offends her, she doesn’t let on. She steps back and her smile is still there, possibly even wider than before.
“You’re even prettier than I imagined,” she says, her voice so low no one else can hear. “No wonder he’s been so angry lately.”
I frown, trying to decipher what she means, but I don’t get the chance.
The others are closing in now, demanding introductions. Now that Isla’s given her stamp of approval, they’re all eager to meet me. Well, other than the black-haired woman and Ethan. They hang back, and yes, her hand is still on his arm.
Is she incapable of standing upright without holding on to him for support?
Isla tugs me close to her as she starts the introductions.
“Guys, this is Taylor. Taylor, this is Tanner,” she says, pointing to the guy closest to my left. He’s handsome with shaggy honey-brown hair that barely touches the collar of his black shirt. He reaches out to shake my hand and his grip tightens as our eyes lock. The edge of his mouth curves into a seductive smile.
“Tanner works in the art department with me at the agency,” Isla continues. “You should see his stuff—he’s crazy talented.”
I swear he blushes as he steps back and lets go of my hand.
“She’s exaggerating,” Tanner insists before Isla waves her hand toward a couple standing beside him.
“This is Brody and Liv.”
Brody has tattoos running the length of his arms and a buzz cut. Liv is tall and delicate with a loose braid and yellow cotton dress. She looks like a librarian and he looks like the bad boy who skips class to go check out the librarian.
“They’re married and boring,” Isla continues. Brody protests and she laughs. “I’m kidding. Just don’t expect them to stay awake past ten o’clock.”
Beside them she points to another couple she introduces as Jace and Alice. Jace stands beside Alice with his arm wrapped around her shoulders. In fact, they’re squashed so close together, you couldn’t slip a piece of paper between them if you tried. Not only that, they almost look alike. Either they’ve coordinated on purpose or it’s a subconscious thing, but they’re both wearing thick black-framed glasses and worn Converse.
“As you can see, they’re in that annoying new phase of a relationship,” Tanner quips. “It’s like if they stop touching, the other person might die.”
Alice shoots him a sarcastic glare. Jace just flips him off.
I smile at how comfortable they all are with each other. They poke fun, but it feels like it comes from a place of love.
“And that’s Camille. She and Liv work at the same law firm,” Isla explains as she waves to the woman near Ethan.
I nod and toss a wave toward Camille. Ethan tries to step away from her, but she clings to his arm and offers him a rueful grin. “Sorry, I’m just scared I’m going to roll an ankle out here.”
We all glance down at her shoes and I realize that, yes, she is going to roll an ankle, because wedge heels are about the dumbest type of footwear you could wear into the middle of the forest. The only thing worse would have been stilettos.
Ethan clears his throat and I can sense he’s uncomfortable, but he doesn’t argue and he doesn’t leave her side. I guess he’s ever the perfect gentleman as long as it has nothing to do with me.
“And well, you already know me, and you definitely know Ethan,” Isla says, emphasizing that word enough to ensure everyone’s ears perk up, intrigued by the insinuation.
“He’s my boss,” I say lightly, like it’s nothing more, nothing less.
Camille’s brow arches and her sly grin widens even more. “So you’re a construction worker?”
She finds the idea so genuinely pleasing, she’s practically frothing at the mouth.
“Oh, I wish. I did try to work with the crew,” I say, shooting her a playful smile. “But Ethan stole my hard hat my first day on the site and forced me to take an office job instead.”
The group laughs, Isla most of all, but it’s clear by Camille’s barely concealed sneer that she didn’t like my answer. She wanted me to be embarrassed and flustered by her, but I steel my spine and prepare for more of her taunts. I wonder what she’d say if she knew that before this job, I worked as a motel maid. I doubt she’d even let me shake her hand for fear I’d get germs on her delicate, manicured fingers.