Page 108 of Courting Gossip (Courting)
The question was so loud, even the people inside the house heard. They wandered over.
‘We are.’ Nina lifted her hand and fluttered her fingers.
‘You’re getting married!’ Rielle said excitedly.
‘Let me see,’ Erin said, rushing in.
‘It’s a sapphire,’ Sienna said with a sigh. ‘Josh, that’s so romantic.’
The tough cop rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Well, she has all that blue glass around. I thought I might as well play it safe and get her something she likes.’
Sighs and coos filled the garden.
Darien laughed. ‘Getting a little hot in the kitchen, Morgan?’
The detective pointed his spatula threateningly. ‘I’ll flip you, Scott.’
One by one, people came over to offer their congratulations. Erin returned to her boyfriend Colton and sat on his lap. He looked scared until she laughed. She took a drink of his beer.
‘I’m not ready yet,’ she said. ‘I want to establish my empire first like Nina did.’
‘To Nina and Josh,’ Jason said, lifting his drink. ‘Where a rock meets a hard place.’
Sienna shushed her man, but everyone laughed. The history there wasn’t a secret. The detective had arrested the former All-Star, but Jason hadn’t given a flying fig.
‘Dinner’s up,’ Josh declared.
‘Just in time,’ Darien chuckled as he got plates for himself and Rielle.
Everyone got in line and chose what looked good. They filled their plates with tasty side dishes, and Genieve bit the side of her cheek when Brody served himself a heaping portion of Erin’s potato salad under her hopeful gaze. People found places to sit and conversation continued as they ate.
‘How’s that potato salad?’ Genieve asked Brody in a whisper.
‘Spicy, but it’s pretty good,’ he said.
She looked at him closely, but didn’t see any tiny lines out of place. He was telling the truth.
‘Can you pass me the ketchup?’ she asked as she prepared her burger.
‘What’s the deal with Dane and Noelle?’ he asked quietly.
She cast a look in the other couple’s direction. They’d taken the seats across the table from them. ‘They’re dating. I like her.’
Brody’s eyes went wide. She didn’t have to be Detective Morgan to read that expression.
‘You mean he—’ Brody stopped to collect his thoughts. ‘Not her?’
Genieve took a healthy bite of her burger. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’
‘He’s a Congressional staffer,’ Brody hissed. ‘I’ve heard good things about him. He’s got a future in politics.’
She patted her lover’s leg under the table. ‘And you’re going to make sure nobody ever finds out he was a Luxxor escort and that it stays that way.’
He looked at her helplessly.
‘It’s why I hired you, honey,’ she said with a smile. ‘Don’t forget, you’re under a confidentiality agreement.’
His fingers began tapping on the table. ‘I like the guy,’ he admitted.
