Page 38 of Undeniably Enemies

Keegan snorts. “I’m down for the appetizers minus the carpaccio because raw beef is just asking for food poisoning. And I think?—”

“Do you ladies know what you’d like?” the bartender asks, and we both place our order, which includes every appetizer minus the carpaccio.

“Cheers!” We clink our glasses together, and just as the first sip of alcohol hits my lips, it comes flying right back out in a spray of brown.

“Ew! What the hell?!” Keegan gasps since I partially got her in my explosion.

I grab her shoulder and spin her around on her chair so she can see the two men five seats down from us at the bar.

“What—oh. Oh shit.”

“Yes. Oh shit.”

“Next time say it, don’t spray it.”

I roll my eyes and drop my face lower so Jack can’t see me as he turns toward Alden to say something. Alden Hughes is now the CEO of Hughes Healthcare. It was his dad’s company and his grandfather’s before that. Alden’s parents and Jack’s parents are BFFs, but I don’t know Alden all that well.

“What is he doing here?” I hiss in Keegan’s ear as she takes a bar napkin and wipes down the part of her dress I got.

“Probably the same thing we’re doing,” she mutters dryly. “Having dinner, drinks, and looking for hookups.”

My lips twist, and a sour taste fills my mouth.

“Was Alden that good-looking when I used to screw around with him?”

“I have no idea,” I gripe impatiently. “The last time I saw him, I think I was still wearing braces.” And obsessing over Jack as my future mister. Ugh. Gross.

“Should we invite them to join us?”

“No!” I shriek and spin her back around. “Are you kidding me with that?”

“What?” She shrugs. “I like Alden. We used to fool around a hundred years ago. And he did not require a map or a flashlight.”

Yeah, neither did Jack. Not helping me right now.

“We should leave.”

“Um, no.” She shakes her head. “We just ordered a ridiculous amount of food, and the Cs are on.”

“What do I do?”

She smirks at me. “Try not to look so panicked. It’s Jack. He hates you just as much as you hate him, so relax.”

Right. Relax. He does hate me as much as I hate him. There’s comfort in that. But why the hell do I keep running into him? The hospital isn’t enough?

“Besides, I doubt they’ll?—”

“Keegan? Is that you?”

I give her areallylook.

“—notice us,” she finishes with a sheepish grin. “Sorry.” She turns back around with a plastered smile across her face. “Alden? Wow. It’s so good to see you.”

She stands in her sky-high heels, and he comes around to hug her and kiss her cheek. I’d say hi to him, too, except I’m now locked in a visual battle with my boss, who’s glaring at me with the same exuberance as if I just covered him in crazy glue and sprinkled him with rainbow glitter. He mutters something under his breath I can’t make out, but instinctively know it isn’t kind.

“Oh my gosh! You guys should totally join us,” Keegan exclaims, and I’m ready to strangle my cousin. She’s family. I can do that, and her parents and twin will still have to love me. Because what the fuck, Keegan?! Is she kidding me?

Alden comes over and gives me a hug. He’s nice like that. “Yes, we’d love to,” Alden replies, equally enthusiastic. He turns back to Jack. “Right? Should we get a table then?”

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