Page 45 of Tempt

Alex is holding court at one end of the dining table, and when he sees us, he waves us over.

“Hazel,” he says, greeting my date warmly. “You survived the trip?”

“We had fun,” she says. “Thank you for helping us out.”

“Anything for a fellow writer.”

“I’m just chopped liver, I guess?” I hold out my hand and we shake.

Alex grins. “Did you get her pen name out of her?”

“I did.”

“And it is…?”

I glance at Hazel, who presses her lips together. Mums the word.

“A secret,” I say without pause. Hazel leans into me. Damn straight.

“Sorry, Alex,” she says. “But I like the air of mystery.”

He throws his head back and laughs. “I understand completely. Let me introduce you to a couple of people…”

After making the rounds, we dig into the food he’s had catered. The next two hours spin by, Hazel never far from my side. I like the way she touches me unconsciously, with little leans and one-arm hugs.

I’ve never brought a date to a party like this, and it makes the whole evening more fun. The best part is the secret glances. Hazel has this way of biting her bottom lip that looks like she’s concentrating deeply on what someone is saying, but it’s really keeping her from laughing.

I want to bite that lip myself.

I want to swallow her laughter and share the inside joke.

As we return to the buffet for a third round of nibbles, I catch the same look on her face—but nobody is around us. I glance left and right, then lower my voice to a conspiratorial note. “What is it?”

“Maybe nothing,” she murmurs. “But I recognize someone here, and it’s… Alex has a weird mix of friends.”

“Yeah. Who is it?”

“That guy behind you—don’t look too fast—at six o’clock, the one with the beard. I recognize him.”

Just as I’m about to casually glance around, I hear my name. Which is a great excuse to turn quickly, check out the big bearded dude Hazel is talking about, then wave to my brother and Grace who have just arrived.

My brother waves, but heads straight to the kitchen for a drink.

Grace beelines for me—or rather, Hazel, who is the only person in the room she has eyes for.

I guess we’re not going to talk about how Hazel knows the bearded guy.

A throb of…not jealousy, but maybe curiosity…tugs at my gut. Like she was going to share something weird, and I want that. I want all of her weird secrets to be my weird secrets, too.

Right now is not that moment, though. I take a swallow of wine, a palate cleanser, before making introductions.

“Hazel, this is my sister-in-law Grace.”

“I’ve heard so much about you,” Hazel says warmly, holding out her hand.

Grace takes it with both of hers and shakes. “And I have not heard nearly enough about you. Sam is keeping you all to himself, and I object.”

“Do you, now?” I ask dryly. Then I wrap my arm around my girlfriend.

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