Page 109 of Brazen Obsession

I look at the women around me nodding and release my earlier stress. These women are true friends. They don’t have an agenda to stay my friend or to hurt me or to steal anything from me. We just want to build a future together.

Hope

It’s getting late when Juliette leaves with Kayla and Nan. We exchanged phone numbers after realizing we liked the same books. It makes me think about my life a year ago.

The bitchy women at the company turned their noses up at me.

I didn’t dress like them or want to pick apart other women with them. Most likely I was the one they were picking apart. But then Madison came to work at Morrigan. She’s gorgeous but so fucking nice.

Sara, Madison, and I finish our drinks.

Sara touches the back of my hand.

“If you want, I can ask Drew about Owen, or we can get a reservation at his restaurant. That way you can see if you even want me to ask about him.” Sara’s face is open and genuine.

“Maybe we can do the reservation.” I smile, not hopeful about making a connection. “Especially if the food is as good as you say it is.”

Sara’s gaze glazes over. “So good.”

“We could make a girls’ night of it.” Madison glances at her phone. “If I’m right, my man should be walking through those doors to collect me in five, four, three...”

We all turn to look at the doors as Cooper comes in. He zeros in on Madison and his smile is everything I don’t dare to hope for. Dreams are one thing, but guys like Cooper Graham and Dante Stone are not the guys who tend to go for a girl like me.

When Cooper walks across the room, it’s like the whole bar pays attention to him. He reaches Madison and slides his hand over her shoulder.

“Time to go, sweetheart.”

Madison smiles and grabs her purse off the bar. She glances at Sara. “We’ll talk this week.”

Sara nods.

Before Madison can turn to me⁠—

“Coop!” A booming voice captures everyone’s attention.

Heath Duncan joins them and claps Coop on the back. “I thought that was your woman.”

Coop gives Heath a smug smile. “You’ll have to excuse us. We’re late for a meeting.”

Madison’s face flushes but she turns to hug me and then Sara before she heads out with Coop.

Heath turns to us. “Sara and Hope, right?”

His blue eyes twinkle when they meet mine.

Dante touches Sara’s shoulder. “You ready, pip?”

Heath holds out his hand to Dante. “It’s been a pleasure talking to you.”

They shake.

“I’ll call you Monday to set up that meeting.” Dante nods as Sara moves to his side. She stops and gives me a hug.

“I’ll make us some dinner reservations,” she says against my ear. When she pulls back, she searches my eyes. “You want a ride home or for us to walk you out?”

I shake my head and glance at Jason. “No, I want to talk to my brother and I might help him close things up.”

Sara smiles. “Talk soon.”