Page 41 of A Second Chance

The group broke apart and Ellen made her way over to Jason and Gwen. “So, you’re also a soldier too, like Daniel?”

“Formerly in the Army, ma’am.” Not like Dan. The elite side drew his friend in, and he’d been an Army Ranger, then a Green Beret, and a badass to the core. “I specialized in electrical engineering.” He preferred making stuff work over actual combat, not that he didn’t do both.

“No longer military, then?” she asked.

“No, ma’am. I’m an electrician, starting a business here in town.” He gave Gwen’s a brief squeeze, and she smiled at him.

“So, you’re also a childhood friend of Harlan’s?”

“Yes, ma’am. We all went through school together. Small town, we all know each other.”

“Yes. I remember his family’s reputation as well,” she said.

He sucked in a breath. That explained it and pissed him off in one second. She was holding his crappy childhood a kid against him? “It’s really incredible how he pulled himself out of that situation and became a police detective. His brother raised him from a very young age.”

“I understand the middle one didn’t fare so well,” she said.

Logan had overdosed, and Weasel had taken the loss hard. It was why he took on the drug dealers. Gwen squeezed his hand and her breasts pressed against his bicep, already a master of distracting him.

“Let’s get some food,” she cooed. “We haven’t eaten yet. If you’ll excuse us, Ms. Gilbert.” She led him to the table of tiny food and picked up something and shoved it in his mouth. “Before you cause a scene,” she whispered.

He chewed, confused between his hunger, his horniness, and wanting to rip the snotty woman a new one. But at the moment, the deliciousness of whatever he was eating won. He collected a plate of food and followed Gwen to a cocktail table.

“This place is just so pretty,” Gwen said, taking in the room. “I can see why it’s become so popular.” But he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She’d painted those beautiful eyes with makeup. Was she this dolled up before their evening plans changed? She’d fixed herself up for him? Did they both have concerns about the impression they were making? “I’ve been trying to think if there’s someone I can invite out here for Eli,” she continued, then looked at him. “What?” she asked.

He realized he’d been staring. “I am a lucky guy,” he said. “You’re so caring, sweet, and gorgeous.”

A smile spread across her face, her cheeks turned pink. She moved to him and wrapped her arms around him. “You’re feeling better after the food.”

“That wasn’t all hunger,” he said.

“Yeah, I saw it coming. That was very uncomfortable. I understand why he wants us all here. Like a buffer.”

“Are you sure it’s not a misery-loves-company sort of thing?” His arms slid around her. He loved the softness of her against him.

“This isn’t misery,” she said, gesturing around them.

“Definitely not,” he leaned in and their lips met.

“Oh, for god’s sake, cool it,” Weasel snapped, blowing past them.

Jason gave Gwen a look, and she started laughing. “Do you think he understands the concept of irony?”

“Not right now, he doesn’t.”

***

It was their date night, but she left Jason momentarily to find Hannah. Her hairdresser friend should know a few single women who may make a good match for Eli. After the initial disappointment of giving up her dinner alone with Jason to hang out in a group, she was having a nice time. The setting as usual, spectacular. It would be perfect, if it weren’t so obvious that Ellen Gilbert was dead set on disapproving of everything. Poor Rebecca, she couldn’t imagine. Her own mom might wear socks with sandals and talk about the importance of orgasms, but at least she supported Gwen’s decisions.

Rebecca finally emerged from hiding. She had a staff working tonight, so her presence in the kitchen was not required – although Gwen understood why she would hide from Ellen. She found Hannah at the bar with a pink drink in her hand.

“What’s that?”

“Cosmopolitan,” Hannah replied.

“Good?”

“Good enough to help me get through this evening.”

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