I slide a glance at her as I slow for traffic.
She’s grinning again.
Makes her eyes pop like gold nuggets hiding in a stream when they’re hit just right with sunlight.
I knew she was pretty.
I know why I’m going tonight.
I know I’ve got this. All of it.
Except I don’t.
Fucking around with taking an asshole teammate’s sister on a date or two to make a point is one thing.
Likingher is something entirely different.
13
Goldie
It’s been wellover a year since the last time I visited the botanical gardens. I’m struck with wondering why I haven’t been here more often—especially on days I have no reason to have nerves eating my stomach—the minute we step inside.
The massive greenhouse is host to tropical plants and birds and waterfall structures, transporting us worlds away from Copper Valley’s winter. I force a smile and point at my favorite trees and random brightly colored birds flying around as we wander through the main exhibit toward the banquet hall. Fletcher offers me his arm like his military father drilled manners into his head, and if it weren’t for the reason I wanted a date tonight, this might be the most comfortable date I’ve been on in years.
Not that this is a date.
It’s two unlikely sort-of-friends mutually benefitting from what could’ve been awkward if either of us had come alone.
Plus,holy hell.
Fletcher in a suit with four days’ worth of stubble?
If I was going for afuck you, I can do betterdate, I’ve nailed it.
We turn a corner, and I squeeze his arm as I spot someone familiar. “That’s Luca Rossi,” I whisper. “He’s a veteran on the Fireballs baseball team. You might recognize him from Kangapoo shampoo commercials. His partner, Henri—that’s her next to him—writes romance novels, and if you insult her, he’ll work overtime to get you blacklisted in the sports community here. Actually, that probably applies to every athlete I introduce you to with a spouse or partner.”
“So I shouldn’t insult either of the brides tonight?”
“I seem to recall you have a way of sticking your foot in your mouth around women…”
“Only women with whiny-ass baby brothers.”
I actually smile a real smile.
Didn’t think that would be possible tonight.
I don’thavenerves. Tonight, Iama nerve. A very agitated nerve.
Hot as Fletcher might be, which is exactly what you want in afuck youdate, Odette would be fun.
A massive distraction.
Also, she can put a person in their place with a smile and a phrase that doesn’t hit you until you’ve moved on to talking to the next person, which is a good skill in a wingperson for a night like tonight.
Henri spots us and waves. I wave back. I met her before I met Luca—she was signing her vampire romance novels at my favorite local bookstore that’s also hosted me for signing my two books.
And then Luca looks at us, tosses his glorious silky brown locks, and smiles too. “Huxley. Didn’t realize you were coming tonight. How do you know Goldie, and do I have to make a call to my favorite people and tell them to bring their favorite shovels?”
