Maeve gives one last suspicious glance at Ben before trotting off in search of more desserts, satisfied that she’s delivered justice.
Marcus sighs, shaking his head. “I like her. She’s got good instincts.”
Sophie pats his chest. “Yes, babe. But you can’t put Ben Ashcroft in time-out.”
Marcus mutters something about that being debatable, but I’m still laughing, and for the first time all night, the tightness in my chest eases.
Too bad it won’t last.
Because when I glance back across the ballroom, Ben’s standing. Drink in hand, expression unreadable, as he starts making his way toward us.
Straight towards me.
13
Ben
The second I made that bid, I felt the shift.
Not from Lila, I expected her to be pissed, but from the collective force of her inner circle.
Now I’m walking straight into enemy territory.
Sophie. Willow. Olivia. They close ranks the moment I step closer, forming a human shield around Lila like she needs protecting from me. Their expressions vary—Olivia’s is sharp, unreadable, Sophie’s assessing, Willow’s unimpressed, but the underlying message is the same:
You’re not welcome here.
Yet, here I am.
I take a slow sip of my whiskey, letting them look their fill.
I’ve already done my homework on them.
Had Shaw dig up everything in Lila’s world.
Sophie Parkes, corporate strategist at Kingsley Global Strategies, engaged to Marcus Kingsley.
Willow Rivera, librarian. Runs Silverbeck Library.
Olivia Harper, HR director at Iron Link Engineering. Single mother to four-year-old Maeve.
They all met through Sophie’s book club—Books That Bang.
I nearly choked on my whiskey when I read the report.
Lila reads smut.
Not just romance—filthy books. A slow smirk tugs at my lips. Yeah. That tracks.
Now I can’t stop picturing it—Lila curled up in bed, eyes skimming over something indecent, cheeks flushed, breath catching.
Jesus.
I take another slow sip of my whiskey, forcing my focus back on the present, on the three women currently sizing me up like they’re debating whether to tear me apart now or let Lila finish the job later.
Get your shit together, Ashcroft.
Because right now? They look like they want to lynch me.
