Before I could question him further, my curiosity was put on hold when Joss’s publicist cleared her throat and introduced Joss. Braden squeezed her hand and gently nudged her toward the center of the room where everyone was now gathering in a semicircle around her.
“Hey, folks.” She smiled at everyone, the natural coolness in her tip-tilted eyes warming anytime she made eye contact with one of her friends and family. “I want to thank you all for being here for the launch of my fifth book.” She appeared to relax somewhat as she continued on less formally. “You know, I’m extremely blessed to be surrounded by family and friends who all inspire me. Believe me when I tell you there is never a dull year in the Carmichael-Clark-Sutherland-MacCabe-Sawyer-Walker tribe.”
At that, said tribe all tittered, acknowledging the truth in her words. I knew there was truth in them because I had spent the last week asking Cole about these colorful, gorgeous people he was lucky enough to have in his life. Each one of them had a story to tell, and although he’d only given me the bare bones of them, I read between the lines and deduced their stories involved a lot of drama and plenty of heartache.
“That’s why the plot for this book came to me so easily—it’s inspired by one of my best friends. She knows who she is and I just wanted to say thank you for being you. You’re a true heroine . . . and your tale makes one hell of a story.” She grinned teasingly at the crowd and they laughed.
I looked around at all the women in Joss’s life, wondering who she was talking about.
“I’m not going to say much, because my husband will tell you I’m not much for speeches, but I want to thank my publisher, my editor, Audrey, who flew all the way from London to be here, my publicist, Bill, my friends, and most important, my husband, Braden, who after a long day at work will find ways to keep the kids entertained while I hole up in my writing cave. I like you.” She smiled at him. “A whole lot.”
Braden laughed and I knew instantly what Joss saw in him.
Yum-ee.
While Joss walked over to him and the crowds began mingling, Cole squeezed my waist. Gazing up at him, I found he had his eyebrows raised. “Braden’s forty-two,” he whispered.
Damn. He’d caught me ogling.
I shrugged, going for nonchalant. “A hot forty-two.”
He groaned as if in pain. “He’s like a big brother, as is Cam. Don’t call them hot.”
“I won’t.” I shook my head. “Besides, Cam is more sexy than hot.”
Cole made a gagging sound.
“And let’s not leave out Adam, and my gosh, definitely not Nate and Marco. Those two are smok—”
His large hand clamped over my mouth and I looked up at him from under my eyelashes, my gaze mischievous.
“Don’t say it.”
I promised him with my eyes that I wouldn’t.
Cautiously Cole removed his hand from over my mouth. I grinned. “I don’t see the problem with me admitting they’re all attractive. It’s not like you didn’t have a huge crush on Olivia.”
“That reminds me. I need to speak to Rae.”
“She’s been very forthcoming.”
“Stay here while I go find her and kill her.”
“She’s here?” I said, looking around the store for her.
“She came in while Joss was talking.” He stilled and I followed his gaze to see Rae in the corner laughing with Ellie and her mum. “I’ll be right back.”
“Cole,” I protested, but he was already striding off.
“Uh-oh, someone’s in trouble.”
I turned at Hannah’s teasing voice. “Rae. Rae’s in trouble.”
Hannah smirked. “Why does that not surprise me?”
“She told me about Cole’s crush on Olivia.”
Delighted, Hannah burst out laughing. “Oh man, I almost forgot about that.” Her eyes were bright with mirth. “She was his first big crush. It was so adorable.”
“Yup.” I giggled. “Which is why Cole’s going to kill Rae.”
“What are we laughing at?” Liv hurried over to us with Jo, her eyes filled with curiosity as she bestowed her freaking amazing smile on us.
My own gaze took in all her voluptuous gorgeousness. She wasn’t beautiful like Jo, or glamorous like Joss, or stunning like Hannah. She was striking and sexy with unusual golden hazel eyes and killer curves. No wonder Cole had had a crush on her. She was a teenage boy’s wet dream.
“Rae told Shannon about Cole’s old crush on you. He’s now killing her with words.”
We all stared across the room where Cole was laughing with Rae.
I snorted. “Well . . . he was . . .”
“I hope it doesn’t bother you . . .” Liv seemed unsure. “It was years ago. He was just a teenager.”
“Of course not.” I waved her concerns away.
“I’m just glad to see you getting along with Hannah.” Jo took a sip of her champagne while Hannah tensed beside me.
I reassured her with a grin. “Oh, you mean because all his ex-girlfriends were crazy people?”
Cole’s sister looked surprised. “Cole told you?”
“Yup. Don’t worry. I’m not blind.” I looked at Hannah now. “I can see you two are like brother and sister.”