Edith. That’s all.” The big man turned to Jake, an actual spark of amusement in his eyes. “Jake, this is Edith Jennings, the unofficial social director of our condo complex.”
Jake smiled and stepped forward, unable to escape without seeming like a complete ass. He extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Edith. You must be a something of a social magician if you can get this man to join a party.”
She grabbed Jake’s hand and gave it a pat. “Oh, I haven’t managed that yet. But there’s always today.” She smiled at the two men, her fluff of white hair bouncing around her head in a careless sprig of curls. “Come on, what will it hurt?”
Jake wasn’t sure about Deklan, but he had an inkling it could hurt him a whole hell of a lot. Before he could extend his apologies, Dek nailed him with a smile that left his gut at his feet.
“You know, Edith,” Dek said with a deceptively friendly tone, “I think we’d love to join the party.” Dek gave Jake’s back a harder-than-necessary slap. “Jake here was just saying how fun it looked.”
Jake choked on his retort, the joyous spark in the conniving Mrs. Jennings’ eyes making him bite back what he really wanted to say. Instead, he plastered on his practiced smile and gave a laugh. Two could play at this game. “So right, Dek.” Jake leaned in to Edith and spoke in a conspiratorial fake whisper. “Dek was just confiding how he was feeling lonely here and was too shy to approach his neighbors.”
The look of horror that flashed over Dek’s face before he schooled his features was worth any future repercussions.
Edith’s eyes widened at the juicy piece of gossip. “Well, we’ll just take care of that.” She promptly situated herself between the two men, looping an arm around each of theirs and started to move toward the party. She seemed completely undeterred by the fact that the top of her head was over a foot below theirs. Instead, she lifted her chin and preened like a debutant leading the catch of the season into the ball. Or catches, as the situation warranted.
“Come along, gentlemen. We have a party to attend,” Edith said in a voice that didn’t allow for protest, the strength in her small form an additional surprise.
Over her head, Deklan shot him a glare that guaranteed hideous retribution later. Jake laughed and did his best to shake off the tingle of warning sliding down his spine. There was nothing he could do now.
Against his better judgment, he was going to meet the lovely Ms. Cali Reynolds once again. And this time, she wasn’t slipping away.
Chapter Nine
“A toast,” Evan boomed as he stood and raised his glass. “To Lacey and Paul.”
Everyone immediately followed suit, the couple in the spotlight sporting the open smiles of untarnished love and endless hope.
“May your life be filled with love and your dreams filled with happiness,” Evan said. “Congratulations on your engagement.”
Soft rounds of agreement followed as the small gathering of friends gave heartfelt words of support and encouragement to the couple. Lacey glowed, the rosy blush of dreams coloring her cheeks, the shiny new diamond glittering in the sunlight. Paul, her fiancé, held her close to his side, his strong arm tucked possessively around her shoulders. Pride and devotion stamped on the hard lines of his face.
Cali smiled politely and unclenched her fist, careful to ensure nobody noticed the act. She didn’t want her cynicism to spoil the festivities. Light notes of music drifted over the breeze, filtering through the courtyard. A burst of laughter, deep and robust, snapped over the low murmur of conversation.
“Aren’t they lovely?” The low voice close to her ear jerked Cali from her observations. She sucked in a breath but held her smile as she peered over her shoulder at her neighbor, Allie.
“New love is always lovely,” Cali agreed, fluttering another quick look at the happy couple.
Allie gave a soft snort. “Spoken by the
Jake smiled and stepped forward, unable to escape without seeming like a complete ass. He extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Edith. You must be a something of a social magician if you can get this man to join a party.”
She grabbed Jake’s hand and gave it a pat. “Oh, I haven’t managed that yet. But there’s always today.” She smiled at the two men, her fluff of white hair bouncing around her head in a careless sprig of curls. “Come on, what will it hurt?”
Jake wasn’t sure about Deklan, but he had an inkling it could hurt him a whole hell of a lot. Before he could extend his apologies, Dek nailed him with a smile that left his gut at his feet.
“You know, Edith,” Dek said with a deceptively friendly tone, “I think we’d love to join the party.” Dek gave Jake’s back a harder-than-necessary slap. “Jake here was just saying how fun it looked.”
Jake choked on his retort, the joyous spark in the conniving Mrs. Jennings’ eyes making him bite back what he really wanted to say. Instead, he plastered on his practiced smile and gave a laugh. Two could play at this game. “So right, Dek.” Jake leaned in to Edith and spoke in a conspiratorial fake whisper. “Dek was just confiding how he was feeling lonely here and was too shy to approach his neighbors.”
The look of horror that flashed over Dek’s face before he schooled his features was worth any future repercussions.
Edith’s eyes widened at the juicy piece of gossip. “Well, we’ll just take care of that.” She promptly situated herself between the two men, looping an arm around each of theirs and started to move toward the party. She seemed completely undeterred by the fact that the top of her head was over a foot below theirs. Instead, she lifted her chin and preened like a debutant leading the catch of the season into the ball. Or catches, as the situation warranted.
“Come along, gentlemen. We have a party to attend,” Edith said in a voice that didn’t allow for protest, the strength in her small form an additional surprise.
Over her head, Deklan shot him a glare that guaranteed hideous retribution later. Jake laughed and did his best to shake off the tingle of warning sliding down his spine. There was nothing he could do now.
Against his better judgment, he was going to meet the lovely Ms. Cali Reynolds once again. And this time, she wasn’t slipping away.
Chapter Nine
“A toast,” Evan boomed as he stood and raised his glass. “To Lacey and Paul.”
Everyone immediately followed suit, the couple in the spotlight sporting the open smiles of untarnished love and endless hope.
“May your life be filled with love and your dreams filled with happiness,” Evan said. “Congratulations on your engagement.”
Soft rounds of agreement followed as the small gathering of friends gave heartfelt words of support and encouragement to the couple. Lacey glowed, the rosy blush of dreams coloring her cheeks, the shiny new diamond glittering in the sunlight. Paul, her fiancé, held her close to his side, his strong arm tucked possessively around her shoulders. Pride and devotion stamped on the hard lines of his face.
Cali smiled politely and unclenched her fist, careful to ensure nobody noticed the act. She didn’t want her cynicism to spoil the festivities. Light notes of music drifted over the breeze, filtering through the courtyard. A burst of laughter, deep and robust, snapped over the low murmur of conversation.
“Aren’t they lovely?” The low voice close to her ear jerked Cali from her observations. She sucked in a breath but held her smile as she peered over her shoulder at her neighbor, Allie.
“New love is always lovely,” Cali agreed, fluttering another quick look at the happy couple.
Allie gave a soft snort. “Spoken by the
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