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He tried to explain. “I don’t know how to explain it. Everything seems so easy with you.”
“And sometimes it doesn’t,” she finished his thought.
“Yes.” He wanted to be honest, so they could figure this out together.
“I feel the same way. We talked a little about that earlier today. It’s a conversation we’ll continue.” She put her free hand on his chest and smoothed her fingers down the tie she’d bought him to match her dress. He loved that she’d thought of it, that she wanted that connection visual for all to see. “But tonight, can we just be everything we want to be to each other and enjoy ourselves?”
She’d never had this. A man with her for one of these things, who wanted to be with her because he cared about her. She’d been used as a representative of Sutherland Industries and a pawn in her mother’s matchmaking plots that had ulterior motives all over them.
He could be everything she ever wanted and more. “Let’s get a drink and mingle.”
Summer’s smile brightened. “Excellent idea.”
Just as they stepped away, Brooke caught them. “Where are you two going?”
“The bar.” Cody didn’t mind having his sister around most of the time, but right now, he wanted to be with only one woman.
“You made it,” Summer suddenly said, looking past Brooke to Cody’s buddy. “Dr. Underwood, I’m so happy to see you again.”
“Under better circumstances this time.” David gave Summer a hug. “Thanks for the invitation.”
Summer nodded. “My pleasure.”
Cody looked from Summer to his best friend. “How did this happen?”
David took the lead. “Summer promised a case of top-shelf scotch to thank me for treating her at the hospital for her migraine.”
“I sent you a bottle,” Cody reminded him.
“I got that, too. But her thank-you came with an invitation for tonight’s event.”
Summer looked up at Cody. “You said you two don’t get together enough. I thought this would be a great opportunity to be with friends.”
David reached for Brooke’s hand, leaned in, and kissed her on the cheek. “It’s good to see you. You look absolutely stunning tonight. Then again, you’re always gorgeous.”
If Cody wasn’t mistaken, his sister hadn’t stopped staring at David since the moment he walked in. And she didn’t let his hand go until she noticed Cody staring at her.
David took it in stride. “So, is it the four of us?”
Cody shook his head, noting the immediate disappointment in his friend’s eyes. “Nate, Miranda, and the girls are here, too.”
David perked up. “Oh. Nice.” He turned to Brooke. “Can I get you a drink?”
Brooke blushed. “Um, uh, we were all just going to do that.”
“Fantastic. You can fill me in on how Alex is doing, what the little guy is into now, everything.”
Brooke hesitated for a second. “It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”
“Yes. Too long.” David held Brooke’s gaze for a long moment.
Summer squeezed Cody’s hand and tugged to get him moving.
He hoped his sister and David followed along.
Summer leaned into him. “I think he’s been pining after your sister for a long time.”
“What even made you think he’d want to come and see her tonight?”
