Page 109 of Sweet Temptation

“Well, I’m glad you decided to throw caution to the wind. I hated seeing you so upset after Noah. And no offense Cress, but your cousin was a dick for breaking up with Isobel in the first place.”

“None taken.” Cress turned to me. “I’m really happy to see the universe wanted you to move on.”

“Thanks.” I returned her smile, grateful she could be happy for me even if things hadn’t worked out with her cousin.

Wes returned to our group several minutes later, looking completely flustered.

“My brother’s an idiot.” He shook his head.

“What’s Sawyer done now?” I asked.

“Take a look yourself…”

I glanced past Wes and laughed when I saw Sawyer parading around in nothing more than a pair of boxers. “What is he doing?”

“Apparently, he wants to make sure all the girls here tonight know he was the one streaking, and he has to be half naked to do so.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

I laughed again. “Are you sure you’re both related?”

“I ask myself the same thing every day.” He chuckled, but then his eyes grew serious as he looked down at the bench Anna, Cress, and I were squished onto. A flicker of a smile pulled at his lips before he took me by the hands and pulled me up, swiftly maneuvering around me to steal my seat on the bench.

“Hey—” My complaint was barely free of my lips when he snaked his arms around me, guiding me back down and onto his lap. He didn’t hesitate to cuddle me close.

“There, that’s much better,” he said.

I couldn’t disagree. Especially not when his hand found its way under my jacket and his thumb drew small circles on the skin just by my hip. Yes, agreeing to date Wes was one of my better ideas, and given the way he was smiling at me, I got the feeling he was thinking the same thing.

“Ugh, you two are so cute together it makes me sick,” Anna said.

“Same,” Cress complained. “I need a guy to snuggle me by the bonfire.”

Anna’s eyes flicked across the crowd, and she smiled when her gaze returned to Cress. “I’m pretty sure there are plenty of guys here tonight who would be more than willing to snuggle you, Cress.”

“I don’t want to settle for just anyone. I’m not you, Anna.”

Anna thumped Cress on the arm. “Wow, don’t tell me you’ve bypassed dancing drunk and gone straight to bitchy drunk!”

Cress burst out laughing. “You should see your face. I was kidding.”

Anna didn’t look impressed. “Ninety percent, Cress.Ninety percent.”

“What do you think?” Wes murmured to me. “Is Cress kidding or being honest?”

I glanced between the two girls and laughed. “I think she might be being honest. She’s had too many drinks to be joking.”

Wes grinned at me. “I like it when you laugh.”

“I like it when you smile at me like that.”

“I’m beginning to think I liked it better when you weren’t dating,” Anna interrupted. She was grinning brightly at us when I looked over. “Seriously, you’re making me gag.”

We laughed, and Wes hugged me a little tighter.

The three of us spent most of the evening cuddled up on the bench by the fire. I wasn’t normally a big fan of parties, but this one was chill and definitely the kind of party I could get behind. I couldn’t understand why Luther didn’t throw parties like this more often. I could actually hear what my friends were saying, and I wasn’t being forced to dance. It was a win-win.

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