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Her nerves wouldn't last long, especially not after the kiss Everett had given her at her apartment before she'd hightailed it to her bedroom and locked the door behind her.
What was up with that?
How could Everett think they'd ever have anything more than Vegas? Not only were they strangers but he was a New Yorker, for pity's sake! And like any true southern girl, she hated the cold and snow.
The open windows carried the seventy-degree breeze that tousled the balloon arch remaining in the living room from last night's shower.
Had it only been last night?
With a start, she realized it had. Even though it felt like time traveled at warp speed.
And once today was over, Thanksgiving would be next.
With Everett determined to stay in town until she knew for sure she wasn't pregnant, which factored into the holiday with gut-clenching accuracy.
"Everyone, this is Everett Drake, Isabel and Michael's friend," Mary Elizabeth stated, introducing him.
"I’m Izzy’s father, Adam," Adam said. "Welcome. Come meet everyone, Everett."
Isabel watched as Everett left her side to join her father and the other men, but not until after a gentle squeeze of her arm. That came after he slid his hand from her lower back, neither of which went unnoticed by any of the women in the room.
Izzy stifled a groan and fought the urge to turn on her heel to leave but forced herself to approach the group of women eyeing her like they mentally sized her for wedding dresses and booked venues.
The Babes surrounded the chair where Ms. Georgia sat, Isabel's sisters nearby, looking as curious as the mothers.
She hadn't had any luck getting an answer out of Sophia last night as to whatshewas keeping from the Babes. Hopefully she'd be able to corner her sister sometime soon and try again. Like Izzy, Sophia knew to keep her private life private or else suffer the consequences of the Babes getting involved on an even larger scale than if they found something out on their own.
Rayna Jo's daughters, Dara and Devon, rarely came to events seeing as how Devon lived in New York City working as a television show host and Dara lived—where was it now?—and worked for a private security company called Guardian Group. Only Izzy, Allie, and Sophia were local, as well as Michael and Logan.
That meant when it came to family functions of any sort, they carried the slack of the others, as their attendance wasmandatoryrather than optional.
Which brought them to today.
Izzy greeted Ms. Georgia and asked about her health before turning to face the sea of women waiting for her to give them the details of her companion. Isabel rolled her eyes and sighed. "Really? I don't even get a drink first?"
Sophia grinned silently and quickly handed Izzy a filled flute.
"He's very handsome."
"Those dimples!"
"His eyes are quite compelling, too. It's those dark, sooty lashes," Tessa added. "They give him a bit of mysterious air, don't you think?"
"The hot body doesn't hurt," Ms. Georgia stated in a stage whisper that could've been heard on the West Coast.
Surprised laughter burst out of the Babes—minus Cheryl—as well as several of the men across the room blatantly eavesdropping on them, and Isabel shook her head and grimaced. What on earth would Everett think of them after this?
Her father lifted his glass toward her with another low chuckle and then went on to introduce Logan and Michael's father to Everett.
Izzy tried. She really did. She tried hard not to look at Everett, but after a moment's stubbornness, her gaze shifted with a mind of its own and found his locked on her instead of the men surrounding him.
Direct. Amused.
Sensual?
He’d heard every word.
"Good golly, the last time a man looked at me like that, I married him," Tessa said, lifting a hand to fan her face dramatically.
