Page 40 of Dashing for Love

“Ooh, yes!” Willa’s eyes light up. “I’ve been wanting to try their Eggs Benedict. Someone said their Hollandaise was better than mine.”

“Impossible.” Reid pulls her to him and kisses her temple.

My heart squeezes. I’d never be jealous of my sister, but if I’m being honest, I really thought I would have been the one to find her happily ever after first. Is that bad of me? “Meet you there,” I tell them.

I give myself a pep talk before I go into the restaurant. I can do this. All I have to do is remain calm, cool, and collected. Maintain eye contact as needed, but don’t overdo it. Avoid thinking about Matty and the way he kissed me. Anddefinitelyavoid thinking about his thick dick.

I groan and lay my head on the steering wheel.

Inside, I join Reid and Willa at a corner booth, with Reid on the outside and facing the front door, as always. I’ve known people who prefer to have a view of the front door, but for Reid, it’s more than a preference. He absolutelymustbe able to see what’s going on at all times. He says it’s standard police stuff, but I think it goes back to all that mess he got into with the Bunnies.

Willa and I each get mimosas, and I get the breakfast tacos. Willa orders the Eggs Benedict, of course, and Reid orders a burger and iced tea.

“What did you get up to last night?” Reid asks. “I heard there was some fundraiser thing at the pricey hotel.”

My heart plummets into my stomach. “Oh?” I stammer, reaching for the mimosa and taking a deep swallow. “I just hung out at home.”

Willa looks at him. “How did you know about the masquerade ball?”

Reid shrugs. “Ox mentioned it. Said his brother was swinging in for it and bringing Charlotte with him and everything.” He glances back at me. “You really didn’t hear about it?”

He knows. He has to know.

“Nope!” It comes out like a chirp.

He regards me silently, his face as blank as a master poker player.

He definitely knows. Does that mean Matty knows?

Oh,God.

Does Matty know it’s me? If he does, then why didn’t he say anything?

Does Reidknow? Like,knowknow?

Wait. DoesWillaknow? Crap. What if Willa knows and she’s staying quiet out of some best friend loyalty?

But doesn’t sisterhood trump best friends?

I’m spiraling. Again.

I take another gulp of the mimosa and wave the remainder at the server. I’m definitely gonna need another. Or three.

Willa, bless her, changes the subject, and when the food comes, I dive in so that I have something to do that doesn’t involve hoping against hope that Reid hasn’t already figured me out.

Damn cops.

“This isn’t as good as mine,” Willa declares. “It’s not nearly as thick and creamy.”

“I’ve got something thick and creamy for you,” Reid jokes.

“Okay,ew,” I gag. “Stop that. Stop that right now.”

Willa laughs. “Looks like you found Goldie’s line.”

“That should beeveryone’sline,” I protest. “Do not ever talk like that in my presence again.”

Reid laughs and pops a fry in his mouth. “You got it, Goldie.”

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