The question hung in the air. Everyone leaned in slightly, waiting for the answer. Even Thessa looked curious, though she had to know what her brother was going to say.
Caelan’s gaze slid back to me. Held.
“I found something interesting here,” he said simply.
My stomach flipped, the butterflies I’d felt earlier turning into raging bees. My breath caught in my throat and the wine glass slipped slightly in my grip. I had to catch it before it spilled everywhere.
Sloane and Margo exchanged a look that communicated entire paragraphs. Jade made a tiny squeaking sound and grabbed Thessa’s arm. Patricia fanned herself with her book. One of the twins said “Oh my god” under her breath, and the other one shushed her.
I stared at Caelan, and he stared back. He wasn’t even trying to be subtle. He was looking at me like I was the interesting thinghe found, like I was the reason he was here. Like I was the only thing in this room that mattered.
It was really, really hot in the bar. Or maybe I was the only one sweating. Good gods. Every logical part of my brain was screaming that this was crazy, that I didn’tknowthis man and this wasn’t fucking normal and sane behavior.
But a louder part was whisperingwhat if.
I was in trouble. I was in so much trouble.
6
— • —
Riley
The wine bar had emptied out, leaving behind the pleasant wreckage of a successful book club night. Empty glasses, crumbs everywhere, the warm buzz of a good evening lingering in the air.
I stood near the bar, pretending to organize my tote bag while actually watching Thessa and Jade in the corner booth. They were practically horizontal at this point, Thessa’s blonde head tilted toward Jade’s brown curls, whispering something that made Jade giggle and cover her mouth. When Thessa leaned closer and whispered directly into Jade’s ear, Jade’s cheeks went pink and she swatted at Thessa’s arm, but she didn’t move away. Not even a little.
I suppressed a grin. Go get it, girl.
Jade hadn’t looked this relaxed around anyone in years. She was usually so focused on her kindergarteners, on lesson plans and parent-teacher conferences and the forty-seven different allergies she had to memorize. Her love life had been nonexistent since that disaster with the accountant two years ago. So seeing her giggle and blush like a teenager? I was here for it.
I liked Thessa. The woman was chaotic and weird, but she was also warm and genuine in a way that was hard to fake. Beautiful too, all golden hair and bright eyes and a smile that could charm the pants off anyone. Just like her brother.
Speaking of which.
My gaze drifted across the room to where Caelan was gathering empty wine glasses with the focus of a surgeon performing a delicate operation. He was stacking them carefully, methodically, carrying them toward the kitchen like he’d done this a hundred times. Which he hadn’t. He’d known me for approximately one week. But the moment I mentioned we needed to clean up before leaving, he’d stood up without a word, rolled his sleeves to his elbows, revealing forearms corded with muscle that should be illegal, and started collecting glasses.
I watched him disappear into the kitchen with another armful.
Margo appeared at my elbow, already shrugging on her coat. “You’re staring.”
I jerked my gaze away. “I’m not.”
“Uh-huh.” Margo pulled me into a goodbye hug, then lowered her voice. “Go check if the glasses are all in one piece. And by glasses, I mean that man’s intentions.”
“Margo...”
“He’s too pretty to be innocent.” Margo pulled back, eyebrow raised. “Trust me. I’ve divorced enough of them to know.”
She left, and I rolled my eyes but felt the weight of her advice settle on my shoulders. I glanced toward the kitchen door.
I should probably go help, make sure he hadn’t broken anything. Purely professional interest.
I spotted a few straggler glasses on the table near Sloane, who had passed out on a couch with one arm thrown dramatically over her face, black-painted lips parted in soft snores. I tiptoed over, collected the glasses as quietly as possible, and padded toward the kitchen. Sloane was terrifying when woken unexpectedly.
I pushed through the swinging door and stopped dead.
The view from behind was... it was fine. It was totally fine.
