Page 69 of Hot As Ice

“Oh, yes. I could tell from the way he was looking at you the other night.” She smiles, eyes twinkling. This woman is clearly a romantic.

“How-how was he looking at me?” I can’t resist asking.

“Like you are the center of his whole world.”

Heat rises in my face. I wish there was a way to control blushing. I shift in my seat, feeling warmth travel all the way down to my toes. When I fail to respond, Celeste says, “I can tell the feeling is mutual.”

“I-I like him a lot,” I admit, pushing around my salad ingredients with my fork.

“Have you told him how you feel?”

I shake my head.

“Has he?”

I shake my head again.

“I’m sure you both will when the time is right,” she says, her tone gentle.

I look up from my plate. “Did you…and Hunter’s dad…?”

She laughs. “Benjamin said it first. I was so shocked. I didn’t expect it at all. And then two weeks later, he asked me to marry him.” She briefly puts her hand over her mouth, blushing slightly. “It was a whirlwind.” Her eyes get all dreamy. “I want to pinch myself every day. I can’t believe my luck.”

“I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank you. It feels wonderful. Like I’m floating.” She pushes her salad plate aside and folds her hands on the tablecloth. “So, I wanted to ask you if you would be, not a bridesmaid exactly, but part of a ‘bridal party’ that’s really not a bridal party, but just some of my close friends wearing similar dresses. I know it sounds kind of unusual, but I want to have, like, an entourage.”

I almost drop my fork. “Me?”

“Yes, you, and three of my closest friends, and two of my cousins, and all your partners, of course.”

“But I’m not⁠—”

“We’re friends now, Stevie. Oh, say you’ll do it. I have such a gorgeous dress picked out for you in my mind.”

I don’t know how I can say no to her when she’s looking at me with so much earnest hope. It’s a special day for her, and the least I can do is wear a dress she wants me to wear and pose for some photos.

“Sure. I’d love to.”

She claps her hands twice. “Oh, thank you! I’m having so much fun doing all the planning. I should’ve been an event planner. Can you come for a dress fitting next weekend? I’ll send you the address and time. It’ll be fun. We’ll have champagne and some yummy hors d’oeuvres during the entire process.”

“I’ll be there,” I say, and she beams at me.

We spend the rest of lunch talking about the party and all the little details. It’s going to be a huge production, but Celeste is fully into it, like she was born to do it. It might be a little too extravagant, but who am I to say what’s right or wrong for a high society event?

After lunch, I text Hunter to let him know I’m done, and he tells me to go to his place. Anticipation zings through me as I picture him grabbing and kissing me, and…more. Just the thought of it sends tingles all through my body. Sometimes, it’s like my body isn’t even mine, because of how fully it’s in his thrall.

I drum my fingers against my thigh as I take the elevator to the top floor of Hunter’s building. I tell myself not to jump into his arms the second I see him. I need to keep my cool. I don’t want him to know how much he affects me.

Hunter’s front door is already open when I step out of the elevator. I walk in to find him sitting on the couch, watching something on TV. He doesn’t get up when I enter or as I walk toward him. He looks fully engrossed in whatever he’s watching.

Without a word, I sit beside him on the couch, unsure of how to act.

He looks so hot in a long sleeve white Henley tee and gray sweatpants. After a few minutes of silence that feel endless, he turns to me. “How was lunch?” he asks.

“Good. Fun. Celeste is so sweet.” I’m nervous from the way he’s looking at me. He seems…angry, but I can’t fathom why.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were having lunch with her today?”