Kaz comes to a stop next to his best friend.
“Glad you made it,” Erik says.
Kaz shakes his head and rolls his eyes. “Yeah.”
That one word says a lot.
“It was an honor hanging out with your drop-dead gorgeousgirlfriend,” Erik says.
Kaz gives me a languorous onceover that has my lady parts doing the cha cha cha like a professional ballroom dancer.
“Drop-dead gorgeous.” He nods. “You took the words right out of my mouth, Erik.” Even though he’s speaking to his best friend, his blue eyes are glued on me. “How did I manage to score the most beautiful woman here tonight?”
“Kaz.” I dance from one foot to the other.Stop or else all these compliments are going to go straight to my head.
“Why are you scolding me, Goldilocks? You left my house this morning looking beautiful, but now… you could stop traffic.”
Okay, if you insist on throwing compliments my way, who am I to stop you?
He gives me another onceover.
If my body temperature rises any further, I’ll combust.
“Judith selected the perfect dress,” he says. “Are the shoes okay?”
As if you had to ask.“I love, love, love the shoes. And the clutch. The eye-popping necklace”—I touch my earlobe—”and dazzling earrings are too much?—”
“Haven’t we talked about this already?” He narrows his eyes at me.
“You didn’t let me finish. I wasgoing to say they’re too much, but because I feel like a princess, no way am I giving them back.”
He nods. “Sounds like you’re with the program.”
Oh, yes, because I’m loving this program.“I’m glad I look the part and I won’t embarrass you tonight.”
“That’ll never happen, Goldilocks.”
If you only knew the skeletons in my closet…
“I’m getting the sense I’m the third wheel here.” Erik pats Kaz on the shoulder.
My cheeks warm. I’m sure I’m the color of a tomato right now.
“I’m going to walk the red carpet and answer reporters asking if my fiancée and I have set a date for our wedding for the one-hundredth time,” Erik says.
“You popped the question a couple days ago, and they’re foaming at the mouth for more.” Kaz shakes his head. “Piranhas.”
“I can’t wait for another retired hockey player to make the headlines.” Erik gives Kaz a pointed look.
“Call my ex-wife. She’s an expert at putting me in the news against my will.”
“I wouldn’t talk to that woman even if she was my only lifeline out of purgatory,” Erik says. “All right, you two, I’ll see you inside.”
We stare at Erik’s retreating back.
I shift my attention to Kaz. “Have you decided on how you’re going to handle the press?”
“We’re going to go with your suggestion. It makes sense, and I won’t come across like I’m a totally different person.”
