Realizing our secret has been busted, I bite on my lower lip before raising my left hand into the air with a wiggle. “We’re engaged.”
My voice doesn’t come out rickety because I'm dreading the engagement. I’m ecstatic about that. I’m just worried about how Harlow will take the news since she’s been officially dating Cormack longer than Isaac and I have been a couple.
Any apprehensions I have disappear when Harlow hollers, startling me for the second time in under a minute, before throwing her arms around my neck to hug me tight. “I shotgun being maid of honor!”
“I wouldn’t want anyone else.”
Hugo smiles a gigantic grin before holding out his hand in congratulations to Isaac. After they shake, he gives me a sneaky cuddle, risking death when he holds on long enough that Isaac shoots him a stern glare. Regan remains quiet, but the sheen in her eyes reveals she is happy for us. Cormack offers quiet congratulations while Cate announces it to the world with a declaration loud enough for all to hear.
“Congratulations.”
This blessing is a little hard for me to swallow. I can’t see the person who issued it, but I know her voice—very well. It’s never missing bitter bitchiness. Gritting my teeth, I spin toward the greeter. My assumptions are proven on point when I spot Clara’s narrowed gaze. As always, she's impeccably dressed in a dark steel gray dress that matches the intensity of Isaac’s eyes. Her hair has been recently cut into a daring shoulder-length, side-sweeping bob with bangs. With a light fluttering of makeup and her new hairstyle, she appears more her age of twenty-five.
She smiles, faking sweetness, before turning her eyes to Isaac. “Can I please request a minute of your time?”
Isaac remains quiet, but I can hear his teeth gnawing as he contemplates her request. I told him about my confrontation with Clara at the boutique. He was beyond furious, the angriest I’ve ever seen him. It was such an incredibly arousing experience, I should probably thank Clara for her devious act as my night was filled with memories I’ll treasure for years to come.
Isaac peers into my eyes, requesting my opinion. He smirks an appreciative grin when I nod. As much as I dislike Clara, I need to learn how to control my green-eyed monster. Women are drawn to Isaac like moths to a flame, so stuff like this will be a regular occurrence during our marriage.
“I’ll be back in a minute.”
He kisses my temple before gesturing for Clara to follow him. My heart warms when he stays in eyesight, knowing it will appease my jealousy.
“So, I’m guessing you’re officially resigning from the FBI?”
I raise my eyes to Harlow. “Yeah. I already have.”
Her brows scrunch, clearly confused.
“I may have emailed my resignation to Alex this afternoon.”
She slaps my arm, laughing. “Izzy, that’s worse than breaking up with someone via a text message.”
“I know.” I grimace. “But I couldn’t face him. He arrived at Isaac’s house the other day, right during…” I make a face that will express the words my mouth is failing to articulate. “He heard meorgasm,” I whisper the last word to ensure the people gathered around us can’t hear.
Harlow grins and waggles her brows. “He probably went home and stroked one out.”
I rib her with my elbow, mortified, while praying Regan didn’t overhear her. She acts like she’s not bothered by anything Alex does, but I know it’s all an act. I’ve seen the way the vein in her neck flutters anytime he is near. She has it bad for him. I get it, Alex is an extremely handsome man, but I’m also confused.
After darting my eyes around the space to ensure Regan is nowhere in sight, I tilt closer to Harlow’s side. “You wouldn’t say that if you saw Regan and Alex side by side. It’s like staring at a solar eclipse.”
Harlow stares into the distance. “Actually, I could imagine that. It’d be like watching Barbie and Ken mating.”
Our girlie giggles simmer when Cormack’s younger brother, Colby, saunters toward us. He looks dashing in a fitted, pinstriped black suit with a dusty pink dress shirt underneath. With no tie and the top two buttons undone, he has a group of ladies eagerly vying for his attention. He winks and smiles at them as he continues his efficient steps to us. His hair has grown longer since I last saw him, and his physique is more built, but he’s the same roguishly handsome boy I met months ago.
“Harlow, looking as ravishing as ever.”
“Colby,” she greets back, bumping him with her hip.
When he shifts his gaze to me, I greet him with a smile. “Hey, Colby.”
After a prolonged rake of my body, he wolf whistles. “If only Cate arrived after I had whipped it out and peed on your leg.”
I grin at his cheeky banter before adding to my greeting with a kiss to his cheek and a hug. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“Prove it. Dance with me,” he whispers in my ear.
Once I inch back, I drift my eyes to Isaac. He isn’t looking at me, but I can tell he’s noticed Colby’s presence. He doesn’t hide his jealousy well.
