AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Lucas
If this party hadn’t been for Caleb and Daisy, I would’ve skipped it. I’d been in a funk the last two weeks, in no mood to socialize, but I had to make an exception for my friends.
I’d planned to dim my attraction to Brooke with an out-of-sight, out-of-mind strategy, but the minute I caught sight of her across the room, it came back with the force of a sledgehammer.
The shiny silver halter dress hugged her curves and exposed her long legs. Her hair was left down and curled, making me wish I could run my hands through it to muss it up. I tore away my gaze else I seem like a stalker.
Fuck, I’d missed her. Which was stupid because I had no right to the emotion since I’d been the one purposefully avoiding her. After our night together in her brother’s house with the baby and the dogs, working as a “good team,” I’d freaked out. Magnifying my freak-out was wanting Brooke by my side while attending Myrna’s funeral a week later.
I pasted on a smile while making the rounds and talking to people, and of course, I made sure to greet the couple of the hour. But my gaze kept returning to Brooke, tracking her every move, her voice, her laughter. I swore I could pick up her scent across the entire room.
“Hi, you must be Dr. Lucas,” came the voice from my left.
I turned to see a cute brunette smiling at me. “Oh, yes, I am. And you are?”
“I’m Waverly. I used to work with Daisy. She’s spoken highly of you.”
“I’m flattered.” In any other circumstance, I would’ve turned on the charm and flirted, but instead I couldn’t stop staring at Brooke.
Waverly continued to make small talk, touching my arm when she could and batting her fake eyelashes. “I was thinking after this party I’d get a drink. Want to join me?”
I glanced over to where Brooke had been standing a few seconds ago but didn’t see her. “Um, thanks, Waverly, but I have other plans. It was nice to meet you, but if you’ll excuse me.”
Where was she? Had she seen me talking with Waverly and left? I walked across the room and toward the doors leading out to the balcony. Relief hit me when I spotted her outside and on the phone. After she hung up, I approached.
“Hi.”
She looked up, surprise splashed across her face. “Oh, hello.”
“Did you ditch the party because of me?”
Her forehead scrunched. “Why would I do that?”
“I didn’t know if you saw me with Waverly and you—”
The moment her gaze narrowed, anger simmered in her eyes, I knew I’d made a terrible assumption.
“You think I’m jealous?”
Shit. “You’d left, and I thought maybe it was because the brunette was flirting with me.”
“I didn’t notice. Nor would I care who flirts with you. What were you doing? Watching me to see if I left?”
Busted. “I was checking on you.”
“As you can see, I’m fine. You can go back to what’s-her-face. Just make sure to take your ego with you.”
