Page 18 of Fierce-Gabe

“I do,” she said. “And thank you for the invitation.”

Carolyn was almost bouncing in place. “Any time. As I said, we are just thrilled you’re here.”

She watched Carolyn get pulled away. “I know why she’s so excited,” she said quietly to her father.

“Why?” her father asked. She could see the nervousness on his face.

“She seems to think they are going to set me up with someone. It’s not happening. I hope you told them that.”

“I’ve said it,” her father said. “I have no control over them though.”

“So you’ve said before,” she said. “I don’t buy it.”

Her eyes were moving around the house at all the people. She was trying to see who they might have in store for her, but there wasn’t anyone that she could see.

Most were the Fierce family and they were all married. There were employees here she was sure but no one that was catching her eye.

She shifted some more and saw Gabe McCarthy come in and then turned her back and took a deep breath.

She looked at her watch and told herself one hour. That was it and she was out of here.

She could suck anything up for that amount of time.

“What’s wrong?” her father asked.

“What?” she asked.

“You just tensed.”

She should have figured her father would have witnessed that. “I think you’re imagining it. I’m going to go by Royce and Chloe.”

Her father nodded and then took his beer to go talk with other people. He was probably relieved so that he could go mingle.

Elise was leaning down and watching Willow sleeping in her brother’s arms. She wanted to take the baby, but she knew Royce wasn’t one to give his daughter up early on.

She’d been introduced to Jonah and Trent Davenport. She knew Trent as a renter in the first building as they had to do work on the place. She’d talked to him a few times but hadn’t met him in person until today. Trent’s brother, Jonah, was engaged to Megan Harrington, who she already knew. Megan dealt with all the finances of the joint business venture for Fierce and was also good friends with Chloe.

“Good move. Come meet Jonah,” she heard Megan say as she was walking over with a woman she didn’t know. “Jonah, this is Roni Hollister. I’ve told you about her. Roni, my fiancé.”

She’d talked to Roni multiple times too but hadn’t met her in person either. Just another reason she needed to come to these functions.

“Nice to meet you,” Roni said.

“You know Royce and Chloe,” Megan said.

“I do,” Roni said to both of them. “Willow is so cute. And so tiny. Or at least looks it in your arms, Royce.”

Her brother grinned. “Chloe says I never put her down, but Willow settles down faster with me.”

“More room to move in your arms. I’m Elise Kennedy.” She put her hand out. “We haven’t met yet. I’ve been to that buildinga few times, but I don’t think you were available for me to stop in and introduce myself.”

“It’s nice to meet you in person,” Roni said. “I’ve met all the players now as the owners.”

“Yes,” she said. “You won’t talk too much to me unless Royce has you call me to order something. It will be him or my father for our business, as you know.”

Though Roni had been doing a lot of work she normally did and helping out, Roni still talked to Royce more.

“I’m learning as I go,” Roni said. “But I do see Royce the most. He and Gabe it seems. Other than the Fierces.”

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