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I nodded to the guy, then gently guided Aspen away and toward one of the dessert tables across the room.
“Making friends?” I asked after she’d loaded up her plate with chocolate-covered strawberries, an array of delicate cookies dipped in caramel, and a few truffles.
“Yeah,” she said as we settled into a little free space near the tables. “Am I not supposed to?” she asked, her eyes flickering over me. She picked up a strawberry and wrapped her lips around the tip before sinking her teeth into it.
Jesus, I don't know if I'd ever noticed how full and luscious her lips were until I watched her do that. And it made heat streak through my blood, every instinct roaring to slowly back her into the corner and see just how much she tasted like strawberries.
I took a deep breath, cooling off the instinct and reminding myself that she was not a date.
She was an investment.
“Of course, you can make friends,” I said, doing my best to school my features in a not-bothered-at-all look. “He just looked a little more interested in you than that.”
“You're not jealous, are you?” she teased, her eyes lighting up. “We were just talking. He wasn't interested?—”
“Maybe from your perspective,” I said. “But I could read the vibes pretty well.”
She chuckled softly before taking another bite. “One of the first things he asked was who I’d come with, and I immediately told him it was you. I promise, there was nothing to be jealous over.”
“I wasn't jealous,” I said a little too quickly. “Besides, I'd have nothing to be jealous over, because this isn't real,” I said the words quick and quietly so only she could hear. But for some reason, I immediately regretted it. It could’ve been because of the slight drop in Aspen’s shoulders or the flicker of hurt in her eyes.
But that couldn't be right, could it?
She knew this wasn't real, and I knew this wasn't real, so why did it feel like we were having arealdisagreement?
“You're right,” she said sampling one of those truffles. “I just wanted you to know that we were just talking. And I didn't think a conversation with a random,friendlystranger would make any of your friends think poorly of me.”
“They don't,” I said trying to sound reassuring. “I just... It's me. I'm still trying to figure out how to behave. I've never done this before.”
Aspen’s eyes softened, and she nodded. “You keep saying that like you need to explain it to me. I assure you, you don't. I understand.”
Silence settled between us, one that wasn't exactly comfortable, and I felt completely out of my element.
For some reason, I felt like I should apologize, but I didn't know what for.
“They're stunning,” Aspen said, her eyes locked across the room where a commotion had started.
Weston and Brynn had just made their grand entrance, and they truly did look blissfully happy.
“They really are,” I agreed with her, smiling at my friends as they took the dance floor, kicking off the first official dance of the reception. “You'll love Brynn, I said. “She’s great. And Daisy and Alex, too. I think you'll get along with all of them.”
“Will we be spending a lot of time together during the next three months?” Aspen asked.
“We tend to go most of the same events together, and every month we have our standard poker game. I imagine you'll be seeing a lot of each other, and because they're all so incredibly sharp, you'll have to be extra careful and convincing around them. My boys might be easy to fool, but they'll be the ones to watch out for.”
Aspen laughed, finishing the desserts on her plate and thanking the server who came over to take it out of her hands. “Are you doubting my abilities in this mission? I’m a girl, after all. I think I can handle girl bonding time.”
“I would never doubt you,” I said. “I've seen your determination, and if you put in even one percent of that into our little arrangement, it'll already be going above and beyond.”
Something like pride shone in her eyes, and she grinned up at me.
Couples started flocking to the dance floor, surrounding the bride and groom as they moved to the music.
I offered my hand and looked down at her. “Shall we, darling?”
She laughed again, but took my hand. “Absolutely, sugar.”
CHAPTER 6
