“Come on. Let’s go,” Blake said.

Gavin looked over from the counter to where Blake had come out of her room. She put on her second earring—some sort of silver and gold combination of dangly pieces that sparkled in the light. She was wearing a loose royal-blue button-up shirt with sleeves that came just over her shoulder. As she got closer, he noticed that the material was sheer enough to see her bra underneath, which he supposed was intentional. For some reason, nothing about Blake struck him as accidental.

He let his eyes drift down her body as he took in how tight her skirt was, and how high her shiny black heels were. Somehow the straps that wrapped around her ankles made her legs appear longer. At the sight of her, the chewing of his Corn Pops slowed almost to a complete stop, but finally he was able to get them down. “You look… Jesus,” he said, letting the spoon he was holding drop into the bowl before swiveling the bar stool so he could face her completely. “You look amazing. Where are you going?”

“We.”

“Sorry. Where are we going?” he asked, realizing quickly that he was more than happy to follow her wherever it was she was headed.

“A retirement party. I can’t go to this thing alone. I barely know anyone.”

Gavin wondered why that was a problem for Blake. She didn’t strike him as the type of person who’d let appearing solo at an event faze her. He was hoping she’d asked simply because she’d enjoy his company, but he didn’t want to ask.

“Why are you telling me about this now?”

Blake shrugged. “I decided a few minutes ago that I wanted to invite you.”

Gavin chuckled at her bluntness, even though at this point it didn’t surprise him. “I’m flattered. How do you know I’m even free for the night?”

“You’re eating cereal for dinner on a Saturday, and you’re already in that old pair of mesh shorts that I doubt you’d ever wear in public.”

Gavin looked down at his basketball shorts from his senior year in high school. Only small pieces of the navy-blue vinyl lettering remained, and the silver mesh had thinned considerably over the years. “Fine,” he said, rolling his eyes in feigned annoyance. “When do we have to leave?”

“Ten minutes.”

Gavin widened his eyes. “What! That’s not even enough time to take a shower.”

“Sure it is. Most of my showers are less than six minutes. And that’s with shaving. I bet you can be in and out in four.”

Gavin let out a sigh that ended in light laughter. “Okay. I’ll do my best. It might be more like fifteen minutes though.”

Her dark-red lips turned up into a broad smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he muttered in a tone that sounded way more disappointed than he actually was.

“I’ll wait in my room. Guy and Baby are arguing about who has to be on top when they have sex later.”

“Sounds…interesting,” Gavin said, though he wasn’t sure that was the right word for what it was.

“It always is with them.”

Twelve minutes later, he came out of the bathroom in a light-pink dress shirt and dark-gray slacks. He was rolling up his second sleeve when Blake’s voice caused him to look up from his arm.

“Damn, you clean up nice.” She had a tip of her finger to her lips, and he could practically feel her gaze creeping slowly down his body.

His hair was still damp from his shower, but once it dried, the loose curls would thankfully find their place without needing any real taming to make his hair look like he’d put some effort into it.

“How are Guy and Baby?”

“Guy’s on top.”

Gavin laughed before asking, “This outfit okay?” He smoothed the front of his shirt to make sure there weren’t any more wrinkles in it. He’d brought it into the bathroom with him, hoping the steam would take the place of ironing, which he would’ve done if he’d had more than two minutes left to get ready.

“That outfit’s more than okay,” she answered. She gestured at his body as she spoke. “The way your pants sit perfectly at your hips, slim through the leg until they hit the top of your shoe. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you have a strong sense of fashion, Gavin Gibson.”

Gavin laughed as he walked into the kitchen and grabbed his wallet off the counter. “Thanks. Now tell me about this party,” he said before opening the door and holding it for her.

In the cab on the way to the party—which was being held at a local high-end restaurant that had been rented out for the event—Blake had filled him in on the essentials. An attorney named David was retiring after twenty-five years in the field. Gavin wasn’t sure how Blake knew the guy, but he figured if she wanted him to know, she would tell him.

“Who should I say I am?” Gavin asked on their walk from the cab to the restaurant.

“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Blake said. “I doubt anyone will even ask.”

Gavin nodded, hoping that was the truth because he certainly didn’t want to say he was Blake’s boyfriend, but saying he was a friend also seemed strange because why would someone bring a friend to a retirement party? “So…you can just bring a guest to this?”

“Sure. Other people are,” she assured him.

Gavin took that as a sufficient answer because…well, it was the only one she’d provided. He nodded again and opened the door for Blake to enter.

The Italian steakhouse was larger than Gavin had expected and seated at least forty people comfortably among six tables dressed with pristine white linens, which Gavin knew he’d get sauce on within minutes of his entrée coming out. Which reminded him… “Do you know what the dinner choices are? This place looks like it’ll be pretty good,” he said, scanning the culinary options around him—a table with an assortment of cheeses, arancini, bruschetta, and several other appetizers that Gavin couldn’t recognize from a distance.

“No idea what they’re serving. My guess is Italian food,” she said, a slight smirk on her lips.

“You think you’re pretty witty, don’t you?” Gavin teased.

Her smile broadened at his comment. “Possibly.”

“So who is this guy who’s retiring?” Gavin asked as he made himself a plate.

“What do you mean? He’s just a guy.”

“I don’t know. I guess it struck me as strange that you’d go to a retirement party for someone unless you were close to him. I’ve had like…a million jobs, and I’ve yet to go to one of these,” he said.

“Well, glad I get to see you lose your retirement party virginity then,” Blake said.

Laughing, Gavin looked around at everyone, his neck craning around a woman who was standing nearby. “So which one of these gentlemen will I be giving it up to tonight?” he asked.

Blake stared at him but said nothing.

“I took it a little too far, didn’t I?”

“A little,” she said.

Blake looked around at the tables. Most of the people were already seated, but some were up mingling or taking pictures. She nodded in the direction of three men who were laughing by the bar, but he wasn’t sure which one was the guest of honor.

Though it really didn’t matter. He didn’t plan to start up a conversation with any of these people, though he’d obviously engage in one if someone spoke to him. He wouldn’t consider himself antisocial, but the crowd of professionals—most of whom appeared to have way more money than he had—reminded him more of his parents’ acquaintances than anyone he’d hang around with. Or Blake for that matter. Which only made him wonder what exactly the connection was between Blake and this lawyer.

“So how do you know this guy?” Gavin asked, unable to tame his curiosity any longer. He followed Blake toward two seats near the end of one of the long tables, and they settled themselves in.

“Oh, um…” She dipped a piece of bread into some oil and popped it into her mouth, swallowing completely before answering. “Sorry, this bread is amazing,” she said. “I worked for him for a little while.”

“Oh yeah? Doing what?” Gavin was surprised. Working for a lawyer would had to have paid more than her current jobs. Not to mention that it probably required a certain level of education or training that Blake hadn’t mentioned when they’d had their discussion about school. And her presence at this party suggested she’d left on good terms. It didn’t add up.

“Nothing exciting. Filing things, answering phones, that sort of stuff.”

“Let me guess,” Gavin joked. “You left when you got an opportunity that you couldn’t pass up, and that’s how you found yourself working with me at The Coffee Bean.”

“You know it,” she said. “The Bean’s my dream.”

Gavin laughed before taking a drink of the wine that had been set in the middle of the tables for everyone to share. “I think it’s closer to your nightmare.”

The second the words left his mouth, he saw Blake tense, but it was too late to take them back. It was exceptionally poor timing considering what he’d learned about her only a few days ago.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I wasn’t…I wasn’t thinking.” As if by instinct, his hand went to her arm to comfort her, and surprisingly she didn’t pull away.

“It’s okay,” she said. “This night isn’t about that. Let’s try to have a good time.”

Gavin sighed audibly in relief. The last thing he wanted to do was ruin this night too. “Okay,” he said, wanting to get back to a more lighthearted conversation. “So you left a gig at a law firm to make caffeinated drinks for stay-at-home moms and overworked professionals. Sounds like a solid choice,” Gavin joked.

“Would you be surprised if I told you how low that decision ranks on the list of ones I wish I could take back?”

“Nope,” Gavin said with a laugh.

“Besides, the Bean’s gotten better the last few weeks actually. Helps when you have someone there you like and can joke around with.”

Her comment seemed sincere, so he wasn’t sure why he had to ruin the little moment they seemed to be having by saying, “Yeah, I know. I like Maddie a lot too.”

Though she shook her head, his joke seemed to amuse her. “You know, you’re pretty witty yourself,” she said.

“Why, thank you.” He pushed his bread plate to the side so he could make room for the salads the servers were setting down.

Though Gavin would never have ordered a salad with goat cheese, walnuts, and strawberries in it, he had to admit it was damn good. He finished the last few bites and then leaned back in his chair, highlighting the fact that he’d eaten his salad at a rate that was more suited for a ravenous bear than a human. He cleared his throat awkwardly as his eyes darted to the people around him who were slowly putting forkfuls of salad into their mouths. And despite Gavin’s initial reluctance to speak, he felt the need to say something since he wasn’t eating anymore. And that something involved asking all the people around him how they knew David. Apparently, that was the only question he could think of tonight.

“He’s one of the partners at the firm,” the man across from Gavin said. “There are five of us in total, and we’ve all known him for over fifteen years,” he said, gesturing to the surrounding men and women. “Except for Veronica, who’s only been with us for…what? Seven years, is it?”

Veronica shook her head but laughed. “I’ve been there twelve, Mark. You always do this.”

Mark laughed, making his large belly jiggle against the table. He reminded Gavin of a red-haired Santa Claus. “Well, it feels like we met just yesterday,” he said. “What about you two? How do you know Dave?”

“Oh, I don’t,” Gavin said. “My…Blake used to work for him. Right?” He looked to Blake to expand on the conversation he’d somehow started, but she had her mouth full, so her answer was limited to a nod.

“Is that right? How long ago?” Mark asked. “I can’t seem to place you. Though as you just saw, my memory leaves something to be desired.”

Blake’s eyes shot to the ceiling as if she were trying to remember when she’d worked there. “A while ago,” she finally said. “Maybe six or seven years ago.”

“Huh,” Mark said with a shrug. “Sorry. We get so many interns and temps through that place it’s hard to keep track of everyone who comes and goes.”

“I’m sure,” Blake said. “No worries. I barely remember anyone who worked there either.”

“Except Dave, I guess,” Veronica added.

“Right, yeah,” Blake said. “Most of the stuff I did was related to his cases.”

“Oh, okay,” Veronica said. “Did you film your part of the video yet?”

“Video?”

“Yeah. His wife’s making a video for him, and she wants everyone to say a few words to Dave in lieu of gifts.”

Until Veronica had mentioned gifts, Gavin hadn’t even noticed that Blake hadn’t even brought a card with her.

“Oh. Okay, yeah, I’ll find her later and make sure I record something,” Blake assured her. “What did all of you say? I’m never any good at these things.”

Veronica spoke first, explaining that she talked about how much it meant that Dave made her a partner and that she was going to miss his homemade donuts on the first Monday of each month.

Mark said he congratulated him and told him that if he played golf without him, he’d be sorry. Though it was mainly because Mark was so horrible that David would be missing out on a chance to feel good about his own game—which Mark said was almost as bad as his.

Each person on their end of the table had a story about Dave or something to thank him for. Gavin wondered what Blake would say, but he was sure she wouldn’t want him watching while she filmed.

“What about you?” a young colleague named Samantha asked. “What are you going to say to Mr. Belson?”

“I think I’ll…” she started. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“I asked you what you’re going to say on your part of the tape.”

“David Belson’s tape?” Blake said, her eyes noticeably widening.

Samantha looked confused, and Gavin could understand why. It didn’t make sense that Blake seemed surprised that the video would be for the guy retiring.

“Speak of the devil,” Veronica said, nodding to the door where a man had just come in.

The applause and cheers that followed his entrance made it obvious to Gavin that the man was David Belson. He was also not one of the men that Blake had pointed to earlier when Gavin had asked who the party was for. But before he could ponder the question any further, he noticed Blake’s porcelain skin somehow get a little whiter, as if the man’s presence had caused a physical reaction in her that she hadn’t been expecting. He couldn’t even begin to guess what the hell was going on.

She watched him make his way around the room toward their table as he said his hellos. Slowly, Blake set down her fork and pushed her chair away from the table. Then she turned to Gavin. “I’m gonna grab a drink from the bar. Do you want anything?”

Gavin looked at his glass of wine, which was still half full. “No thanks. I’m good.”

“Can I get anyone else anything?” she asked politely.

They all muttered that they were okay and no thank you, which was good because Blake didn’t seem like she was even focused on their answers.

And as Gavin watched Blake walk toward the bar, he realized there was something he wanted after all—to know how the hell Blake knew David Belson.