Every Little Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 2)

Vivien, I knew, was the hotel’s main events manager and Jess’s wedding coordinator.

“I thought you employed only the best,” I said, mostly to make him look at me.

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nbsp; And then I wondered why I wanted that, because his gray eyes seared into me with carnal knowledge. I’ve seen you naked, his gaze said.

Well you did want to be able to read his mind. Be careful what you wish for.

I ignored the shiver that whispered down my spine.

“Miss Hartwell.”

Back to Miss Hartwell, are we? Great. Well, I can play that game, too.

Even though I could feel it happening, and I disliked myself for it, I turned into a sullen teenager on him. “I’m surprised you came back. We all thought you’d left. Permanently.”

“Wishful thinking, Miss Hartwell?”

“I don’t care one way or the other, Tremaine.”

“Too busy with the new boyfriend.”

“What?”

“You mean Rex?” Jess said.

Vaughn raised an eyebrow. “His name is Rex? As in T. rex?”

Cooper coughed in an effort to swallow his laughter and I shot him a dirty look before swinging it toward Vaughn. “Rex like the Hollywood actor Rex Harrison. And he’s not my boyfriend.”

“Yet,” Jess added. “He told her last night that he wants to be. He intends on being very persistent.”

“Did we switch personalities or something? Usually, I’m the one that doesn’t know when to shut up.”

“Oh, so you’re aware of that flaw.” The jibe came from Vaughn. Surprise, surprise.

“Oh, really? You want to go down that path? Because we’d be here all day listing your flaws.”

“Flaws? What flaws? I’m perfect.”

“Perfect asshole, you mean.”

He looked at Cooper and Jess. “All I heard was I have a perfect ass.”

My friends tried to hide their smiles and failed. So he was being cute and funny. I could fight my smile.

“You just brought me here to torture me, didn’t you?” I said to Jess as Vaughn and Cooper walked ahead of us.

“You didn’t have to come.”

“I know. I just . . . had to see something for myself.”

“What? That all the hostility between you is masking an epic love?”

I shot her a look. “No.”

“You told Rex you couldn’t date him because you still had feelings for Vaughn. I’m just helping you out. I mean, you have to be around the guy to work out what you want.”