“Just stand herefor a minute,” I told her through numb lips. I pointed at a seemingly floatingtray of drinks making its way through the crowd. “Careful though. They’re thekind of good that’s dangerous.”
“Yeah, Aidan is thebest.” She referenced the bartender while adjusting the strap of herdangerously high stiletto. “But then again my brother only hires the best.”
Her words bouncedaround in my champagne infused brain. “Your brother?”
She nodded acrossthe room. “Ezra,” she clarified.
Her answer onlyconfused me more. “Ezra is your brother?”
“Half-brother,” sheclarified. “Mostly though he’s a pain in the ass.” She suddenly smiled wide,throwing her head back and laughing like a lunatic. When she righted herselfagain, she whispered, “Pretend like we’re having a really good time. If hethinks I’m sulking he’ll come over and make a big deal about it.”
My eyes sought himbefore I gave them official permission to do so. Sure enough, he was staringover at us, watching his sister intently. Belatedly, I loosed a smile andlaughed at her non-existent joke.
She laughed again,only this time it seemed genuine. “Thanks,” she said. “I’m Dillon by the way.Ezra’s younger, wiser, more attractive sister.”
I smiled at her.“I’m Molly. Vera’s younger, wiser, more attractive best friend.”
We shared anotherlaugh. Mine was louder than usual, fueled by stress and alcohol.
“You’re themastermind behind tonight, aren’t you? Ezra said this was all you.”
I squinted at her,trying to decide if I’d heard her right. The dance music was loud, but not thatloud. “Oh, you mean the party? Yeah, I guess it was. Ezra should really get thecredit though. Or his florist, Meg. She did all the…” I waved in the generaldirection of some flowers. “Décor.”
Dillon snorted. “Ifigured. It has her flare.”
“Gorgeous, isn’tit?”
Dillon wrinkled hernose. “I was going to say it smells like a funeral home, but we can go withyour answer. It’s nicer.”
I laughed again,instantly liking the pretty blonde that was nothing like her brother. Theydidn’t even look alike. It was hard to reconcile them as siblings, and mymuddled thoughts questioned if maybe she was lying.
“Are you sureyou’re Ezra’s sister?” I asked, speaking my mind before I could think better ofit. “You’re so much more—”
“Pale?” she filledin.
“I was going to saypleasant.”
“Ha! Well, thattoo, I suppose.”
I looked back andforth between Dillon and Ezra again. He had dark hair and eyes, and olive skin.She really was paler. Her blonde hair just a few shades darker than her brightwhite dress, and her big blue eyes were inviting and sweet, unmarked by theheaviness in Ezra’s.
“You really don’tlook anything alike though,” I heard myself say. “He’s so…” I trailed offbefore I could finish the sentence with stupid adjectives like hot, sexy ordrool-worthy.
“He favors ourdad,” she explained. “Where I’m like my mom. She was all Viking.”
“Sorry,” I addedquickly, realizing belatedly that I was askinga perfectstranger bizarre questionsabout her sibling. I opened my mouth to askanother stupid question like how Ezra knew Meg, or how often does Meg do Ezra’sflowers, or is florist code for something else? Like hooker? But Dillon cut meoff, saving us both from the disaster brewing inside my mouth.
“Oh, shit,” shemumbled. “He’s coming over here. If he asks, tell him we were discussing matureadult things like politics or nuclear physics. Or the weather.”
I didn’t have timeto process her request before Ezra approached us. He went straight for hissister, pulling her into a brief hug. “Dillon,” he greeted in that way of histhat wasn’t a greeting at all. .Never “hello” or “hi” or “heygirl.”Just first names and broody looks. “Glad you made it.”
“I wouldn’t missit,” she told him. “Killian’s family.”
“You’ll love Veratoo,” he told her. “When they’re done dancing, I’ll introduce you.”
“I’ve already metthe best friend,” Dillon nodded to me. “Molly’s been keeping me company.”
Realizing it wasodd that Dillon knew who I was, I was slow to reply. “Politics,” I finallyblurted. “We were just discussing politics.”
