Page 70 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
“Hey, Winnie. Happy New Year. I’m glad you came.” He offered me an elbow, and I slipped my hand through it to help me keep my balance on the slick pavement.
I glanced back to see Archer watching us, and I quickly looked away.
This was what he’d insisted I do tonight. If he didn’t like it, he’d need to figure it out all on his own.
Once we stepped inside, it was party time. Emilia had decorated the place like nothing I’d ever seen.
They had an enormous black-and-gold balloon arch that must have stood thirteen feet high. White roses with large gold bows were wrapped around the vases on every surface in their home. There were crowns and horns and all sorts of fun New Year’s things. Lulu and Henley rushed over to me when Brenner helped me slip my coat off.
“Look at you!” Lulu said as she wrapped her arms around me. “And you don’t look too shabby yourself, Brenner.”
“Thank you. But it’s hard to look good next to this one,” he chuckled as he flicked his thumb in my direction.
Henley hugged me, and Emilia, Eloise, and Wren hurried over to join us.
“And that’s my cue to go find a drink. Come find me in a little bit,” Brenner said as he winked at me.
“He’s definitely into you,” Emilia said.
“But she’s not feeling it,” Lulu said. “I know when a woman is into a man. I’ve got my PhD in reading the vibes between people.”
Henley laughed. “You do have a gift for reading a room.”
“So, is she vibing with anyone here?” Wren asked.
“Too soon to tell.”
“Well, Clark invited a few players from the team, and I’d love to introduce you.” Eloise wiggled her eyebrows at me, and I chuckled.
“Sure.”
We started walking toward the crowded great room, and Lulu put her arm around my shoulder and leaned in close to my ear. “They have no idea that you’ve already got your sights set on someone.”
“I do?” I wasn’t sure what she was referring to.
“Let’s just say, you’re writing a single-dad romance, but I think you might be living one, too.” The corners of her lips turned up.
“Nope. Because in romance books, the hero and the heroinebothhave to be interested in one another. And that is definitely not the case here. He practically shoved me out the door and told me to meet some people my own age.” I rolled my eyes.
“Welcome to the Chadwick men. They don’t ever take the easy path.” She gave me a little squeeze when the girls stopped to get us all flutes of champagne from one of the waiters they’d hired for the event. “But good things are always worth the wait, Winnie.”
I’d waited a long time for something good to come along.
But a part of me wondered if real romance would only ever live on the pages of my books for me.
Not everyone was destined for happily ever after.
nineteen
. . .
Archer
My mother hadof course convinced Melody to stay at her house, luring her with pies and crafts, and she tried to convince me to go to Bridger and Emilia’s party.
I couldn’t explain to anyone the panic I was feeling.
The fact that I’d gotten off to Winnie in the shower daily for the last week.
