Page 75 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Seven

“I can’t believe I called him hot! He’s really not that good looking, either. Way too stiff and reserved to translate to anything good. Can you imagine how robotic he’d be in bed?”

She was going to D.I.E.

Sistine interrupted with a shriek, hugging her tight, and obviously not trapped by Caesar. Clad in a scarlet jumpsuit, her red hair a tumble of waves down her back, Sistine was a stunner and the sweetest human on the planet. “You haven’t checked in all week,” Sistine complained. “Jordan was working extra shifts at Vera’s Bridal and you were imprisoned by the Grinch of Cape May. I was lonely.”

“I missed you, too. But I have to tell you both something. It’s about Jameson. I—”

Sistine jumped in. “Jordan told me everything. He’s horrible. He took away the pancakes! He made you do all the work when poor Judith was sick. I mean, sure, Avery said he took Bear to help you out but I think it was in his master plan to pretend to be nice so he could get customers back to eat here. People have decided to ban Vintage until Mac gets back.”

Devon rubbed her temple. When her friends got revved up, it was almost impossible to get in a word. She raised her voice to be heard over the music and the chatter and the dogs. “Please listen for a moment! I didn’t get to tell you because it happened so fast but I changed my mind about Jameson.”

Jordan waved her hand in the air. “You are way too nice, Devon. Always the first to forgive, or give second chances, but babe, don’t waste your time on this guy. He’s a cheap carbon copy of his cousin and an outsider. Soon, he’ll go back to New York and things will return to normal.”

“Agreed,” Sistine said. “We love you, Devon. Don’t even think about him.”

“Dammit, I need to say something now!”

Jordan patted her hand, which made her grit her teeth in frustration. “Sure. We’ll talk later.”

There was a high pitch behind her, like a speaker was cranking. A loud voice cut through the room with some type ofannouncement, turning Sistine and Jordan’s head, and Devon lost her temper, needing to let them know the truth.

Gathering her breath, she raised her voice as loud as she could.

“I like Jameson Franklin! I think he’s hot!”

The words exploded into a suddenly silent room.

Frozen in shock, she half closed her eyes.No. No, no, no…

It seemed like centuries before she gathered the courage to turn slowly around. Jordan and Sistine gaped at her. Jameson stood at the front of the room, a microphone in his hand, surrounded by dozens of locals who began to titter and smile and murmur to each other while they all stared.

Devon fell mute as the horrific nightmare of this faux de pau struck her full force.

She had humiliated both of them at the holiday Fur Gala.

Miserable, red with embarrassment, Devon waited for him to say something.

Jameson cleared his throat. “As I was saying, the buffet is now open. Please proceed into the back and help yourself.”

Oh, hell. She was getting out of here.

Pivoting on her high heels, she took a desperate step toward the door.

His voice rumbled over the speakers. “Oh, one last thing. I happen to be crazy about Devon Pratt. And I think she’s sexy as hell.”

Mic drop.

Chapter Nine

Well, that had been unexpected.

Jameson fell into his host role as the evening wrapped up. His staff were already hard at work in the kitchen and had dismantled the buffet as the crowd moved out to the patio to sip after dinner drinks and complete the silent auction. He thanked the guests as they dispersed, and kept his face impassive, yet polite, as every single one of them asked about his new relationship with Devon.

He gave the same response each time. “We’re getting to know one another right now.”

No more and no less.

Even though, inside, all he wanted was to get rid of everyone so he could kiss her senseless.

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