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“Is that why you have a fancy suit waiting in your closet?” Eryn asked, eyeing the open bar and tugging gently to lead him to the safe zone.

“I’ll donate quietly. Events like this are for those who like to be schmoozed while they flaunt their philanthropy.”

A man strolled over to them, huffing a laugh. “If it gets our patients out of the hallways—I don’t care how they donate.”

Eryn smiled warmly. “Vann, this is my boss, Holden. Holden, Vann.”

They shared an easy handshake, and Holden shared a lingering look back at Eryn as they released. “Department lead, but I’m not sure ‘boss’ is the right term. Colleague.” Sweet guy… laying the foundation for a relationship.

Eryn leaned into Vann’s side and smiled comfortably. “My ‘colleague’ convinced me to attend, so he could introduce the new doc to the hospital donors.”

“Once a year, Eryn. Once a year, we beg for cash so we have adequate supplies.”

“So who’s holding down the fort?” Vann asked.

Holden cleared his throat and looked around. Out the side of his mouth, he said, “Coincidentally, of course, I may have staffed the ED with our least charismatic providers tonight.”

Eryn’s grip on Vann’s hand loosened, and she leaned into his side. “I shall play ball, but only because you complimented my social skills. After residency, I feared I’d lost the ability to interact with humans.”

Holden drifted his focus up from Eryn’s cozy posture with Vann, and he smiled gently. “Thanks, Eryn. Have fun tonight. I swear, the ED has exploded since you arrived—more than usual, I mean. Soon enough, it’ll calm back down to full rooms and a packed waiting area, instead of beds lining the halls and standing room only in the waiting room.”

Vann stilled and snuck a look down at Eryn. Her skin chilled against his, goosebumps sprouting up, so rigid they scratched his skin where she leaned into him.

“Ha. That’s just my terrible luck.” Eryn nodded ahead at the bar. “Vann? I believe I promised you a drink.”

“You did.” Nice guy though, and maybe it was thoughtful of her to Teflon-up preemptively.

While the bartender poured them each a glass of wine, Vann scanned the bustling room.

Eryn had arrived only days before he had.

Was something reacting to having a demon hunter in town?

Vann wrapped his fingers around the delicate stem of the wineglass and took a quiet sip. Every damn road was a dead end. A broad region with lots of wide-open spaces, but whatever was behind this was careful.

In a mustard-yellow tie and a shiny blue suit, a man strutted toward them in snakeskin boots that clacked louder against the floor than high heels.

Eryn cradled her glass close and pinned her backside against Vann’s front.

Eyes wide, mouth wider in a familiar grin, snakeskin boot guy moved in with broad enthusiasm, and didn’t stop at the appropriate social distance.

“Wade, hi, you made it,” Eryn said brightly. She lifted her glass and leaned into Vann as if they were a couple.

Vann looped an arm around her middle to shelter her from the social threat.

“Hello, Eryn. I hope you’ll introduce me to your friend.” The close-talker took Eryn’s free hand and held their joined hands between them. Nearly nose-to-nose with Eryn, so close he was now encroaching on Vann’s bubble, too, Dr. Handsy didn’t seem to notice Eryn’s body language that said back up, dude. “I’m so glad you’re settling into the area happily.”

Vann rolled his shoulders and splayed his hand over Eryn’s middle. “I’m Vann. Pleasure to meet you.” He reached out to shake the hand that was incarcerating Eryn’s.

Wade’s eyes widened as he looked at his hand, now being held hostage in Vann’s.

A quick shake, and Vann released him.

Like looking up at a skyscraper, the man slowly lifted his gaze up Vann’s chest, reaching his chin, before finding his deep brown eyes. The guy finally stepped back. “Pleasure.”

“Nice party,” Vann said, looking down at the strange man.

“Excellent party. Much more palatable catering than last year.”