Page 102 of Hard to Resist

He lets out a deep chuckle, the same one that I spend my nights thinking about, and pulls out the empty chair at the head of the table, next to me, and sits down.

“You really think Rafe is a brunch man?”

“He is so antisocial,” Bridget tsks, plopping back in her seat. “What about Weston? I thought he was in town. Or Sonny?”

Cullen shrugs. “No clue. I’m pretty sure Wes blocked my calls, and Sonny is definitely still asleep”

“You’re so useless sometimes.” She screws up her lips with a huff.

“I showed up, didn’t I?”

“It’s not like you came because of me.”

“You wound me, Bridge.”

“Cry me a river, Cullen.”

“You love me.”

“Unfortunately.”

I’m dumbstruck. All of my initial panic has dissipated as I lose myself to this interaction. I’ve seen Cullen with some of his friends briefly before, but most of the time we’ve spent together has been just with each other. I’ve only seen the different faces that he’s reserved for me.

I am absolutely reeling from Cullen and Bridget together. All my worries seem so unfounded in the light of them together. This playful side to him has a smile tugging at my lips. They act just like siblings.

“Snap a pic with me for Chlo. I want her to feel the FOMO.” Bridget holds up her shiny gold phone and angles it between them.

“You know she works on Sundays; did you really think she was going to close up shop just for you?”

He shifts to the side and raises his brow while Bridget makes a kissy face at the camera and takes the selfie.

“She hired employees for a reason.”

“She’s a control freak over that store, B.”

“Which is why she needs to let loose with some mimosas.”

“You’ve always been the worst influence.”

“I think you confused worst and best in your vocabulary.”

“I think not.” He reaches out and grabs one of the oysters, quickly slurping it down. “These are good.”

“They’re the Shigoku ones you like. Hannah and I already ate the Barron Points.”

Cullen glances at Hannah, who is giving him a feral smile.

“Good to see you again, old man.”

“Charming as ever, aren’t you?”

“That’s what all the men say.”

Then, finally, the moment hits.

“Verity.”

His gaze blazes against my skin, and I chug my mimosa out of desperation.

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