Page 37 of Somehow You Knew

Her lips spread into a soft smile. “Yeah. You’re right.” As her shoulders drop, she tilts her head to the side. “Besides, it’s not like my brothers haven’t gotten themselves into some interesting situations over the years.”

“Oh, do I hear potential blackmail?” I cup my hand around my ear, making her laugh again.

“Plenty of it, if necessary.”

Laughing, I open my door and round the car to catch Hazel’s door before she can step out.

She looks up at me, surprised. “You don’t need to do that.”

“Look, I may not be looking for romance here, but I’m still a gentleman when it counts.” I hold out my hand, and Hazel hesitates for half a second before sliding hers into mine. She climbs out of the car, and I shut her door behind her before leading her toward the side of thehouse, where sounds of the party draw us out of our bubble and into the chaos.

I don’t miss the way Hazel squeezes my hand as soon as the crowd comes into view.

“Oh my God, it’s true!” a short brunette shouts from the front yard, racing over to us in the sand. “Thereisa man, and you actually brought him!”

Hazel studies the woman with narrowed eyes. “Did you think I was lying?”

The woman’s eyes bounce back and forth between Hazel and me. “No, but…”

“But what?”

Before she can respond, Penn comes over and wraps his arms around the woman. I realize this must be his wife. Astrid, I think it was.

The woman leans in toward Hazel. “Well, I was a little bummed when Penn told me you already married the guy. I thought for sure we’d at least have a little girls’ night to send you off into wedded bliss.”

I can feel Hazel tense up again, so I reach out to shake her sister-in-law’s hand. “Hi, I’m Gage.”

“Astrid.”Good, I was right. She shakes my hand before Penn pulls her back into his arms. “Penn told me he met you yesterday,” she adds.

I slide my gaze over to Penn. “That he did. How’s it going?” I reach out to shake his hand, and he reciprocates, but there’s scrutiny in his gaze.

“It’s going. Surprised you two are late. Hazel is never late to anything.”

“Well, forgive us for not wanting to rush into the inevitable interrogation.” She places a hand on my shoulder, peering up at me. “Come on. Let’s go get something to drink.”

“It was nice to meet you,” I say to Astrid as Hazel leads me toward the porch like her pants are on fire. “Hey, slow down there, Spitfire.”

“I need alcohol if I’m going to get through this.”

As we enter the house, Catherine sees us and her face lights up. She immediately makes her way over, holding a little boy I can only assume is the guest of honor.

“Well, hello there!”

“Hi, Mom,” Hazel says, kissing her mom on her cheek and then turning her attention to the child, her whole demeanor softening. “And how is the birthday boy doing today?”

The baby lets out a string of babbles, completely unintelligible, but Hazel nods like she understands every word. “Is that right?”

Catherine kisses the boy’s cheek. “He’s actually doing quite well, considering it’s past his nap time.”

Hazel looks around the room. “Where’s Dallas and…” She stops mid-sentence when her eyes land on a man headed our way. “Well, speak of the devil.”

A tall, rugged-looking guy, who I assume must be Hazel’s oldest brother, moves over to us with a beautiful blonde woman at his side, her hand tucked in his.

“Hello there, Hazelnut.” As quick as lightning, his gaze slides over to me. “And you must be her fiancé.”

“Uh, husband, actually,” Hazel mutters, barely audible.

Dallas’s eyes go wide. “I’m sorry, what?”