His friend reaches a hand out to Tessa, then Luke. “Hi, I’m Marcus, Ben’s colleague and party crasher looking for a happy hour.Congratulations on your engagement.” He flashes me a wide, easygoing grin. “Hi, I’m Marcus.”
“Kate,” I respond, shaking his hand.
“Kate?” He squints, tightening his grip on my hand. “Wait, are youtheKate? The one who’s been giving my friend here such a hard time?”
My jaw drops, and I swivel my head to Ben. “I’m sorry, I’ve been givingyoua hard time? What kind of lies are you spreading?”
Marcus’s face lights up. “Well, this just got more interesting. Kate, I’dloveto hear your side.”
“Why don’t you let me know what he’s told you, and I’ll figure out what to debunk first?”
Marcus grins while Ben stands there looking unamused. Tessa and Luke are following the exchange with interest, heads bobbing back and forth like Ping-Pong balls.
“He wouldn’t have told me anything at all, but I just happened to be one of the people in attendance at a meeting where he opened his mail and atamponfell out.”
I’ve just taken a sip of my wine, and the spit-take that results is one for the ages. I’m laughing-slash-choking, and Marcus makes a big show of thumping me on the back.
“Pleasetell me more,” I beg once I can breathe normally again. “Don’t leave anything out.”
“I’ll never forget the look on Mack’s face. Fucking priceless.”
Ben reaches a big hand out and shoves Marcus into the crowd. “Why don’t you get us a couple of drinks, Marcus?”
I step between them. “Why don’t you get the drinks,Mack? It sounds like Marcus has some interesting stories to share.” I scoot closer to Marcus and flash him a megawatt smile. “You were saying?”
“You’re famous around our office,” he confides, clearly relishing the opportunity to push Ben’s buttons. I think I’m enjoying it more.
“Famous?Moi?” I parrot, glancing over my shoulder at Ben. He’s looking a little green around the gills.
“You got him all worked up, and that’s not easy to do. Plus, it’s nice to finally meet a woman who’s immune to his charms.”
“Charms?Who is this charming person you speak of?” We both simultaneously turn and look at Ben. He’s scowling.
I hold my hand out like Vanna White. “I rest my case.”
“The way he described your reign of terror, I expected a real shrew. I see he left just a few details out.” He smirks at Ben. “All of a sudden your mood lately is making a lot more sense.”
Ben fixes him with a look that’s cold enough to freeze ice, which Marcus expressly ignores. Eventually Ben sighs and shrugs off his jacket, tossing it on a nearby table, then grabs and loosens his tie. I flush as I recall how many times I’ve watched him perform this same routine from my office this week. How strange that I’m starting to recognize his habits.
Marcus turns to me, a glint in his eye. “So, Kate. Are you single?”
Ben groans. “This isn’t Tinder, Marcus.”
I sense violence afoot, so I break in. “If I may be so bold as to infer the point of your question, I’ll just let you know that I don’t date Republicans. That’s a hard no for me.” I’m looking at Marcus, but deep down I know I’m directing it at Ben.
But apparently my statement isn’t the deterrent I expected, because Marcus’s eyes spark in challenge. “Did you hear that, Ben? She doesn’t date Republicans.”
“Yes, it’s a real loss for us,” he says wryly.
Marcus narrows his eyes almost imperceptibly, an unspoken conversation passing between them in the span of about five seconds. Eventually he blinks and turns back to me.
“Well, Kate,Ithink you’d be worth disaffiliating for.” He gives me apanty-dropping smile that I’m sure works for him ninety-nine percent of the time.
Unfortunately for him, I’m the one percent. “That’s quite a pickup line, especially in this town.” I pretend-swoon and punch him lightly on the arm, and I watch Ben’s eyes follow my hand. “Does it ever work?”
“You tell me,” he says, laughing. Where are all these alpha males coming from? There must be something in the water over at Hammond’s office.
“So if this guy doesn’t do it for you,” Marcus continues, jerking his thumb at Ben, “who is your type, then? Blonds, maybe?”
