Page 34 of Curvy Love

Seriously, what is happening to me right now? I’m not supposed to be looking at this man with interest.

Yes, he’s very handsome.

Okay, perhaps he’s even the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. But that doesn’t mean anything for me. That’s his burden to endure.

I quickly down my drink then offer a smile.

To my horror, I automatically slip into the mock British accent and say, “Oy! Please excuse me, I need to run to the loo.” I spin and walk away.

It is a peculiar part of me and I don’t even know where it came from. But my mother said it started when I was a child. My heels are low, but still seem to echo on the stone floor all the way to the restroom outside of the main atrium.

I go in and wet a paper towel to hold to my skin. I’m not usually hot in this dress, but still I feel sticky and nervous. Over-heated and turned on.

No. Wait. Not “turned on.” Not in the sexually-aroused sense of the phrase. But in the hit-with-a-jolt-of-electricity sense of the phrase. In the blasted with a Taser sense.

Of course, if I had been blasted with a Taser at least I’d get out of returning to the party. Maybe I should try to charge one of the security guards.

Though, that does seem a bit extreme.

But at least I got meeting Mr. Carlisle out of the way. I should be able to enjoy the rest of the party now.

chapterthirteen

Ezra

Once Paisley ditches us, I quickly wrap up the conversation with her friend. Jefferson is already laughing at me before we even walk away. I excuse myself and follow him.

“Shut up.”

Molly comes up beside us and Jefferson smiles down at her.

“So how did it go?” she asks. “Sorry that my phone rang right then, I really wanted to meet her.”

“Everything alright?” I ask.

“Yes, it was my sister, Hailey. She and her husband, Lennox want us to come up tomorrow so you can help hang a ceiling fan,” she tells Jefferson.

He nods. Then she looks back at me, as if asking one of the greatest engineering minds in the country to hang a ceiling fan is no big deal.

She gives my shoulder a light punch. “How did it go? I need details and I need them now!”

I thread my fingers through my hair. “She was very impressed with your husband,” I say. The look of sheer excitement and awe in Paisley’s face as she stared up at my best friend was like a knife to my back. I realize that his invention is very practical and useful and is helping to save the world or whatever. But I’ve done some pretty cool stuff, too. Our fortunes are pretty well equal.

And, yes, I’m aware exactly how petty that shit sounds.

“He’s got his panties in a twist because she said she loved my work,” Jefferson mutters, barely hiding his laughter.

“Fuck off,” I say.

“Don’t look now,” Molly says between her teeth, “but she’s coming out of the bathroom to your right.”

I move quickly to intercept her before she can make it back into the atrium and the party inside. It’s brighter out here than inside the atrium with the twinkle lights. So I can clearly see her honey-colored hair and fair-complexion.

“Ms. McLeod,” I say, as I get close.

Her steps falter and she swings her gaze in my direction. “Mr. Carlisle.”

“Ezra. Please.

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