Page 52 of Playboy For Hire

“Julie called a few days ago to ask when I was free,” said Thea. “She specifically said they wanted me to attend. So they’re having a brunch that Saturday morning. You should be getting your invitation any day now. You and that delicious young man can be my escort.”

I blinked. “Who? Brandon?”

“No, sweetheart, Ryder. He really is a catch.” She turned to Marjie and Thea. “You should have seen him at Julius and Delia’s party. Handsome and suave and so polite.”

“Do you have any pictures?”

“I sure do.”

Auntie Thea pulled her iPhone out of her skirt pocket and swiped it on, tapping a few times until she found what she was looking for.

“Don’t they look just like a real couple?” she said as she handed the phone to Violet and Marjie.

“Oh, he’s a looker,” Marjie cooed.

“Nice and tall,” Violet said approvingly. She looked over at me. “Almost as tall as you. Almost as handsome, too.”

She reached out and squeezed my chin, and I jumped in surprise. Then she pinched my cheek, like I was five years old. I resisted the urge to rub at it when she let me go.

Marjie passed the phone to me, and I stared in surprise and pleasure at photos of Ryder and me dancing. We really did look like a couple. I remembered how scared I was when he dragged me onto the dancefloor, and how kind and encouraging he’d been, so much so that I almost forgot we were surrounded by other people. Ryder had a way of making you feel like you were the only person in the room.

“I had no idea you were taking these,” I said to Auntie Thea.

“You were too lost in each other’s eyes,” she said. “That boy is very good at his job.”

Too good, I thought to myself.

“I don’t know if Ryder will be free again that Saturday,” I said sadly. I suspected that even if he were, he’d come up with an excuse to say no.

“Ask him and see,” Thea said.

“Oh, I’m not sure—”

“Do it now,” Violet encouraged. “I want to watch.”

“You want to watch me text someone?” I looked at her in confusion.

“If you’re texting that tall drink of water, yes.”

“You won’t see anything but words.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Oh, do it, sweetheart,” Auntie Thea said. “This is the most action Violet has seen in decades.”

Violet glared at her over the table, then smiled sweetly at me. “Take pity on an old lady, honey.”

“A couple of old ladies,” Marjie chimed in.

I sighed. I had no desire to go to this brunch at all. Watching Brandon and Julie be happy when my own life felt so empty? It sounded like torture. But it might be worse to go with Ryder than by myself, because then I’d have to deal with Ryder’s awkwardness too.

On the other hand, I doubted he would say yes. Maybe it was best to ask him now and get it over with. At the very least, itwould give me something different to beat myself up over in the ensuing weeks.

Trying to keep my face pleasant, I pulled out my phone and pulled up my text thread with Ryder. Acutely aware that all three women were staring at the screen, scrutinizing every word, I began typing.

QUINN: Hey, random question, but is there any chance you’d be free to go to another family engagement two Saturdays from now? A brunch thing?

“Alright,” I said, sliding my phone back into my pocket. “It’ll probably be a while before he—”

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