The women all went up to congratulate Imogen and compliment her on a wonderful party. Some of them even had gifts. I felt a wave of relief then anger.
“You had them here the whole time!” I hissed at Evan. He grabbed my wrists before I could sock him in the chest.
“Of course I did!” he said with a laugh. “You didn’t think I was seriously going to let my sister take the heat, did you?”
I sputtered. “You lied to me!”
“But I think you weren’t lying to me. Did you seriously sneak a peek, Ivy?”
“I did, and it was not anything to write home about,” I said.
Evan grinned. “Now I think you’re the one who’s lying.”
I threw off his hands and shoved him.
“Don’t touch my future husband!”
I turned. Following the last of the stream of pretty young women was Camilla. And she looked furious.
“He’s mine!” she snarled at me. “Evan is my future husband, and you’re just the wedding planner.”
I took three steps back from Evan. “We were just discussing the event program, as he is Imogen’s new man of honor.” I smiled at her brightly. “Please grab a drink and take a seat. Thank you for coming to the bridal tea.”
“Of course I’m coming,” Camilla said with a toss of her bouncy hair. She grabbed a glass of champagne off of a tray one of the servers was carrying.
“I’m Teddy’s best girl!”
12
Evan
“What the fuck?”
“Oh, I do love it when you talk dirty, Evan,” Camilla purred. It wasn’t as sexy as when Ivy had done the same thing.
“You can’t be in this wedding,” I said.
“Teddy is my cousin. Of course I’m in the wedding party!”
“Cammie!”
“Immie!” The two women hugged each other.
“Since you’re the man of honor,” Imogen told me, “we needed to have a balance in the wedding party. So Cammie’s going to be Teddy’s best girl. Don’t you think that will help balance things out, Ivy?”
“I, uh, well yes, I suppose.”
“Who knows, Evan”—Imogen winked at me—“they do say sparks can fly when two people are in close proximity to each other for an extended period of time.”
Don’t look at Ivy. Don’t look at Ivy.
I looked. Our eyes met, then she glanced away. Camilla noticed and glared at me.
The woman giving the tea lecture came up to ask Ivy a question, and she left, giving me a slightly worried look. Or maybe it was my imagination. Camilla didn’t waste the opportunity. She grabbed me by the tie and dragged me out of the room.
“I missed you so much, baby!” she cried, throwing herself on me and kissing me.
I pushed her off. “Camilla, we’re done. You can even keep the engagement ring. I have no use for it. But clear out of my condo. I’m selling it.”
