Page 24 of Most Likely to Deny Love

“Money and sin?” Maya repeated with a laugh. “Is that Bath & Body Works’ new fall collection?”

Everyone cracked up. Hannah raised her glass. “To Mia’s hot boss. May he continue to be professionally inappropriate in all the right ways.”

“I hate all of you,” I groaned, but couldn’t help smiling as I clinked my glass against theirs.

By the time we settled in to watch a movie, I was three bites of food and half a glass of wine away from unconsciousness. The last thing I remembered was Annie gently tucking the blanket more securely around my shoulders before I surrendered completely to sleep.

The sound of the front door opening woke me. I blinked in confusion, realizing the movie had ended and the room was dimly lit. Most of my friends were gathering their things, speaking in hushed voices.

“Hey there, sleepyhead,” Emily whispered. “You’ve been out for almost two hours.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled, trying to sit up.

“Shh, you needed it.” She patted my hand. “Harle’s just here to get Cassidy.”

“Oh.” I glanced toward the entrance way. Harle Robson stood there, looking sinfully gorgeous with his dirty-blond hair tied in a knot and his beard neatly trimmed. When Hannah had told us Cassidy’s new guy looked like a Viking god, we’d thought she was exaggerating. She wasn’t.

“Evening, ladies.”

Every single woman in the room gazed at him with starry eyed adoration. And no wonder. He’d taken our beautiful,broken fearful friend and given her so much love that she’d had no choice but to love him right back.

Harle’s gaze swept the room, landing on me bundled under my blanket. Concern immediately crossed his features. “You feeling poorly?”

“Just tired,” I assured him. “Long week.”

He nodded, understanding in his deep blue eyes. “Nothing a good night’s sleep won’t fix, I reckon.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.”

Cassidy came through from the kitchen and the minute Harle’s eyes landed on her, his whole face softened with a tenderness that made my chest ache. “Ready to go, darlin’?”

Cassidy’s composed demeanor melted as she crossed to him, slipping into his arms and brushing a light kiss against his lips. “Sure thing.”

I watched as he helped her into her coat. The way he looked at her, like she was the most precious thing in his world, made something twist inside me.

As the door closed behind them, Poppy darted to the window. “Just gotta check if they’re doing their thing?”

“The whole ‘I can’t get in my truck without kissing you senseless first’ routine?” Maya asked knowingly.

Poppy squealed softly. “They are! God, he’s wrapped around her like a blanket.”

“Remember how skittish she used to be about PDA?” Hannah joined her at the window. “Now look at her.”

“We love that for her,” Samara sighed, gathering empty plates.

“We sure do,” I agreed.

The rest of the girls stayed a little longer, helping Emily tidy up as I remained on the couch under strict instructions not to move. I slumped back against the cushions, that same achereturning to my chest. I couldn’t imagine anyone looking at me the way Harle looked at Cassidy.

Once the girls had all said quiet good nights, Emily appeared beside me. “How’re you doing?”

“Good. Just thinking.”

“About a certain tall, broody executive?” she teased, though her eyes were kind.

I pulled the blanket back over my legs. “No,” I lied. “Just thinking about how nice it is to have friends who let you pass out during girls’ night without making fun of you.”

“Oh, we’ll definitely make fun of you,” Emily assured me with a grin. “Just not tonight.”

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