Faking Ms. Right (Dirty Martini Running Club #1)(67)

“I can’t wait to get the photos from the party,” Miranda said. “I think we went into the photo booth ten times.”

“I loved those giant cat eye glasses,” Annie said. “The black and gold ones?”

“They were very fetching on you,” Miranda said with a laugh.

“I’m glad you guys had fun,” I said. “I think Richard missed his calling in life. He should be a party planner.”

“Shepherd has such a nice family,” Annie said.

“You sound surprised.”

“I am, a little. The way you always talked about Shepherd, I didn’t expect his dad to be so fun and friendly.”

“I was surprised the first time I met him, too.”

“Although, to be fair, Shepherd wasn’t what I expected either,” she said. “He’s a great dancer.”

I almost sighed at the memory of Shepherd twirling me around on the dance floor. “Yeah, he is. Which was also a surprise.”

“Well, he certainly wasn’t a robot, like you always said.” Annie refilled Miranda’s wine. “He seems like he has a great personality.”

He does, he just doesn’t always let people see it.

I stifled a cough—why wasn’t that tickle in my throat going away?—and took a sip of wine. She’d just given me the perfect opportunity to bring up the elephant in the room.

“Listen, Annie, I need to talk to you about the sperm donor thing. I can’t ask Shepherd to be your donor. In fact, I have to ask you not to ask him at all. I know it seems like he’s basically perfect, and god, he really is, you have no idea. And I know you had your heart set on him, and I really want to help, but I just can’t. I don’t feel right about it.”

Annie laid her hand over mine and smiled. “It’s fine. You’re absolutely right, we can’t ask Shepherd to be our donor.”

“Really?”

“No. After seeing you two together at the engagement party…” She trailed off and glanced at Miranda. “Well, don’t worry. We’re going to find someone else.”

I let out a long sigh. “Oh, thank goodness. Wait. After seeing us together? What does that mean?”

“You two make an amazing couple.”

“Fake couple,” I said. Sort of. Were we?

“Everly, you can’t fake that much chemistry.”

Miranda nodded. “The way he looks at you? There was nothing fake about that.”

I loved my sister, and Miranda, but they’d never been the ones I confided in, especially about relationships. Or sex. And right now, I didn’t really feel like explaining what was happening between me and Shepherd. Because the truth was, I wasn’t sure.

So I just shrugged off their comments. “We work well together. Thanks again for being there. And for finding a new donor.”

“Yeah, of course,” Annie said. “The perfect someone is out there. We’ll find him.”

“And you’ll be the best two mommies ever.”

I declined another glass of wine and left shortly after dinner was over. Why was I so tired? Of course, I had a lot on my mind. Shepherd. My job. At least I didn’t have to worry about telling Annie I couldn’t ask Shepherd to be their donor anymore. I was relieved they’d taken it so well. Hopefully they’d find the right person soon.

I stopped by my apartment on the way home, just to check on things. The air was stuffy, and the furniture a little dusty, sending me into a painful coughing fit. I really didn’t feel well. But otherwise, nothing was amiss. After giving the place a once-over, I left. Went home. Or at least, my home for now.

An odd feeling of familiarity stole through me when I got back to Shepherd’s condo. This place felt more like home than my apartment did, now. It was probably just because I’d spent the last couple of months living here. It was more immediate.

But Shepherd was here. And I realized as I shut the door behind me, that he was starting to feel like home.

Which was probably going to get me into trouble. But at this point, I was a goner for that man.





28





Shepherd





With Everly gone for the evening, I went straight to my other condo instead of going home. I spent some time practicing. By the time I decided to go upstairs, I was relaxed, my mind clear.

I felt good.

Even the sight of Svetlana lounging on my couch didn’t bother me. I nodded to her, then went into the kitchen to pour myself a glass of whiskey.

“That was a great party the other night,” she said.

I hadn’t heard her approach, but I tried not to react. “It was. Where’s Dad?”

“He went out to get dessert.”

There was something in the tone of her voice that set off a warning in my mind. I put the cap back on the bottle, keenly aware that this was the first time she and I had been alone together since she’d started seeing my dad. Moving Everly in had worked well in that regard.

“Enjoy your evening.” I picked up my whiskey and turned to go to my office.

She stretched her arm across the entrance to the kitchen, blocking my way. There was fire in her eyes—a smoldering mix of desire and anger.

I met her gaze, keeping my expression blank. “Excuse me.”