“No,” he answers, eyes darting to mine. “I came here on an assignment, and after meeting Ace, I couldn’t leave.”
I work hard to keep a neutral face. He’s doing better at this than I expected.
“That’s the sweetest. So you two have been together a while then? Do you live with—sorry, that’s rude.” She finishes her drink and starts making three more.
“We do live together,” I say. “And it hasn’t been that long but it feels like I’ve known him my whole life.” I look into Jac’s eyes as I talk, meaning every word I’m saying.
“I love a good love story.” She pours way too much vodka in each cup. “Y’all are going to have such beautiful babies someday.”
I swallow hard. Babies are out of the question. I don’t even think it’s possible for any of the guys to knock me up.
“Someday,” Jac echoes. Keri cracks open a can of sparkling lemon water and pours it into each cup, then slides two over. I pick up mine and sip it.
“You’re right. It is pretty good.”
Jac’s face makes me laugh, and I almost spit out my drink on the floor. “I’m assuming this is an acquired taste.”
Keri laughs too, bringing her own cup up to her lips for another quick drink. “TheReal Housewivesdrink this. I’m guessing it’s not a popular choice in France, am I right?”
“No. But I’m willing to try it.” He takes another sip and cringes. “This is awful.”
“Hey now.” Keri laughs. She goes back to her fridge and pulls out a bottle of red wine. “Is this more your style? I’m not much of a wine drinker, but Robert loves this stuff.”
“Speaking of accents,” I start, and take another drink. “Are you from the south?”
“I am. Savannah born and raised. I came up this way for college, fell madly in love with Robert the moment I saw him, got knocked up my sophomore year, and have been a northerner ever since.”
The sliding glass door opens and one of the women who was at my house this morning comes in.
“Hey, lady!” she says, putting her empty cup on the counter. Is everyone at this party drunk? I assumed this would be a lame party but I think I misjudged everyone.
“Coming in for a refill?” Keri unscrews the lid on the bottle of vodka.
“You know it! I almost feel healthy drinking this skinny shit.” She wobbles a bit and puts her hands on the counter. “Oh, hey, Detective! Glad you made it!”
“Please, call me Ace.” I smile and remember that her name is Tiana…the one who said she’s liked my house her whole life. “And me too.”
Keri puts three times the vodka in Tiana’s drink that she should, and fills the rest of the cup with sparkling water. It bubbles over and spills onto the counter, and both women laugh like it’s the funniest thing in the world. Jac puts his arm around me, and I sidestep closer to him, waiting for Tiana to wipe her cup dry and take a drink. She does and then notices Jacques. Her eyes widen and she makes no effort to hide what she’s thinking.
“Wow, you are gorgeous.” She eyes him up and down. Jacques is a good-looking man, with dark features that make him almost exotic, but there’s something else about him—about all the guys—that pulls you in. I know it’s the magic, the fact that he’s standing here looking human when he’s not at all. But to everyone else around him, he has a weird, addictive aura that’s hard to resist.
“Tee!” Keri scolds with a laugh. “Excuse her. She’s drunk.”
“Not any drunker than you.” Tiana laughs. “And he is.”
“I agree with you there,” I say, splaying my fingers on Jac’s chest. “This is my boyfriend Jac.”
“He has an accent,” Keri whisper-talks.
Jac laughs and I look up at his face, hoping he’s not uncomfortable. I didn’t warn him about the oversharing and liberal use of compliments that come from drunk women. But he’s smiling, eating this all up. I’m sure he was seen as good-looking back in his time too, but times have changed. He was a priest then as well, totally off the market. He’s off the market again since he’s mine, but I have no issue with him enjoying being hit on and flirted with. We all do.
“It’s nice to meet you,” he says to Tiana.
“Damn, Ace, you’re lucky. He could read me the phone book and I’d—” She cuts off when Keri shoots her ashut the fuck upglare. Tiana clears her throat. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
“So, you said you’ve lived in the area your whole life?” I bring my cup to my lips and take another drink.
“I have.” Tiana gulps hers down. “I grew up just one field over.”
