Page 13 of Best Kept Secret

He went to pocket it when she said, “Maybe I should have yours too. Just in case.”

In case you need to warn me that Jared is coming after me? The thought gave him pause, but he rattled off his number anyway.

After she’d entered it in, she looked up and frowned.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” came a voice from behind him.

Shifting in his chair, he turned and saw Britney, thus the reason for Kelsey’s frown.

“I’m Hudson,” he said, sparing Kelsey the trouble.

“Hi. I’m Britney!” She reached over his shoulder to shake his hand, her breasts brushing against his back.

Kelsey rolled her eyes, but Britney didn’t seem to notice.

“Are you Nick’s friend?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“He’s mine and Stacy’s friend too,” Kelsey said pointedly.

He had zero interest in Britney, but he liked that Kelsey had staked her claim on him even if it was just as his friend.

“If you want a change of scenery, you’re welcome to come and sit at my end of the table,” Britney purred.

He suddenly understood Nick’s warning. As if to sweeten the deal, she brushed up against him again.

“Actually, Hudson and I were just about to go outside for some fresh air,” Kelsey said. She scraped her chair back, stood up, and beseeched him with her eyes.

He didn’t need to be told twice. He carefully nudged his chair back so as not to knock her over and said, “It was nice meeting you, Britney.”

Looking between him and Kelsey, she seemed to have finally gotten the hint. “You too,” she replied and sashayed away.

“Thanks for the save,” he said.

She laughed. “No problem.”

Now what? “I should probably take off,” he said, remembering his promise to leave after one beer. He’d since consumed two beers and an assortment of appetizers.

“Oh. I didn’t mean to chase you out.”

“You’re not.” He glanced over and saw Britney staring at them. “But maybe you should walk me out since Britney’s watching us.”

She smiled and nodded like it was no hardship.

He said a quick goodbye to Nick and Stacy, and Kelsey assured them she’d be right back. Then he followed her through the restaurant and out the door.

The cool air felt refreshing after the stuffiness of the restaurant, but he wasn’t anxious to leave. Now that he had her to himself, he wondered how to make the most of it.

They walked down the sidewalk that wrapped around the building, leaving the noise and distractions of the bar behind.

“I’m really glad you came tonight. I would have invited you myself if…”

“If what?” he asked, pausing alongside the building.

“It’s silly,” she said, flapping her hand around and looking adorably nervous.

“Just tell me.”