Page 3

Stella groaned. “Right. Well…” She lifted a hand in a friendly wave. “We’ll catch up more later.” She jabbed a finger at Zann. “Behave, you.”

“Who? Me?” Zann clutched a set of imaginary pears and then smirked as she flipped her off. “Go work.” She chuckled at how both the twins returned the gesture before wandering off, and her eyes widened when her gaze drifted from them to where Eve was sitting on a cozy little sofa by the fire pit. “Oh, hello.”

She nudged Aspen and hiked her chin toward Eve’s companion. The brunette was perfectly put together in a pair of tailored black slacks and heels, and a rose-colored silk blouse that, from this distance, at least, looked like it had a tempting three buttons undone at the collar. Everything about the woman radiated poise and confidence, and Zann’s stomach fluttered as the woman’s dark eyes found hers.

Damn.

“Who is the stunning creature talking to your soon-to-be bride?”

In her periphery, Aspen shook her head emphatically. “No, Zann. Not happening.”

Zann cocked a brow at her. Aspen had a tendency to be protective, sure, but this seemed a little much. “What? Why?”

Aspen gave her a look that begged her to stop. “She’s one of Eve’s closest friends.”

“And?”

“She lives in New York.”

“And that matters because why, exactly?”

Aspen rolled her eyes. “I don’t want drama at my wedding, Zee.”

“I don’t do drama.” Zann inclined her head when Aspen just pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. “What?”

“You seduced Alder’s Maid of Honor!”

“Yeah…” Zann grimaced. Sleeping with Aspen’s sister’s Maid of Honor really hadn’t been her finest hour. “In my defense, though, she was the one hitting on me. And how was I supposed to know she was married if she didn’t say anything?”

Aspen rolled her eyes, and her arms fell back to her sides as her posture relaxed. “Fair. But still. No. Lydia is off-limits.”

Zann hummed as her gaze drifted back to Lydia, who was still watching her with an intensity that made her mouth go dry. She wasn’t a stranger to women wanting her, but this… She bit back a whimper as Lydia licked her lips and gave her a slow, incredibly thorough once-over. “Um, dude, I think you need to tell Lydia that she’s off-limits. Because she’s staring at me like she’s starving and I’m a fucking five-course meal.”

“No, she’s—” Aspen looked over at Lydia and groaned. “Shit.”

Zann nodded as her entire fucking body reacted to the heat that smoldered in Lydia’s dark, dark eyes when they locked back onto hers. Her breath felt light and ticklish in her chest, as if she were breathing something other than sea-salted oxygen, and she flexed her hands against the golden, buzzy feeling licking its way over her skin. The air around her seemed to crackle with that same electricity, and a quiet laugh that was equal parts anticipation, excitement, and disbelief bubbled in her throat because what even was this?

She’d never felt anything like it in her life.

“Come on.” She clapped Aspen on the shoulder. “I’m gonna say hi to your bride, and then you’re gonna introduce me to Lydia.”

Aspen sighed, her entire being conveying begrudging resignation as she fell into step beside her. “Do you really need me to introduce you?”

“I mean, it’s only polite?” Zann quipped, hoping she didn’t sound as affected by the weight of Lydia’s stare as she felt.

Even if she’d wanted to, she wouldn’t have been able to resist the siren’s call of Lydia’s gaze that urged her closer, closer, closer. The world fell away as Lydia rose gracefully at her approach, and she bit her lip as her gaze dipped to drink in the way Lydia’s blouse fluttered with her movement, giving just the barest peek of pale skin, cream-colored satin, and white lace before settling back into place to drape demurely over her cleavage. Thanks to Lydia’s heels, they were nearly eye-to-eye when Zann pulled her attention higher, over the defined jut of Lydia’s collarbones and the elegant length of her throat, lingering for a heartbeat on her full lips before finding herself absolutely drowning in enchanting umber eyes that were streaked with gold.

My god, she is absolutely stunning.

A quiet huff beside her told her that her utter fascination hadn’t gone unnoticed, but she couldn’t find it in herself to care as Aspen said, “Zann, this is Lydia Alexander. Lydia, Zann Silva.”

A slow, unfairly alluring smile bowed Lydia’s lips as she leaned forward, giving Zann yet another tantalizing glimpse of satin and lace as she held out her hand. “Lovely to meet you.”

Zann couldn’t help but return the smile as she took it. She was struck utterly breathless as the golden, buzzy feeling from earlier intensified at the first brush of Lydia’s fingers against her palm, and it was a miracle her voice didn’t crack like a pubescent boy’s as she replied, “You, as well.”

A spell fell over her as she stared, hypnotized by the way the bulbs overhead reflected in Lydia’s eyes, and her smile grew as the seconds ticked past and neither of them made any attempt to pull away.

Whatever magic this was, she was clearly not alone in it.