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“Sophie and Ravi do throw pretty epic parties.” Without thinking, he ran his tongue over his lower lip.
His companion’s gaze dipped down, following the movement. This could be an interesting night after all.
Before he could ask the woman her name, Sophie teetered over on sky high heels. “Ryan,” she sang, her arms outstretched for a hug.
Obliging, he bent to envelop his friend in an embrace. “How are you, Sophie? Looking good tonight.”
“Thank you.” She fluffed her hair and did a little twirl, soaking up the attention. How this woman and Cassie were best friends was one of life’s greater mysteries. If ever there were two people who embodied yin and yang, these two friends fit the bill.
“I love that dress,” the mystery woman complimented her.
“Thank you.” Sophie plucked at the front of it. “I bought it for my friend, Cassie, but she refused to wear it.”
At the mention of Cassie in relation to the form hugging, leg baring dress Ryan’s brain immediately began conjuring images of her wearing the barely-there garment. She’d been wearing something similar at her parents’ Christmas party the night they conceived Ellie. He’d never seen her dress like that before or since.Damn shame.
“Have I met Cassie?” the mystery woman asked, as Sophie declared the dress was better suited for Cassie’s shorter, curvier frame.
Sophie pursed her lips, searching the room. “She’s supposed to be here. She’s already tried me with every excuse this week, and I told her I won’t accept any of them. Her business and her daughter keep her busy, but I think that’s just more of a reason to get out.”
“Wait.” The blonde held up a finger as she remembered something. “Is this the friend who owns the bookstore?”
Sophie flashed a warm, almost proud, smile. “The one and only.”
“I met her. Remember, you told me to check there for that book my sister wanted that no one could find? I went a couple weeks ago. She was wonderful.”
A smile touched Ryan’s lip. Sophie wasn’t the only friend proud of Cassie. Staying in their small town to run the bookstore and raise a child might not have been her dream, but she excelled at both. She’d turned her grandmother’s hobby into a thriving business and created an amazing life for herself and Ellie. And, by default, Ryan.
“I almost left,” the woman confessed. “It was the day after Black Friday and the shop was packed. I had no idea where to start and people were everywhere. Somehow, in all that chaos, she found me and took care of me herself. I don’t know how she does it.”
“Well, she’s pretty amazing.” Sophie’s gaze slanted to Ryan’s just long enough for him to wonder if he’d imagined it. Was Sophie trying to give him the same,we all know Cassie’s amazing,bullshit Ravi had spouted last week?
The blonde laughed. “Amazing? She’s freaking Wonder Woman. She was running the whole store with a kid on her hip. Single moms are freaking superheroes. I don’t envy how hard they work.” She grew quiet for a moment. “Maybe you should cut her some slack if she can’t make it. She must be exhausted.”
“Uh uh.” Sophie shook her head. “That’s exactly why she should be here.”
“Because she’s exhausted?” Ryan couldn’t help but pipe up.
Sophie shot him an “eat shit” glare. “No. Because she can’t spend all her energy on working and momming. She needs to make some time for herself and her own…enjoyment.”
Ryan’s stomach twisted at the way she stressedenjoyment. Since Sophie was in on this wholeget Cassie laid for Christmasplan, he had a pretty good idea of her definition of enjoyment.
Deciding he’d had enough of Sophie’s side-eye, he asked, “Do either of you need a drink?”
Sophie blinked up at him, the picture of innocence. “A glass of white please. What would you like, Brooke?”
Brooke.
The woman pulled a plump lip between straight white teeth. She looked like a biter. Cassie had been a biter.Damn it. Why did he keep doing that? Brooke and Cassie couldn’t be more different, but everything the blonde did sent his thoughts to the woman who didn’t want him.
“I’ll take one of those peppermint martinis.” She pointed a red, glittery nail toward a woman a few feet away holding a martini glass filled with red liquid and a stick of peppermint dipped in chocolate
He nodded. “Coming right up.”
As he turned back to the bar, he caught sight of Levi moving through the crowd like a lion stalking his prey. Ryan’s muscles tensed. Some poor woman was about to be subjected to more of Levi Livingston’s stupidity. His gaze swept the room, searching for the unlucky victim.
His breath caught when he spotted Cassie. Not surprisingly, she’d forgone a slinky dress. Instead, she wore a sleeveless green lace top over a barely-there green tank top and jeans she appeared to have been sewn into. When she turned to give her coat to Ravi, Ryan realized the entire back of her shirt was missing, accenting the strong muscles along her spine. A spine he had a sudden urge to lick. And those damn jeans cupped her ass like a lover. He’d never been jealous of denim before, but, damn it, there was a first time for everything. She turned from Ravi, a smile lighting up her face. Damn, she took his breath away. Without even trying, Cassie eclipsed every woman in the room with her quiet sexiness. As he watched, her smile melted, and her blue eyes narrowed. Following her gaze, Ryan realized Levi had almost reached her.
* * *
