Chapter 5

I swear, I’ve never sat through a more awkward dinner in my whole life. The entire time Nash was watching Harley and me like a hawk. He was pretending not to, quickly turning his attention to Anna or the dinner plate in front of him if I caught his penetrating gaze, but it was so obvious. And I couldn’t help but take that as a good sign. He was clearly curious and confused, but could he actually be jealous?

“We need to talk,” Harley whispers from the corner of his mouth.

“I know,” I mutter back with a tight-lipped smile, avoiding his eyes and focusing intently on my pasta Alfredo.

“What the hell is this all about, Murph?” he hisses so low I’m sure I’m the only one who can hear him.

I look at him, noticing his jaw clenched even tighter despite his smile that looks so obviously forced, the way he’s watching me, waiting for some kind of explanation that I just don’t have. And, at that moment, I can see from the corner of my eye Nash is still watching us with piqued interest he’s so clearly trying to conceal.

I find myself softening as I turn to Harley, cocking my head to the side with a small smile. “We can talk.” I stare directly into his green eyes, which are so dark they’re almost olive, and, for Nash’s benefit only, I reach my hand up, tenderly cupping his cheek as I whisper, “Later. I promise.”

Harley’s eyes widen, and I can see him inhale a sharp breath at my unexpected touch. I have no doubt he wants to kill me for putting him in such a predicament. I can almost feel his skin crawl beneath my fingertips, and I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at just how messed-up this entire situation is.

“Good evening, everyone.”

I turn away from Harley to see Anna standing from her chair, her beautiful, effervescent smile lighting up her face as she looks around at everyone seated at the table.

“Thank you all so much for coming to our makeshift engagement dinner.” She glances down at Nash, smiling that same adoring smile before continuing. “Everything happened so fast. One minute we were dating, the next Nash was on one knee in front of me, asking me to be his wife. So, since everything has been so rushed, we thought we’d get everyone together to start the beginning of our wedding week and celebrate our engagement,” she squeals, excitedly clapping her hands together as the rest of the party surrounding the table cheers.

I hide my scowl as best as I can, taking a few unladylike gulps of wine from my glass.

“I’ve asked my maid of honor, Beth—” Anna pauses, smiling at a just as blonde, just as beautiful woman sitting at the opposite end of the table “—and Nash’s best man, Harley—” she stops once more to acknowledge Harley, before continuing “—to say a few words tonight. To introduce themselves and get the party started. So, Harley?” She nods across the table to him. “If you’d like to say something, that would be wonderful.”