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Vivian cocked an eyebrow at me in that way she always did when calling me on my bullshit. “I think the looks you send her way are more than lust.”
“Stop it,” I grumbled.
“I’m just saying you could have more with Sophie,” she insisted on continuing to irritate me. “Have you tried asking her out or talking about it to see if the feeling is mutual?”
Paris startled both of us when she popped up from nowhere and exclaimed, “Uncle Keaton, are you and Sophie dating?”
I rolled my eyes. This was how rumors got started in a small town. “No, Paris. Just friends.”
“Oh, you’ve been friend-zoned, like how my bestie Emmie just friend-zoned our bestie Xavier?”
“Paris, you’re going on eleven. You and your friends cannot have boyfriends yet.” Vivian had a handful to work with there. I left mom and daughter to figure it out.
I crossed the yard and caught Sophie’s eye again and nodded with a smoldering smile back at her. Was I doomed to face life alone? Everyone else had love figured out. While I was one Vegas weekend away from either winning something real… or screwing it all up for good.
“Let me give you the grand tour of the barn,” Richard offered to Brooks, and I followed the guys out, happy for a distraction.
9
THE PREVIEW
SOPHIE
Alone at lastwith my bestie, I brought Maisy a lemonade, and we sat under the shade on the porch together. I missed her terribly. Her surprise arrival landed like a sunbeam on fresh linen, instantly brightening my life after her trip to Buchanan Island with Brooks. Together, they radiated the kind offoreverenergy I’d longed for with a man someday.
The usual worry nagged at me. I grew up with a mother unable to sustain long-term situations, currently on marriage number three. Not exactly the healthiest example for how to do relationships. That, along with five years of bad dating, might mean I’m not meant for long-term relationships, either.
Music started up in the yard, and my attention diverted. Keaton danced with Paris to the tune ofRockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.I melted, watching the pair of them. The green polo shirt he wore showed off his biceps, perfectly flexing in the golden sun. With his niece giggling, his infectious laughter with her had me grinning, too, especially when he swung her high in the air and flipped her around.
They were having a great time. I recalled exactly how his hands felt on me when we danced that one night at Hops?—
Maisy cleared her throat and caught me ogling him. “You look good, Soph… so does a certain brewery-owner.”
I snapped out of my daze. “Oh, well, he’s a stud in a beard with his own business and partially famous. He catcheseverywoman’s eye everywhere he goes.” I turned the tables on her. “But look at you. Like you stepped out of a romance novel after finding your happily ever after.”
“It’s the island glow. I can’t recall ever feeling this happy before.” She tilted her head back into the cushion of the Adirondack chair. I envied her relaxed state, a far cry from the stress she’d been under when she was working at the Orion Mind Institute, and managing a major project as one of their newest neuroscientists. “So. Catch me up. Chelsea said you’ve been spending a lot of time with Keaton?”
My cheeks flushed instantly. “Yep, but it’s not what you think. I’m his marketing consultant.”
“Is marketing the only thing you lend your expertise to?” She teased and sipped her drink.
“I admit, we get a little flirty.” I let out a sigh. “It’s complicated.”
“Doesn’t have to be. Do you like him?”
“It’s hard not to.”
“I remember all the nights of you watching his TV show. Then, when you first met him, you were instantly smitten.” She nudged my side. “I can only imagine how you feel now.”
I laughed softly. “We’re good friends, that’s it. But… we will soon be fake dating in Vegas.”
Maisy’s brows flew up. “Wait. Back theeffup, girlfriend. Tell me everything right now.”
I spilled the entire story in a low voice, all about the branding deal, the Vegas wedding of his friends from the show, being his plus one for the weekend. By the time I got to that part, her jaw hit the floor.
“This is pure genius. You get him all to yourself for an entire weekend. A lot can happen in Vegas.” Her brows wiggled.
“Don’t get overly excited. This is just a work thing. I’m there to make sure he takes advantage of every opportunity to promote his brand.”