I twist it around my wrist self-consciously. “After-Hours Kate lets her hair down,” I say defensively. I’m not in the mood for anyLegally Blondejokes tonight.
He makes a little humming noise in his throat, then waves at someone over my head. I twist around to see who, but it could be any one of a hundred people.
“How do youknoweveryone? I never would have expected to see you here. Luke and Tessa don’t seem like your type of crowd.” The unspoken insinuation: they’re both Democrats.
He rolls his eyes heavenward. “I don’t choose my friends based on party affiliation. Unlike some people I know.”
“Everyone seems to think you’re so nice. You’ve really got them all fooled.”
“Iamnice.”
“I guess that means you’re only mean to me, then,” I muse. “Everyone else gets Dr. Jekyll and I get Mr. Hyde.”
“Maybe you’re the only one getting the real me.” He winks one eye and then the other, back and forth a few times. I havegotto figure out how to do that.
“God help me. Well, don’t let me hold you back.” I motion over my shoulder to his friends. “Feel free to go mingle with your kind.”
He looks amused. “Nah, I’m happy right here.”
“You live to torture me.”
“Maybe.” He smiles, a small one, like he’s keeping a secret. “But I did realize something the other day.”
“What’s that?”
His eyes catch and hold mine. “I’d rather argue with you than get along with anyone else.”
Chapter 9
I blink at him as a ball of heat forms in my stomach and sweeps up my rib cage, blooms into my chest cavity, and steals my breath. What he said—no, thewayhe said it—feels superior to any compliment I’ve ever gotten. I want to hug it to my chest. Tattoo it on my skin. Brand it on my memory.
I breathe out, with effort. “You’re quite an enigma, Ben Mackenzie.”
“How so?”
“I can’t decide if you like me or hate me.”
He opens his mouth, then closes it. He seems as caught off guard by that bit of honesty as I am.
“Sometimes I can’t figure it out either, Princess.” He rubs a hand over his mouth like he’s trying to wipe away a smile. “I’m hungry. You hungry?”
Changing the subject. Good idea.
“Starving, actually,” I admit.
“I’ll go order us something. If I’m not back in ten minutes, just wait longer.” He squeezes my shoulder before heading over to the bar.
Icannotfigure this guy out.
But I don’t get too long to think about it because as soon as he’s goneTessa corners me, forcing me into a chair at one of the tables our group has commandeered.
She levels me with a pointed stare. “What are you doing?”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought you hated this guy. What happened to your feud?”
I sip my wine, taking my time answering. “I guess technically it still exists, but we called a truce.”
