“Nice to meet you.” Wren nodded at Rochelle and Sandra. “So, where’smybook recommendation?” Wren said quickly, turning the attention back on Stephanie, who was pulling a thick paperback out of her desk drawer.
“Well, I don't usually read historical romance, but this one,” Stephanie clutched the book to her chest, “is amazing.”
“Really? What's it called?”
Stephanie turned the book to show Wren the cover. “It's calledThe Fate of a Pineapple.” She closed her eyes and pretended to swoon.
Gabe started laughing. “The what of the what?”
“TheFate of a Pineapple,” Stephanie repeated. “Oh, you’re a man. You have no idea.” She turned to Wren. “Not only is it a historical romance, but it's,” she lowered her voice, “reverse harem.”
Gabe cupped his ear and leaned in. “I didn’t catch that, Steph,” he said, obviously teasing her.
“You weren’t supposed to.”
“Anything that makes my wife blush and raises her temperature like whatever you said just did, I gotta know what it is.”
Rochelle’s eyes widened and she pretended to slap Gabe’s arm. “I did not!” Then she stage-whispered, “But gosh, it’ssohot in here all of a sudden,” as she fanned herself with her hand.
“Wait, here you go.” Stephanie started fanning her with the book, the three hot, brooding guys in frock coats and bare chests on the cover doing absolutely nothing to cool her down. Wren found herself relaxing as she laughed with the rest of them.
It’s a shame. I could get used to this.
Just then she looked toward the hall and caught Elias walking with Waylon, watching her. The look on Elias’ face said everything. His relaxed smile, his shining, lagoon-blue eyes focused solely on her.
Maybe I have it all wrong. He looks like he could get used to this, too.
She waited for her instinct to run to rear its head. For the tiny voice to remind her she was out of her mind for staying. That Elias actually wanted to keep her. For thinking this could work.
Instead, she watched him coming closer with a look in his eyes that saiddon’t youdarerun. You’re mine.
As he walked, Elias folded up a sheet of paper and put it in his pocket. He never once broke his gaze with Wren. He and Waylon got to them just in time to hear Gabe ask, “Three guys at once?”
Both men stopped in their tracks, eyes wide, and looked at their friend.
“Come again?” Waylon asked.
“Andagain. And one more time,” Stephanie said, not a trace of embarrassment on her face.
Which sent Wren, Sandra, and Rochelle back into hysterics.
Elias grabbed Wren around the waist, ostensibly to keep her from falling over from laughter. Keeping his arms around her, he maneuvered behind her and pulled her tightly against his chest, as if he held her like this in front of his friends all the time. He rubbed his rough, stubbly cheek against her temple, raisinggoose bumps. Wren leaned back into him and felt his heartbeat against her back, strong and steady.
See?she told the mean little voice in her head.This is okay. This is better than okay. This is good. Now, I’m going to play with him.
“So, how does reverse harem even happen in historical romance?” Wren asked, both curious and just to yank Elias’ chain. “They weren't exactly into polyamory back then.”
It worked, judging by the way he jumped.
“Oh, believe me, it happens,” Stephanie answered. “People can be ingenious when they want something.”
“So what’s the story about?”
“Or does it even have one?” Gabe teased.
Stephanie fixed him with a frown. “Of course it does! It starts out with this family that is trying desperately to get into the inner circle of theton.”
“What's theton?” Elias asked.
