“Including you?” Kayla sent her a knowing smile and held up a hand when Liv started to protest. “Good thing I was talking about the eldest-of-them-all brother.”
“Cameron? Have you two met?”
“Briefly.” Kayla grinned as if reliving the memory. “He seemed to take an instant dislike of me.”
“Hello, ladies,” Phin said, arriving at Kayla’s side and giving them both a megawatt smile. “Sorry, Liv. Do you mind if I borrow Kayla?”
“Not at all,” she said with great meaning.
Kayla laughed, hooking her arm around her escort’s. “I believe I’ve worn out my welcome, Phin. Do you have a new victim for me?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
“Lead away.” Kayla’s gaze caught Liv’s. “Tenacity is just another word for passion.” The power duo sauntered away.
Liv barely had time to digest the lobbyist’s cryptic remark before she heard her sister’s voice calling to her.
Turning, she took in Callie’s shimmering black, knee-length bodycon dress with a deep V-neck and matching black stilettos. Her little sister looked stunning. Not surprising though. Caledonia Thornton, like Kayla Krowne, would look terrific in a potato sack cinched up at the neck.
What surprised Liv was the handsome, brown-haired man at her side. Liv smiled a greeting and bussed her sister’s cheek.
Callie linked her arm with Liv’s and leaned into her, as she’d done a thousand times before—right before she stirred up trouble. “Liv, this is Mason.”
Liv moved to shake his hand, but Callie’s next words stopped her cold.
“Your date.”
“Pardon.”
“Your date.” Callie gave her a conspirator’s smile. “I told you I’d take care of you.”
Panic whirled in her stomach, and her gaze instinctively sought Zeke. He still held court with her mother and aunt. As if her mortification wafted across the spacious room and found refuge in his nose, Zeke’s head lifted, following the scent, until his dark gaze locked on her, then Mason.
A large, powerful hand wrapped around Liv’s, wrenching her attention back to Callie’s latest devilry.
“Nice to meet you, Liv,” Mason said.
A month ago, Mason’s smiling green eyes, roguish mouth, and broad shoulders would have kindled a warm, anticipatory flutter low in her stomach. Tonight, his presence made her guts cramp.
Extracting her hand, she smiled. “I believe there’s been a misunderstanding. I already have a date.”
“You do not.”Callie searched the room for likely suspects.
“I can find male companionship on my own, dear sister.”
“Where is he?”
“Mother is currently extracting his ancestry and personal history, decade by decade.”
Callie craned her neck. “Oh, my.” Then her eyes widened. “That’s him. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Funny, but I believe that’s my line.”
In a huff, Callie moved to Mason’s side and linked her arm with his. “Looks like you’re stuck with me tonight, handsome.”
Mason studied Liv for a heartbeat longer before covering Callie’s hand with his. “I could think of worse fates.”
Something over Liv’s shoulder caught her sister’s attention before she announced, “Let’s find the Swedish meatballs.” She yanked her escort in the opposite direction.