Page 133 of Highball and Chain

I walked outside to check on the food situation and to welcome the guests I’d missed. My cell phone chirped and my heart leaped into my throat. The text I’d been waiting for blinked on the screen. Jack and Enzo were a block away.

“Everyone! He’s almost here. Time to hide on the patio.” Waving my arms like a lunatic, I said, “Stay out of sight until I bring him outside.”

I turned for the door and caught Ryan and Chloe taking turns swiping their fingers through the cupcakes. Thank God they didn’t get into the birthday cake. “You’re supposed to wait for Uncle Enzo.”

Both children gave me doe eyes.

“You can each have one cupcake, but you have to hurry and hide.” How in the heck does Maggie keep track of them all?

The kids ran to their grandmother with a cupcake in each hand.

I slid the door closed and drew a calming breath in and blew it out. You’ve got this.

Male voices outside the front door sent my already-frazzled nerves into hyperdrive.

You don’t have this! What if Evelyn’s right? What if he hates parties?I vaulted over the back of the couch, situated myself, and tried to look normal. Tried and failed.

Enzo came in first. He took one look at me and chuckled. “What’s on your dress?”

Glancing down, I groaned. How in the hell did the kids manage to slime me with icing? “Nothing, just a little something I whipped up.”

Jack lifted a brow. “Please tell me you aren’t cooking.”

Enzo gave him a grin that told me he agreed with Jack’s assessment of my culinary skills. When he turned back to me, he folded his arms. “Go change. I’m taking you out.”

“Out?” I couldn’t breathe.

“It is my birthday, after all.”

“Sure, we can go out.” Think Shanna think. “I…uh…started the grill. Could you turn it off while I put on another dress?”

“You only own one dress.” He arched a brow.

“Fine. I’ll change into jeans. Go turn off the grill.” I stood on shaking legs.

“Jack can turn off the grill. I’ll help you change.” He moved closer, but I side-stepped him.

“Enzo Valente Marchionni, he’s a guest. Go turn off the freaking grill.”

Jack knew I had people hiding in the courtyard but did nothing to help.

“He’s here so often, I should charge him rent.” Enzo lunged for me. “It’s my birthday, and I want to see you naked.”

Wrapped in his arms, I widened my eyes at my so-called best guy friend.

Jack made a show of looking at his watch. “Maybe I should leave you two alone?”

“Good idea.” Enzo said between kissing and biting my neck.

This can’t be happening. His freaking mother is probably watching us.“Please, just go outside. Please.”

“So my entire family can yell surprise?” The devil himself couldn’t have smiled as wickedly as Enzo.

“You knew?” I batted his shoulder. “Who told you?”

“I swore never to divulge the identity of my informant.” He wiggled his brows and took my hand.

“It was my mother, wasn’t it?” I never should have called her. The woman can’t keep a secret.

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