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I let my gaze wander along the length of Monty and all of that pink velvet. “And aren’t you a sight.”

He grabs his fresh drink from the bartender, curling his arm through Cliff’s. “Have you met my date?”

“Not properly.” I thrust my hand in Cliff’s direction. “Spencer Donato. Nice to meet you.”

“Cliff Von Worth.” He shakes my hand, Monty smirking throughout the entire interaction. “Our last run-in wasn’t…pleasant.”

“Do tell,” Monty encourages.

“I thought he was with Sylvie.” I release Cliff’s hand, embarrassed at admitting my assumption.

“That’s hilarious,” Monty deadpans. “Sylvie isn’t his type.”

“I know that now. Are you two an item?” I send them each a questioning look.

“Sort of,” Monty says at the same time that Cliff answers, “Yes.”

We chat for a few more minutes, the tension ratcheting between them until I excuse myself and allow them some privacy to have a lovers’ spat.

The drama never stops. Glad I’m not involved in it this time.

I stop and talk to Crew Lancaster and his fiancée Wren. He’s a few years younger than us, and one of the more decent Lancasters out there. His fiancée is beautiful. Dark hair and green eyes, she can’t stop sending adoring glances in Crew’s direction.

“My two favorites!” Sylvie exclaims, appearing by my side before she pulls them each into a hug. “Where’s your sister?”

“Out of the country with her husband,” Crew answers, slinging his arm around Wren’s shoulder. She too, is wearing a pretty pink dress, though hers isn’t a floral print. It’s a pink and white check with a deep V neckline.

“You know my boyfriend?” Sylvie leans against me, her smile so bright it’s almost blinding. “I had no idea you two were acquainted.”

“Boyfriend, huh?” Crew’s brows shoot up. “Good to see you so happy, Sylvie.”

“Thank you,” she says her voice turning shy. “For once, right?”

Augustus Lancaster chooses that moment to arrive and it’s like his presence sucks all of the oxygen out of the air, drawing all of the attention toward him. Not necessarily a bad thing, as the man definitely knows how to command a room. He expects all eyes on him at all times.

Soon, there’s a crowd surrounding him, Sylvie standing right at his side, her gaze admiring as he tells a tall tale. Carolina is on his other side, seemingly bored. I stand off to the side with Whit and Crew, the three of us watching the women flutter around Augustus, a sneer on both Whit and Crew’s faces.

“Annoyed?” I ask my best friend.

Whit lets forth an aggravated sigh. “He always does this. He revels in female attention.”

“Every Lancaster seems to,” Crew adds.

“True,” Whit agrees. “Even my sisters are into it. Well, Carolina looks like she wants to take a nap.”

“I only like one female in particular,” Crew says, his gaze zeroing in on Wren, his lips parting.

Do I look like that when I’m staring at Sylvie? Like a love-starved fool?

God, I hope not.

I probably do though. I feel that way when I catch myself staring at her for too long. Like she’s the only thing that matters to me—and she is. She’s a distraction, one I didn’t think was worth the heartache at one point, but now I can admit…

I don’t know how I’ll live without her if she ever chooses to leave me. Because trust that I’m going nowhere. That woman is a part of me, and I can’t give up on her. Not now. Not ever.

After Augustus has regaled everyone with one entertaining story after another, it’s time to eat. We all settle in at the extra-long table, me sitting to the right of Sylvie, Whit directly across from me. The lunch is delicious and the alcohol is flowing. My gaze keeps finding Sylvie, entranced by how happy she seems as she laughs about something with Carolina. My girl is completely in her element, laughing and talking nonstop.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look so…alive. So beautiful and sparkling and effervescent. She was close to this when I went after her in California. When she was alone and finding herself. Coming into herself.


Tags: Monica Murphy Romance