Page 75 of Book Club Confidential

“Thank you. Enjoying the party?” Kate asked, slipping seamlessly out of her trance and back to her contagiously charming self.

“I am now.”

Hallie rolled her eyes. Not that Kate or Sam noticed. Tessa’s smile widened.

The silent staring continued a moment longer before Kate wet her lips and leaned a little in his direction. “How’s Vera doing?”

Sam blinked, spell broken. His gaze abandoned Kate to dart around the crowded space. “You met my sister?”

Kate’s closed-lip smile opened. “Your sister?”

“Ohhh,” Hallie and Tessa said in near unison.

Sam looked from face to face around the trio. “What am I missing?”

Kate folded her hands on the tabletop. “You asked me to sign a napkin to her the last time we met.”

He blushed, then scrubbed a palm against his jawline. “Right.” He chuckled. “Do I lose points if I admit to only saying that because I wanted to sound less like a stalker and more like a good brother?”

Hallie raised a finger in protest. “We don’t throw the S word around at an influencer party.”

Sam laughed, then frowned, considering. “Shit. Sorry. I didn’t mean that either.”

“You’re doing great,” Hallie deadpanned. “Really hoping that soda is good.”

He shot her an amused smile. “Me too. I could use the win.”

“So you’re the fan?” Tessa asked. “You recognized her and asked for the autograph.”

He worked his jaw, cheeks tinged pink once more. Or perhaps it was the reflection of LED lighting. “I came across your account while looking for a birthday gift for my mother about two years ago,” he said. “I searched for Birmingham gifts or something like that. We’re from the other one of those, in England. You’re from Alabama?”

“My grandparents on my daddy’s side. I grew up in Georgia.”

He nodded. “Mother loved the silk scarf you wore in the post. I paired it with a copy of her favorite book and coordinated a bouquet from her local florist with the delivery. I dare say I gained a point or two with her from that.”

“Glad I could help,” Kate said.

Tessa gave Sam a closer look. “Are you close with your mother?”

He smiled. “I am. Well, as close as I can be from the States,” he amended. “We make a point of visiting regularly.”

“Do you miss your home?” Kate asked.

Grant pressed into Tessa’s mind as she watched Kate and Sam get to know one another. Not that Tessa thought of Grant that way. He was a client, after all— She winced. No, he wasn’t her client any longer. Sadly, that truth didn’t feel like a relief. It felt like a knife wound.

She needed to reach out to him, and all the shop owners she represented, as soon as possible. They needed to hear the news from her, and they deserved an explanation. Too bad she had no idea how to communicate what had happened. Xavier had yelled. She’d quit. She didn’t want to repeat any of that to anyone else. Ever. And it wasn’t appropriate to speak negatively about her former workplace. She wouldn’t do that. So what would she say?

“Hey.” Hallie shoved Tessa’s hand, where it rested on the table. “You look like someone kicked your puppy.”

She forced a tight smile. “I’m fine.” She cleared her throat and thanked the stars above for a moment of reprieve when a member of the staff paused to offer fizzy pastel-colored drinks to the table.

Kate tossed a mile of blond waves over one shoulder and smiled demurely. “Are you working tonight?” she asked.

It was a good question. He wasn’t wearing his bartending attire. No suspender or vest.

Sam chuckled. “I’m not sure how to answer. Vera is responsible for all this. Not the planning or execution, but us being the chosen venue.”

Kate furrowed her perfectly sculpted brows. “How so?”