“The Windsor Library and Museum?” My interest has peaked. “Is that where you were tonight?”

Hayden’s eyes lift from his plate to meet mine. He tilts his head, regarding me with curiosity as if he can’t believe I actually spoke to him, and Aleck’s hand slides over my thigh in comfort. I hesitate to continue talking to fill the uncomfortable silence when Hayden opens his mouth to speak.

“Yes. Stuffy old place, isn’t it?”

“Oh, no. I absolutely love the Lib. The smell from all the old pages and cedar bookshelves…” I shudder just thinking about it. “Well, I love it there. I used to go there often with my mom. I can’t imagine what it would be like attending a gala there. I’m sure it was just beautiful.”

Aleck squeezes my thigh gently. “I wish I had known that. I would have taken you.”

“Maybe one day.” I smile, hoping the implication of any kind of future for us isn’t too presumptuous. Honestly, it just came out.

“Maybe one day,” he parrots, studying my face with precision. A moment passes between us before he speaks again, addressing the table. “She’s a publisher’s reader for Black Ink Publishing. When she’s not aiming her arsenal at me, she’s got her face buried in a book.”

I laugh, nudging his arm with my elbow. “Nine times out of ten, you deserve said arsenal.”

“You two are just adorable.” Midge smiles warmly. “So you read all kinds of books then?”

“Um, I mostly read romance. At first I read all fiction genres, but we receive so many romance submissions, I dedicate most of my time reading those.”

“Romance… I’ve read a few of those in my day.” Midge crinkles her nose and bobs her shoulders.

“Now, remind me,” Hayden’s devilish tone falls across my skin like needles. He puts a dinner roll on his plate, passing the basket to Richard. “I remember your name being something peculiar like Whisper… Or Whimper…”

I grin, showing teeth to display my unaffectedness. Bullies always go for my name first; it’s the easiest of all my targets.

“My name is Winter. Winter Sommers and before you ask, my parents decided on it because my mother loved the dueling qualities of both seasons.”

I giggle, remembering what she told me the first time I was upset about a classmate making fun of my name. “She always told me she knew, even as I kicked from inside her belly, I wouldn’t be boring, and that there is nothing worse than offering the world nothing interesting.”

Midge clutches her necklace, looking at me like she wants to hug me. And Hayden’s smirk expands, mirroring my unaffected grin.

“Cute,” he says, turning his attention to Aleck. “Well, when mom and dad said you’d be bringing your girlfriend to dinner, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to meet her. Especially since I had just spoken with you and you said—”

“I know what I said,” Aleck’s timbre resounds across the table, his face calm and resolute. “I lied.”