Page 53 of Fielder's Choice

Rory bites down a smile. “Sure didn’t look like talking to me.”

“N-nothing was happening,” I stammer. Lane just smirks.

Goddamn him.

“Whatever you say,” she snickers. “The rest of our friends will be here soon, and Harlow and Knox should be here in about an hour. Come help us finish setting up.” With that, Rory walks away and out into the living room.

“Come on, Liv,” Lane says, gesturing behind him. “Let’s get out there.”

“You go ahead. I’ll be out in just a minute.”

He leans closer, whispering against my ear. “Better compose yourself then, baby. If you walk out there with your cheeks still flushed like that, everyone is going to know just how much of an effect I have on you. Wouldn’t want that, would we?”

He winks and then turns around, leaving me alone in the kitchen and wondering just how the hell I’m going to make it through this party without combusting.

“How was Korea, man?” Lane asks Ari as he joins us in the crowded living room.

“Awesome,” he smiles. “Miss it already.”

“Why were you in Korea?” I ask.

Ari laughs heartily. “I thought it was pretty obvious by looking at me. I’m half Korean. My mom still lives in Seoul.”

“Oh,” I blush, cringing at my ridiculous question. “That makes sense.”

“Happy to hear this bastard finally told you his name, Liv,” Ari teases, pointing at Lane with his beer bottle.

Lane rolls his eyes. “I told her I’d tell her when I saw her again. I did exactly that.”

“Because you’re cocky,” I smirk.

I hear a man laugh loudly as he walks up next to us. I don’t recognize him, but he has dark-ish hair. I’m guessing this is one of the guys I haven’t met yet.

“She’s got you pegged already, Lane,” he chuckles before turning to me. “Happy to see someone finally put this fucker in his place.”

Lane sighs and shakes his head. “Liv, this is Josh, Ella’s husband.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Josh. I’ve heard a lot about you.” I turn to Lane now. “Who else haven’t I met here yet?”

“The four by the window are Harlow’s parents, James and Vivian, and Knox’s parents, John and Katherine. The man holding my daughter is our field manager, Rory’s dad, Paul. And the guy hovering over Lucia would be Matt.”

“Fucking Matt,” I hear Ari mutter under his breath.

Based on the looks of Lane and Josh, it doesn’t seem that anyone likes Matt.

I wonder why.

Rory shouts over the crowd to get our attention now. “They just got to the building, everyone! Time to get ready.”

Silence falls over the room now as we all turn toward the door, waiting for the couple of the hour to arrive. A minute later, the door opens gently, and Harlow and the man I presume to be Knox step inside.

Harlow looks beautiful right now in a flared black dress and heels, but she clearly had no idea we would be here as she stares at us, stunned.

Knox kisses the top of her head before looking at the crowd of friends before him with a bright smile. “She said yes!”

The silence is replaced by raucous cheers and congratulations, everybody happy and ready to celebrate the newly engaged couple.

“Congratulations!” I say cheerily as I finally find Harlow and Knox.

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