“Youand Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome seemed to hit it off,” Holliesays, sidling up beside me and handing me a fresh glass ofprosecco.
I’ve just spentthe last twenty minutes talking to Jonathan, who was sointimidatingly good-looking, I’d been tongue tied for a solidminute before I found my confidence and was able to carry on aconversation with him.
“Wedid,” I agree. “He was charming, funny, and well-spoken. He seemedgenuinely interested and impressed in my career. I almost alwaysend up wondering what my mother was thinking with her intendedset-ups, but Jonathan and I have a lot in common. He’s actually thetype of guy I could see myself with.”
“But?”Hollie says.
“Butwhat? There’s no but. Why would you think there’s abut?”
Despite the wayHollie presses her lips together, there’s no hiding the glimmer inher eyes. She plucks the glass from my fingers and lifts it to myeye level. It’s empty. I don’t even remember drinkingit.
“Huh.”
“Yeah.Maybe we should get you some water.”
“Probably a good idea. I could use a little break from thecrowd anyway.”
Hollie and I haveonly made it a few steps toward the kitchen when Louisa rushesover, eyes bright, and cheeks pink.
“Help!I think I’ve found the man of my dreams.” Lulu is the only person Iknow who would start a sentence like that with ‘help’.
“Who ishe?” I ask.
She points towardthe bar, where Fergus is chatting with the bartender. The handsomeScot arrived shortly after the party began, hugging me as if wewere old friends, and handing me a stunning bouquet of dahlias inan array of autumn colors.
“Thebartender?” Hollie asks.
“Fergus!” Louisa whisper-yells.
Hollie and Iexchange knowing glances. Looks like I wasn’t the only one whonoticed the sparks between Lulu and Fergus on Thanksgivingnight.
“Eleanor asked me to get her some napkins from the bar, andFergus was there,” Louisa says. “He said something to me and Ican’t even remember what it was now, but I know I laughed, and thenI hurried away because I’m the world’s most awkwardperson.”
At Louisa’s littlesqueak of embarrassment, Hollie leans in to hug her while I placemy hand on her back. Hollie meets my eyes once more over Louisa’sshoulder, and we share a smile; Louisa may be in distress now, butshe’ll be laughing about this later. Or maybe not later becauseshe’s already chuckling as she pulls away from Hollie.
“Why amI like this, you guys?” she asks with a gusty sigh. “I really likedFergus the other night when we met, and I actually didn’t have toomuch trouble talking to him. I don’t know what happened justnow.”
“Howabout we all go talk to him, would that make it easier?” Holliesuggests.
I eye Louisa,who’s now staring across the room at Fergus. If Stella were here,she’d probably say something about Lulu’s face resembling aheart-eye emoji. Finally, she says, “Yes. Thank you.”
“Youtwo go ahead and I’ll catch up with you in a bit,” I say. “I needsome water to counteract all the prosecco I’ve beendrinking.”
We part ways,agreeing to meet up again soon. The kitchen is bustling withcatering staff, so I quickly get myself a glass of water and find asomewhat quiet spot out of the way on the far side of the enormouskitchen. I’m contemplating sneaking upstairs to check my phone whenWesley enters the kitchen.
The sight of himis more refreshing than the water I’ve been drinking. In the timeit takes him to cast his gaze around the room, my eyes sweep overhis perfectly tailored dark-blue suit and crimson paisley tie. Andof course his beautiful face. There’s a hint of dishevelment abouthim; his tie is slightly loose around his collar, and his hair isfalling forward like he’s been running his fingers throughit.
His eyes finallyland on me. If his appearance hadn’t already sucked the air from mylungs, the relieved smile he gives me would take my breathaway.
“Considering you’re the guest of honor, you’re a hard woman totrack down.” He crosses the room and gathers me into his arms,holding me close. I nearly experience sensory overload—his warmbody against mine, his hands on my back, the familiar scent of hiscologne. “Happy birthday, Buttercup. Sorry I’m late.”
“I’mjust glad you’re here.” After a final squeeze, I force myself torelease him. “Where were you? Did you get your secret mission alltaken care of?”
He lets out abrief laugh, his expression turning rueful. “I thought I couldmanage everything from here, but I had to go back to Ottawa lastnight.”
“Ottawa?”
“It’sall taken care of now,” he says, his words coming faster. “I haveso much to tell you. Evie, I—”
