AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The event starts in about ten minutes and my friends are standing at the buffet on the side of the room, helping themselves to the appetizers.
Joining them, my mouth waters at the array of foods I find.
“I’m so glad you guys are here,” I tell my girls.
“I’m so excited.” Hazel beams as she loads a couple of shrimp toast onto her plate next to the several kung pow calamari. Personally, the beautifully arranged charcuterie type food is where I’d been filling my plate up from. But I’m not here to enjoy the tasty farm-to-table amazingness that is expected from LACE. No, I’m on the clock.
But the dish of roasted brussel sprouts is dangerously close to making me change my mind.
“I almost didn’t come,” Stella mutters.
“I know, hence my pleasant surprise that you are here,” I tell her, giving in and plucking a sprout off her plate and popping it in my mouth.
Stella shakes her head. “I’m only here because I was under duress.”
I snort.
She continues, “Forced against my will.”
Hazel rolls her eyes.
“You’re here because you need to get laid,” Hazel whispers.
I bark out a laugh.
“Shush you. If the organizer of this shindig found out that’s why I was here, she’d have my head.” Stella elbows Hazel and Hazel snags a glass of white wine as they move past to the small beverage table. Stella grabs one of the long necks available and I nod my appreciation to the server who refills my glass of water from the pitchers on the table.
“Oh, stop it. I’m not some crusty ol’ nun. I know people hook up after these events. But the point is, these are quality singles. I don’t open up this event to just anyone.”
“Speaking of just anyone, wasn’t expecting that tall drink of water to be here.” Hazel jerks her head past my shoulder, her grin sly and her eyes twinkling with mischief.
Turning to look, I spot Cole walking my way. My mouth pops open for a second before realizing I’m staring at the man who oozes sex. And suddenly, I’m having flashbacks from last week when we couldn’t keep our hands and mouths off each other.
Heat laps down low and a blush creeps over my face as I force the memories of the best sex I’ve had in years out of my mind. It had been far too long since I pulled an all-nighter, but it was worth it with Cole.
“What an interesting turn of events,” Stella says, her eyes glittering with surprise as I try to steady my rapidly beating heart. She knows me too well.
“I don’t know why he’s here,” I mumble.
“Looks like we are going to find out.” Hazel giggles. Just as Cole joins our little semicircle.
“Ladies. Lays.” He nods at my friends, but his heated gaze is all for me. “You look stunning tonight.” He leans down and kisses my cheek. Oh, gosh. This is new and wholly inappropriate, but I lean into him, accepting his greeting.
“Cole. What are you doing here?”
“Here looking for a hookup too?” Stella asks. My eyes go wide as I whip my head back toward her, giving her a “are you shitting me” look.
Hazel snorts but elbows Stella for me.
Cole chuckles, sticking his hands in his dark designer jeans. “No, though, if I were in need of that, I would know exactly who I’d be taking home.” His eyes dart to me. I can feel his smoldering gaze on me, but I refuse to lock eyes with him.
I hear Hazel mumble an “oh, snap.” While Stella chews on a calamari and assesses him.
“You weren’t on the registration,” I tell him.
“No, I’m not here for the event. I was on my way out and decided to come down here and see how it all turned out.” He looks out around the room, a grin on his face. “Turned out pretty nice.”
“It did. LACE is really a wonderful addition to our partner list.” I take in the space once more, happy with the attendance. With only a couple minutes to the event start, most of the women are gathered on one side of the room and the men on the other.
