Nerdy (Unexpected Lovers, #2) - J.B. Heller Page 0,24
finish up with my makeup then take a second to check myself over one last time in the mirror. I scrub up okay in a pair of high-waisted cream pants, an emerald-green off-the-shoulder top with long sleeves, and a pair of simple black heels.
I snatch my small cross-body purse off the bed on my way out of my room then head down the short hall. When I step around the corner, Lennon and Sebastian’s conversation ceases. My gaze darts between them, and I arch a brow. “Did I interrupt something?”
Sebastian moves toward me, his stare hot and penetrating. “You look incredible.”
My lips rise. “Thank you,” I say, raking my eyes over him in a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, and a pair of dark jeans and dress shoes. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
He winks then brushes a soft kiss to my cheek. “We better get out of here before I decide to bail on my sister and devour you instead,” he whispers in my ear.
I fan myself dramatically. “Keep talking like that and my clothes might just melt right off.” I chuckle then take his hand and lead him to the door.
“Have fun, kids,” Lennon calls after us.
Glancing at her over my shoulder, I grin. “We will.” I blow her a kiss as the door closes behind me.
Walking into the restaurant, we’re directed to a private function room in the back.
“I like it when you leave your hair out like this,” Sebastian murmurs, toying with a strand of my hair.
“It was pure laziness that inspired this particular look,” I tell him then gesture to my head. “Taming all this is a full-time job. It’s easier to throw some product in and let it do its own thing.”
He grins. “Well, I like it.”
“Like what?” a stunning woman in a white, knee-length dress asks, stepping up to Sebastian’s side.
She has to be his twin. They have the same amber-colored eyes and matching smiles. They even share the same shade of dark-brown hair.
Sebastian tilts his head toward me. “Emory’s hair,” he tells her. “Storm, this is Emory Moss,” he introduces me. Then to me, he says, “Emory, this is my sister, Storm.”
Extending a hand, I say, “Lovely to meet you. Thank you for having me be a part of your big, uh, wedding week.”
Storm laughs. “Thank you for being here, Emory. I haven’t seen my brother smile so much in a long time,” she says, clutching my hand in both of hers. “And I know a whole week of wedding activities is a bit overboard, but Jake doesn’t get to see his family much. So, this is our way of taking advantage of every moment they’re in town.”
“My ears are burning,” a guy says, coming up behind Storm and wrapping his arms around her middle. His gaze fixes on me, and he smirks. “Ah, you must be the infamous Emory,” he says then offers me his hand. “I’m Jacob, but you can call me Jake.”
I take it, giving it a firm shake. “That’d be me, but I don’t know about the infamous part. Nice to meet you, Jake.”
“And you,” he says, then, grinning at Sebastian, he motions over his shoulder to the bar. “Come get a drink with me.”
“You want something?” Sebastian asks me.
“I’d love a white wine, please.”
“Done,” he says, brushing his lips over my cheek, then he strides away with his brother-in-law to be.
Storm wastes no time taking Sebastian’s place at my side. She hooks her arm through mine. “Bash tells me you’re writing a review for his book.”
“Yeah, I am. That’s how we met,” I tell her as she guides me through the room teeming with people.
“I guess that means you liked it, then?”
My eyes widen at her. “Uh, yeah. Have you read it? It’s brilliant.”
She grins but shakes her head. “I haven’t. He says he doesn’t want me to because it would be too weird. But I have no doubt it’s great. Bash never does anything halfway; he’s an all-or-nothing kind of guy.”
I nod because that sounds accurate from what I’ve seen and know of him. “I’ve gathered as much. Actually...” I pause, glancing around the room. “Where are Everly and Hazel?”
Storm chuckles. “They’re with their grandparents. They’ve been stuck to them like glue since they arrived last night.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
“Bash will be a free agent for the whole week while Jake’s parents are here,” Storm says, her amber eyes sparkling.
“I see,” I murmur. I’m pretty sure she’s telling me this for