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They walked into the entryway and stared at the newcomers. Adil, Whitney, and Yasmin stared back.

“Who are you?” Oswald and Adil asked at the same time.

My headache intensified. This night was going off the rails, and we hadn’t even arrived at the party yet.

“These are Evie’s maternal grandparents. They’re babysitting tonight,” I said, my tone clipped.

Adil’s suspicion instantly vanished. “Oh my God! Evie’s grandparents! So nice to meet you!” He bounded over and grabbed Oswald’s hand. He shook it vigorously while the other man blinked, startled. “I’m Adil. I play for Blackcastle with Noah.” He offered Elizabeth a gentler but no less warm greeting.

“Ah, yes. Blackcastle.” Elizabeth’s gaze flicked to the women. “And they are?”

“This is my girlfriend Yasmin, and this is Noah’s date Whitney,” Adil said proudly.

“I see.” Elizabeth pursed her lips and eyed Whitney’s cleavage. “That’s quite a dress.”

“Thank you,” Whitney chirped.

“Wow, this is a really nice house.” Yasmin looked around, taking in the marble floors and high ceilings. She was dressed a little more modestly than Whitney, but her outfit still displayed her full set of curves. With her long dark hair and bronzed skin, she reminded me of a young Catherine Zeta-Jones. I could see why Adil was enamored with her, though I remained skeptical of her intentions.

However, I’d learned to keep my mouth shut, so I focused on getting Adil and the girls away from the Andersons. I was afraid Elizabeth and Oswald would collapse beneath the weight of their collective pearl-clutching if we stayed any longer.

“I’m going to say bye to Evie, then we can head out,” I said. “I⁠—”

“Carina!” Adil’s whole face brightened. “Hi! You look incredible.”

Fuck me. I closed my eyes and sent a short but strongly worded grievance to the universe for screwing me over this hard at the last minute.

I could’ve sworn Carina had already left, but clearly not.

Stop freaking out. You see her every day. This is nothing special.

I opened my eyes, braced myself, and slowly turned. The brief confidence from my mental pep talk instantly crumbled. Nothing, and I mean nothing, could’ve prepared me for the sight of Carina coming down the stairs.

Every nerve ending lit up. Sparks of awareness raced down my spine and drove the air from my lungs.

It wasn’t my first time seeing her dressed up. It wasn’t even the first time she’d taken my breath away. But…fuck. There was something about her tonight that stole the coherent thoughts right out of my head. Every inch of her imprinted itself on my senses in painful detail, and I greedily drank it all in.

I picked up on the subtle espresso highlights in her hair, which cascaded down her back in loose waves. An errant curl brushed her left cheekbone and touched the corner of her mouth whenever she smiled. I zeroed in on the tiny freckle nestled in the hollow of her throat, and I tried my best not to notice how perfectly her pale green dress hugged her chest, waist, and hips.

Bare legs. Miles of flawless skin. And those eyes—warm, soft, expressive. A person’s eyes told you all you needed to know, and hers told me they were going to be my downfall one day.

My heart ricocheted in my chest as Carina said hi to Adil and introduced herself to the girls. She acknowledged the Andersons with less enthusiasm, though she was still polite and civil.

I struggled to focus on something else, but everything was blurred except her.

“You look lovely. What are your plans for your night off?” Elizabeth’s cool, buttery voice hooked into my stomach and finally dragged me back to reality.

I blinked, the world snapping back into place.

“She’s coming to the party with us.” Adil butted in before Carina could respond. “C, do you want a ride? It’s silly for you to call a cab when we’re all going to the same place.”

She opened her mouth, but once again, she was cut off.

“You’re going to the same party Noah’s going to?” Oswald clarified. His eyebrows and mustache turned down in synchronized suspicion.

“Yes. My, um, date is the party host.” Carina glanced at me, then Whitney, before looking away.

Something hot and possessive surged through me at the word date. My jaw tightened.