“I aim to please.”
“That’s not what half the girls in town say.”
He laughed. “Well, Amy, anytime you’d like to find out for yourself...”
“One rejection not enough for you, Ethan?”
His eyes landed on my bruised arm and his smile dissolved. “Just try and stay out of trouble tonight.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“It was a stupid thing to do, Amy,” he groused. “You could have been seriously hurt.”
“That’s not concern for my safety, is it, Ethan?” I chided, attempting to lighten the mood.
“No,” he said, relaxing. “I just don’t want to ruin my favorite suit.”
“Where did you learn to fight like that?” I asked, sounding awestruck despite myself. “Are you ex– special forces or something?”
“Or something,” he answered dismissively, his gaze redirecting to a woman who laughed like a hyena in the background.
“I’ve never seen anyone fight like you . . . the speed.” I shook my head at the memory.
“I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you,” he answered, still and serious. He took a sip of whiskey.
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be a twat, Ethan.”
He choked on his whiskey and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I have been called many things, but a twat isn’t one of them.”
“Well, you know what they say.” I glanced out across the lawn at a group laughing over by the outdoor bar. “If the shoe fits.”
“You would know, Cinderella.” His perfect white teeth flashed in the pale light.
We both laughed.
“Amy!” Georgie called out, coming down the stairs, one hand clutched to the rail, the other, hoisting her dress up off the ground.
“Georgie, you look lovely,” Ethan said.
She halted, her face twisting as if she’d just swallowed a bitter pill. “Ethan, how lovely to see you here,” she drawled.
Ethan threw her a sharp smile. “It is always a pleasure to see you.”
Georgie looked like she was heartbeats away from grabbing a glass off a passing waiter and hurling it at Ethan. “I’ll be insidewhen you’re ready, Amy.” She swung around and strutted back inside.
They had history, and whatever it was, wasn’t pleasant for Georgie. Ethan smirked, as if her disgust amused him.
A pretty blond, with boobs bulging precariously out of her gown, sashayed over and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Ethan, it’s such a surprise to see you here.”
“Sam. It’s not like there’s a whole lot of choices in Church Heights,” he responded dryly.
“True,” she answered, then looked at me with a generous smile. “You must be Amy, the new girl.”
I nodded. “So everyone keeps reminding me. It’s nice to meet you.”
She flicked out a hand. “Don’t worry about it. You’ll be old news soon enough. Before you know it, they’ll move on to the next victim.” She put her hand over her heart, made dying sounds, like someone had just stabbed her, and laughed.
The thought of being the topic of local gossip was about as comforting as a man waiting for a vasectomy. I gritted my teeth into something that resembled a smile.
