Page 4 of Why Not Us?

She huffs and I know she’s pouting. As the baby in the family, Calista always gets what she wants. She flutters those eyelashes and pouts and everyone falls over backward to do her bidding. I find it hard to say no to her, but Vic said I can use her as an excuse that she’s the bitchy one and not me.

“Fine,” she huffs now. “I guess you don’t want to go out with me tonight.”

“I’m working, so no. But maybe we can go out on Tuesday? Get a drink or something?”

As much as my sister is a brat sometimes, I still love her. And Tuesday is my birthday, so it would be nice to see her.

“Yeah. I’m free on Tuesday. Let’s go somewhere fun.”

“Sure. Maybe—”

“Oh, Addie, I gotta go. Penny is here. I’ll talk to you soon.”

She hangs up before I can say another word, so I end the call and turn back to the ballroom, trying to push my sister from my mind. Denise finds me a little while later to tell me the guests are arriving.

“Perfect. Have the Sinclairs shown up?”

“I’m not sure. I can ask Derek if you want.”

“No need. He said he’d introduce them.”

Just then, my gaze snags on a man walking up the stairs alone. Something about him makes it impossible for me to look away, and I’m not sure what it is. He’s wearing dark jeans and boots, with a dark blue shirt under his worn leather jacket. His golden-brown hair is slicked back and his beard is neatly trimmed. He’s so tall and has such broad shoulders that, even from this distance, I know I’d feel minuscule next to him.

He doesn’t glance at me as he walks directly to the front three easels I set up for the Sinclairs.

“Who is that?” I ask Denise.

“No idea,” she says.

“Those easels are reserved.”

She gives me a grin. “Well, go tell him, boss.”

I swallow. I want to tellherto go talk to him, but she’s right. I’m the boss. It’s my job to make sure he’s in the right place. He’s intimidating, though. I smooth my hands down the front of my dress and straighten my shoulders, walking over to him with a smile.

“Hello,” I say when I reach him. He’s taller than I thought. He could pick me up and carry me out of here to wherever he wanted.

Where did that thought come from? I’m not even attracted to guys like him. I’m into nerds, not giants.

Especially not giants who don’t even respond to a polite greeting.

I take in another breath and give him my most pleasant smile. “Are you here for the paint night?”

He blinks slowly and his expression tells me he thinks my question is stupid. Of course, he doesn’t know how many people wander into the building when events are going on.

He still says nothing.

“These easels are reserved,” I try next.

He turns his stormy grey eyes to the sign that clearly says reserved, then back to me. “I can see that,” he says.

So he can speak. Good to know.

I clench my teeth for a brief second before I relax and hold out my hand. “I’m Adalie,” I say. “The host for the evening.”

He stares for a long moment, and I wonder if he’s going to ignore me until finally he takes my hand in his much larger one, completely engulfing my palm. His hand is warm around mine and sparks shoot along my skin at the contact.

“Nate,” he says.

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