Page 41 of Flirting with 40

We take the next few minutes to go around the room, introducing our boyfriends or spouses—or rather, everyone does but me because I’m still waiting for Slade to show.

“We’ll be putting on nametags later so we can get to know each other’s significant others’ names in case we forget them, but in the meantime,” Heather glances over to Sue, who is standing against the far wall of the great room. “Sue is going to say a few things.”

“Thank you, Heather,” Sue says, her infectious tone filling the room. “We are so happy to have you here and to help you build your Glam family unit. I’d like to introduce you to our staff for your stay here. The activity directors, or ADs for short, are here to help facilitate the activities we have planned for you this week. Austin here,” she says, pointing to a man standing at the back of the room. His blond hair curls out from beneath his Red Mountain ball cap, and he has a suntan line on his nose from his sunglasses. He’s mid-twenties, and when he lifts a hand to wave in greeting, his bicep strains against the T-shirt’s cuff. “Is the master of all things water related.”

“Well, I do believe I might need assistance on this trip,” a voice to my right murmurs in an exaggerated drawl. I glance over and find Maddie beside me.

Maddie with her vibrant red hair and loud makeup, her trendy clothes and outrageous stories, is the one person in this group who came over with Heather from her previous company. She always nods and says yes to whatever Heather says, following blindly, and her attention span with men is less than a month. She changes them like her underwear, so even though she’s here with whichever of the men standing near the beverage table came with her, it doesn’t mean they’ll still be together when they leave this retreat.

She isn’t exactly my favorite, and several things she’s overheard me say have somehow ended up in Heather’s ear.

“And over by the door is Leo.” We all shift our attention to an equally attractive man with darker skin and a smile that would win anyone over.

“Welcome.” He lifts his hand.

“Jesus. It just keeps getting better,” Maddie murmurs.

“Evan is around somewhere. He’s our other fixture here,” Sue continues as I turn around to set my empty wine glass down.

And the minute my back is turned, Maddie murmurs, “Nope. He’s the one I want. For sure.”

Down girl. Talk about a bitchy thing to say when your boyfriend is within feet of you.

But, of course, I turn to see what this Evan looks like and then freeze because the person walking across the room isn’t someone named Evan.

It’s Slade.

And we’re talking Slade looking absolutely irresistible in his dark blue jeans and plain black T-shirt.

But it isn’t just what he’s wearing that has my pulse racing and my teeth sinking into my bottom lip to bite back my smile, it’s the attitude he has. The utter confidence and nonchalance about walking into the room and having everyone turn to watch him.

It’s an ease I’d kill to have but love that he does.

It’s his smile, which is genuine and happy, that’s directed my way. The one that says I’m his whole world and he’s been waiting all day to see me.

It’s his eyes, which are more gray today than blue, that are fixed on me and sparkling with the private joke only the two of us know.

And, once again, I forget for the briefest of moments that this is all pretend and that the expression on his face is just for show.

“Sorry I’m late,” Slade says to the room, not specifying anyone in particular.

“Hands down. One hundred percent fuckable,” Maddie murmurs just as Slade reaches me.

“Very true,” I say, glancing over to her before I turn back to Slade, “I should know.”

“Hey, you,” Slade says, his dimples winking as he steps forward and brushes a chaste kiss against my lips before turning to the group. I catch Maddie trying not to choke on her sip of wine when he does. “Hi. I guess I missed introductions, huh?” He runs a hand through his hair, and the aw-shucks expression he gives with it is adorable. “I’m Slade Henderson.” He laces his fingers with mine to make the statement of why he’s here—as if the kiss on my lips wasn’t enough. “Again, my apologies for being late.”

It’s petty, but the look on Heather’s face is priceless—lips formed in the shape of an O, eyes blinking, surprise etched in every line of her expression. She’s in complete shock that this stunner is with me.

I feel shallow for the first time in as long as I can remember, and I don’t care.

“No worries.” Her smile is wide, her eyes darting around the room. “Welcome.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Slade

“How was that for timing?” I whisper in Blakely’s ear.