Page 65 of Tender Temptation

“Yeah, they do.” I follow her gaze at the beautiful setup. “It’s been a long time since we celebrated my birthday like this.”

As we chat, I can’t help it, my eyes keep drifting to Cillian.

He’s moved to the patio, where my parents are laughing at something he’s saying. My God, the man is effortlessly handsome in a black tailored suit. I’ve never seen him in formal wear before and he’s absolutely jaw-dropping. The jacket hugs his broad shoulders and muscular frame perfectly. His dark hair is slicked back with a few loose waves that frame his chiseled, clean-shaven jaw.

His intense hazel eyes seem to always find mine, but his expression remains unreadable.

“Ivy, bella, are you okay?” Lucia touches my arm. “You seem distracted.”

I snap back to the conversation, forcing a smile. “Yeah. As cool as this party is, I’m a bit overwhelmed by how manypeople are here. Truthfully, I’m more comfortable with a more intimate gathering. I wish it were just the four of us.”

Matteo squeezes my hand. “It’s understandable. But remember, everyone is here to wish you well and you only turn twenty-one once. Enjoy it.”

“You’re right. Let’s get some food.” I clap my hands.

We make our way to the buffet, piling our plates high. “Everything tastes amazing.” Pierlo pops a mini crab cake in his mouth.

“They really outdid themselves. Flying the three of you here is my favorite part.” I lean my head on his shoulder, but find myself glancing around the room again to find him.

Sure enough, I catch Cillian looking at me. Then at Pierlo. Then back at me. His eyes are narrowed and his jaw is set.

He’s jealous.

My heart skips a beat, but I quickly look away. Even though he once had a crush on me, Pierlo and I never had a romantic connection. I’m not going to adjust my behavior around my dear friends for anyone, including my ex.

The party continues with laughter, music, and lively conversations. A couple of my classmates from boarding school come over to reminisce about old times. Madison, seems genuinely happy to see me.

“Happy Birthday, Ivy!” Madison says, giving me a hug. “It’s been ages. You look fantastic!”

“Thanks, Maddy. You too.” I clink my champagne glass to hers.

Emma cocks her head. “What have you been up to? I heard you’ve been living in Florence after ditching grad school.”

Awwwkkkwwaard.

“Yeah…well.” I’m not sure what to say.

“C’mon Ivy, it’s time to spill. Who were you spending the night with that summer if it wasn’t me?” Emma takes a sip on her cocktail and turns to Maddy. “Remember when her dad called my dad looking for her? Apparently, miss goody-two shoes had a secret boyfriend after we graduated high school. She lied to her parents and said she was going to stay at my house.”

Maddy giggles. “Ohyeah. I remember being mad impressed. If you’d have let us know, we could have covered for you.”

“It wasn’t like that.” I try to seem nonchalant but my eyes flick to Cillian, who’s talking to my dad. “Mostly, I was sick of following the rules and didn’t want to be stuck at home alone all summer.”

“Ooooh. So there wasmorethan one guy. Nice work.” Emma clinks her glass to mine.

Maddy squeals. “Ivy Bright, yousorceress.”

“Seriously, you guys.” I know my face is as red as a beet. “It wasn’t that big a deal. It was three years ago, can we drop it?”

Emma shakes her head, tsking me. “You’re no fun. Now tell us about the hot dudes in Italy. Does that guy Pierlo have a girlfriend?”

I fill them in on my travels. They tell me about life at Wazzu. It’s nice to catch up, even if for a short while.

For the next couple of hours, I make my way around the room, greeting guests and thanking them for celebrating my birthday with me. As an introvert who can fake for a while, I feel more and more overwhelmed by the attention as the evening wears on. The constant smiles and well-wishes are starting to feel suffocating.

I need some solitude. And quiet. After I wrap up a conversation with our neighbor, I manage to slip out to the deck unnoticed and continue all the way to the dock where I take a huge, deep breath of sea air. It’s a welcome relief. I stroll to the end of the pier and gaze out at Puget Sound. The city lights reflect off the surface, creating a mesmerizing and calming pattern.

My entire body relaxes now that I’m away from the noise.

---