Page 143 of Falling for the Enemy

“Everything all right in the romance department, honey?”

Each question shaved another sliver off her composure. She smiled through the barrage, parrying with a practiced lightness that left her lightheaded and dizzy.

She stole a glance at the clock above the bar. Quarter to two. Still needing to change into her party outfit, she tried to escape to the restroom, but the guests kept flooding in.

“Excuse me.” She snatched up her garment bag from behind the hostess station and fled into the sanctuary of the ladies’ room.

The hush landed like a cool cloth pressed to her fevered skin. She sagged over the marble sink, giving her reflection a Kubrick stare in the mirror. “You can do this.”

She normally wasn’t this jittery. Typically, she showed up like a wrecking ball and took charge.

Blowing out a breath, she held her stare in the mirror, forbidding herself to spiral after making it this far.

“Everything worked out, and you’re not going to freak out over a few extra guests. Who cares what they say? You can pull this off without him.” With a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders. “This is why you’re better off depending only on yourself.”

She rooted through her cosmetic bag and dug out a brush. Within five minutes, her makeup was freshened, and a mask of composure was in place.

As she tossed her lipstick back into the bag, she paused. Where had she left her phone? Jocelyn tried to remember where she plugged it in.

Quickly changing into her dress, she swapped out her sneakers for heels. Inspecting her reflection one last time, she gave a nod of approval. “Jocelyn Collins, your tits may be sweating, but you are a badass.”

Then out the door she went.

The crowd had doubled, and the slow din of conversation she’d escaped minutes ago had climbed to a soft roar. The dining room swelled with the warm, chattering hum of friends, here to support Wren and Greyson’s family. This was why she loved her town. No matter what, they were always there when it mattered.

Unlike some people.

Jocelyn waded through what turned into a town affair, greeting guests, directing people to tables, all while laughing precisely on cue. Sometime just before the guests of honor were set to arrive, her disappointment shifted again to anger.

How could he miss this?

Every few minutes, the same realization that he wasn’t here brought the same slap of disappointment. Then came the paranoia.

Any one of these women could have been Lady Lovewatch. A sense that others were quietly judging her sent a bowling ball rolling in her stomach. The gossip columnist dwelled somewhere in this very room. She could feel it. Camouflaged behind a friendly mask, taking notes, passing judgment, preparing to wield her pen like a sword come Monday.

She should start bracing now for the headlines.

Left High and Dry at the Shower…

Love On The Rocks…

The One That Got Away…

Something’s Fishy In Hideaway Bay…

From Page to Pier, Plot Twist For The Romance Author!

She had to stop obsessing.

Wren was going to be there any minute, and Jocelyn could not make this about herself. It was Wren and Greyson’s special day. And while Soren might be okay with missing it, she wanted to be fully present for her friends.

She peeked out the window and stepped back, colliding with something solid. For a moment, she mistook Logan’s broad build for Soren’s and a quiver of hope sent a tremor of relief up her spine. But the second she realized it was only his brother, disappointment struck again.

“See anything?”

“Not yet.”

Logan studied her for a moment. “Everything looks perfect, Jocelyn. You did a great job.”