s a sleaze, but they’ve known each other since primary school, so they’ve been friends forever. He doesn’t do crap like that to me because he knows Mark would punch him.” She snorts. “Anyway, Mark’s just over here.”
She leads me to a corner of the room where Mark is, a beer in hand. Two men stand with him and they’re all laughing about something when I catch his eye.
“Cassie. I’m so glad you made it.” He makes a beeline for me and pecks me on the cheek. “I see you’ve met Lauren.”
Her eyes widen and she splays a palm on her chest. “I’m so sorry I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Mark’s younger and much better-looking sibling.”
