“I’m good.” He gave the mushrooms a pointed look. “I need to get home and figure out another side to bring tonight. Are you coming?”
“I hadn’t planned on it.” She wouldn’t admit it, but she found the singles’ events to be less enticing with each passing month. Before Jessa got married, they’d go together and make a day out of it, but now Jessa and Trixie were both married, and she remained the only Graff daughter with single status.
“You should come.” His eyes sparkled. “I know they’re lame sometimes, but tonight’s is nothing fancy, just a gathering of friends.”
“Maybe.”
He tilted his head to the side and gave her his infamous stare with raised brows. “Coming from you, that’s always meant no.”
He knew her so well. “Can’t a girl spend a Friday night alone? Is there a law that says I have to go out if I’m single?”
“No, but you can’t be a hermit either.”
“I’m not.”
Another eye-piercing stare. “When’s the last time you did anything social that didn’t include your family?”
She hunched her shoulders. “Umm….”
“Exactly my point.” His grin exuded blatant satisfaction. “Come tonight. I’ll offer you a money-back satisfaction guarantee.”
Bursting into laughter, she covered her mouth to silence it. “I thought it’s free?”
“Yeah, yeah.” His eyes twinkled. “Are you going to make me beg?”
“Fine, I’ll come.”
“I didn’t know we had a guest.” A sultry voice interrupted their conversation. It came from Deena, but she’d changed from her condescending tone of earlier.
Phoebe handed her the covered platter. “The stuffed mushrooms you ordered.”
“Wonderful. Take them, Lynz.” Deena’s eyes never left Mac despite the instructions directed toward her assistant. She extended a hand to Mac, initiating an introduction. “Deena Frasier, and you are?”
“Mac Banfield. My mother catered the food.” He shook her hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“Seems food isn’t all your mother excels at making,” Deena purred.
Phoebe coughed, shocked by Deena’s brazen statement. Worse yet, Mac apparently fell for her fake charm. He winked. Winked! Jealousy she’d never known turned her entire insides green. Was he blinded by Deena’s beauty? She could only hope it was temporary.
“My mom’s an amazing woman, great at many things.” Mac flashed a grin, full of perfectly aligned, pearly white teeth.
He’s always had a great smile, even before braces. Would Deena still be flirting with him if she’d seen his pre-teen smile?She had to get out of her own head. It wasn’t healthy to be jealous, especially instantly so. It was even worse because she held no claim on Mac.
It took her by surprise, that’s all. She’d never taken Mac for the type to lose his cool over a celebrity, no matter how beautiful the actress was. Tuning back in, she realized she missed several lines of conversation when she realized Mac was leaving.
He waved bye to everyone then looked at her. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Drive safe.” How dumb could she sound? She wasn’t his mom for goodness’ sake.
After he left, Phoebe took a deep breath and collected herself before facing Deena. A few more minutes, and then she could also make her escape.
Deena eyed her with keen interest. “Hot date tonight?”
“Huh?” Caught off guard, her professionalism slid.
“MacHottie said he’d see you tonight.”
She cringed atMacHottie. “It’s a church singles’ event.”
