Page 58 of Token

Kennedy ignored the question in Sahara’s eyes, replying innocuously, “Nate agreed to be my date tonight.”

Unlike their encounter with Aidan, Nate knew to make himself scarce without being told. Smoothly plucking the empty glass from her hand, he said, “Why don’t I get you another drink?”

Sahara turned and followed his retreating form before turning back to her. “Aurora has averyfine-looking brother. Why am I only learning about this now?”

“He’s all right,” Kennedy replied in the understatement of the year.

Grabbing Kennedy by the hand, she pulled her into an alcove several feet away. “Wait—so you’re not with Aidan anymore?”

“No, we broke up, but—”

“Oh my god! I wish you’d told me,” Sahara interrupted. “When he showed up without an invitation, I assumed he was with you.”

Kennedy was stunned. She hadn’t taken her ex as the party-crashing type. “He asked me to marry him and I said no.”

“Damn,” Sahara softly exclaimed, her eyes flaring wide. “Did he see you with...?”

Heaving a sigh, Kennedy nodded.

“Ah, now it makes sense. I thought it was weird when he told me he had to go, since he just got here not even thirty minutes ago.”

Aidan had left. She breathed a sigh of relief.

“I saw a side of him I’d never seen before.”

Sahara grimaced. “I can imagine.” Then a small smile lifted the corner of her mouth. “Girl, you got all these men trying to lock you down. Do you know none of my exes have ever proposed?”

“That’s because you break up with them before they can. And didn’t you say you begin all your relationships with theI’m working on my career, and I won’t be ready to get married for eons and eonsspeech?”

Sahara pouted prettily. “Oh, come on. If you really loved and wanted to marry someone, would you let that stop you?”

“Did you want any of them to propose?”

“No, but that’s not the point.”

Kennedy laughed. “I wouldn’t worry about it. I have a feeling the man youwantto askwillask.”

“Well, I certainly haven’t met him yet,” Sahara said with feeling. She’d just come out of a yearlong relationship with an up-and-coming singer, and discovered too late that he hoped to use her as a stepping stone. And like most people, Sahara hated being used. Claimed it made her “ragey.”

“You will,” Kennedy assured her. Beauty, talent, and riches beyond most people’s wildest dreams weren’t a bad starting-off point when it came to looking for a husband.

Sahara’s expression turned playful. “So, a computer guy, hmm?” she asked, raising perfectly manicured eyebrows.

“He’s here as a friend.” Even to her own ears the words sounded hollow.

Sahara snorted in disbelief. “Friend, my ass. The man practically had his hand on your ass. The only friends who act that way are friends with benefits,” she teased with a suggestive swivel of her hips. “Is that the kind of friends you’re talking about?”

“First of all, his hand was not on my ass,” Kennedy insisted, her voice fierce and low. Close to it, maybe even grazing it a little, but not actuallyonit. “And there are no benefits.” And God willing, there wouldn’t be.

“Let’s see how long that lasts,” Sahara said with another snort. “I know men, and that man was looking at you like a man who wants to...be more than friends.”

“Don’t I have a say in the matter?”

“You didn’t seem to mind his hand on your ass.” Without giving her a chance to register her protest, Sahara forged on. “Funny, I never figured you for a blonde.”

“Aurora is blonde. Her brother is not.”

“Okay, light brown or whatever. You know what I mean.”

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