Three of Hearts by Kelly Jamieson Page B

my lips. When I looked at Lucas, his mouth was twitching.
    “Slow down there, babe. Don’t wanna carry you home like we did the other night.”
    A smile hovered on my own lips. “You did not carry me. I walked fine.”
    “Not quite.”
    “Okay, maybe I wobbled a little. It was the heels.”
    Our eyes met in a warm exchange. And held. My mouth curved up into a full smile, and I took another sip of my wine. Heat accumulated low in my belly.
    Oh wow. I was just standing there smiling at Lucas and I was getting turned on.
    Then I remembered Ben flirting with that girl, and my smile slipped. I looked down into my wine.
    “What?” Lucas took my arm and shifted me away from the bar. “Why’d you suddenly look pissed off again? You still care about him, don’t you?”
    How could I tell him the real reason my mood had dipped? “No, I really don’t. I just wasn’t having a good time at this party before they even showed up.” I rolled my eyes. “Too much Christmas. Christmas music. Christmas decorations. Christmas crap.”
    He studied me, and I shifted my feet. “You know we have to sing Christmas songs tomorrow night at the Ryman.”
    “I know.” And I dreaded it. I knew every single one of the songs we chose. I hated every single one of them. But I could do it. It was “Opry at the Ryman,” a great honor and opportunity.
    I took another gulp of wine. Then Ben appeared.
    “Hey, Haylee. Brace yourself, but Doug the slug is here.”
    I choked on my wine, nearly spraying both guys with it. “Doug the slug?”
    He grinned. “Yeah.”
    “We already saw him,” Lucas said. “And his lovely date.”
    “I called him a douche bag. I wish I’d called him Doug the slug.”
    “Feel free to use that.” Ben’s gaze searched my face as Lucas’s had earlier. “You okay?”
    “I’m fine.” I hitched one shoulder. “He’s a loser.” I glanced around Ben. My insides tightened. I wanted to be as casual as I would have been a week ago about him flirting with another woman. “Who was that gorgeous brunette who was all over you?”
    His forehead creased. “Who? Oh. You mean Nadine. She’s a model.”
    “Of course she is.”
    He focused in on me. “Hmm. Jealous, sweetheart?”
    I tossed my hair. I was getting good at that particular feminine gesture. “Certainly not. You can flirt with whatever girls you want.”
    They exchanged one of their looks: this time Lucas lifted one eyebrow at Ben, and Ben’s look in return was cool enough to frost the short glass Lucas held.
    I had no idea what they were communicating about, and this time I didn’t care. “Actually, just before Doug the slug arrived, I was coming to find you to tell you I’m going home.”
    “Already?” They both said it and frowned.
    “Just not my thing.”
    “Oh right.” Lucas gestured toward the tree. “Too much Christmas crap.”
    They both gave me puzzled looks. I shrugged.
    “Stay a little longer, Haylee.” Lucas stroked my bare arm. “Then we’ll all leave. Okay?”
    “Just because I’m leaving doesn’t mean you guys have to.”
    “Sure it does.” He lowered his voice. “Because we’re leaving together .”
    I knew what he meant. My knees wobbled and my wine sloshed up the side of the glass.
    “You guys, this is crazy.” Even whispering, I felt like everybody could hear us.
    “Yeah. It kind of is.”
    “What would people think?”
    “Why do people have to know?” Ben’s matter-of-factness calmed my fluttery nerves. “They already know we live together.”
    I nodded, as his point had merit. I certainly wasn’t going to tell anyone, and if people wondered—well, it wouldn’t be the first time they’d wondered if there was something between Lucas and me. And even if there had been, it would be nobody’s business but ours, and this was the same.
    It was crazy, but it was our craziness. We weren’t hurting anybody else.
    Although I had a feeling somebody was going to get hurt. And that someone was probably going to be