Effortless by Lynn Montagano Page A

can come. I don’t have many girl friends and Brent always says such nice things about you. Besides, it could be a chance for us to get to know one another better. I feel horrible our meeting in New York was so,” she paused, “brief.”
    I couldn’t get a definite read on what her end game was. She sounded genuine and wasn’t looking at Alastair in that wistful, lovesick way she’d done at the restaurant in New York. In fact, she barely acknowledged his existence.
    “At least consider it.” Her smile added a soft glow to her already ethereal aura. Maybe the champagne bubbles had gone to my head too fast.
    “There you are.” Stephanie descended on us like angel from heaven. “That was awfully nice of your brother to say those kind words, wasn’t it?” she asked, dazzling Olivia with her brightest smile.
    “Absolutely,” she grinned. “I’m going to mingle a bit but hope to catch up with you all later.”
    She hadn’t been gone more than five seconds when Alastair planted a brusque kiss on my temple and excused himself. I watched him disappear around the corner and fought an urge to follow him.
    “What’s up with Stony McStoic?” Stephanie asked, folding her arms.
    “Oh, let’s see. He’s at the home of a guy he doesn’t like who took it upon himself to announce our engagement to a room full of snobby people. And, wait for it, his ex-girlfriend is also here and decided to chat with us like we’re all a bunch of old college friends at a reunion. Pick one.”
    “Okay, okay,” she held up her hands, “it was a stupid question.”
    “So how did this party slip your mind?” I gave her a look.
    Chewing on her bottom lip, Stephanie searched the room for an answer that wouldn’t come. “I really wasn’t planning on coming. He asked me last week and I told him maybe. Then he asked me again at lunch the other day and I said maybe and then he showed up at my office and…he doesn’t really take too well to hearing ‘no.’”
    “I know that all too well,” I muttered.
    “This will be painless. You can hang out with me all night if that helps.”
    I rolled my neck in the hopes it would relieve some of the tension. Stephanie sighed and put on her I’m-going-to-make-it-all-better face.
    “You’re handling yourself really well, Lia. I’m serious. I mean, I can tell you’re pissed off and uncomfortable because I know you but these other people have no clue. You’re almost as good at the blank look as Alastair.”
    I snorted. “Really? I pretty much assumed I looked like a deer in headlights.”
    “Nope. You only get that look when you’re thinking of sexy time with your man.”
    My jaw dropped. Stephanie laughed so loud some people nearby gave her a dirty look.
    “It was just a hunch. Thanks for confirming it.”
    Shaking my head, I laughed with her. The absurdity of this night began to outweigh the stress. “I’m so glad you’re here. It was bad enough when I had to rub elbows with all the hoity-toity people Nathan knew. I mean, I can talk to anybody but I was not in the mood for this tonight.”
    “I hear ya,” she said, slinging her arm around my shoulders. “Sorry I opened my big yap about your engagement in front of Brent. I know how private Alastair is.”
    “It was bound to come out sooner or later.”
    “Will you two be leaving early? I know you said he was away all week. I’m sure this wasn’t how he wanted to spend his Friday night.”
    “I’m keeping my fingers crossed we can leave in the next half hour.” I sighed. “Tonight has just completely gone off the rails.”
    “What happened?”
    I flicked my wrist to ward off her question. “Nothing. Just a misunderstanding.”
    “Try not to let it bug you. I know what a massive over thinker you are.” She gave my shoulder a quick squeeze. “This is a hot little dress. Go find that fiancé of yours and loosen him up. I’m going to shake some hands and network.”
    I smiled at my vivacious best friend as she glided across