Savage Hunger(106)

Peering over the leather folder, she scanned the room only feet away from her now. They were all there. The Williams family and a few of Kenneth’s close friends she recognized.

Shrill, high-pitched laughter drifted through the glass window just as a flash of bright red hair appeared from the corner of the room. All eyes were on the bride-to-be, who wore a floral sundress with a crown on her head.

Allison narrowed her gaze and made an inaudible harrumph. A crown? Really? And Kenneth’s parents were beaming like he actually was marrying royalty. Maybe they were just happy he was settling down.

She shook her head. Had she stepped into the Twilight Zone? This was all just too weird.

“Hello there.”

With a startled gasp, she turned her head and looked up at a male server who’d appeared next to the table.

“I’m Jordan, and I’ll be your server today. Can I get you something to drink while you wait for the other half of your party?”

“Mmm. I think just water for now.”

The server gave a brief nod, and she didn’t miss the male appreciation in his gaze as he gave her a brief smile.

“Very good. I’ll return shortly.”

Generally she would have been flattered by his attention—she’d grown used to male interest over the years. Ever since the day she’d decided to drop the tomboy image and embrace all things girly. Makeup, dresses, manicures. Since she’d gone from being invisible, to being somewhat sexy by today’s standards.

The server disappeared and she jerked her gaze back to the room, watching the people inside like they were some kind of exhibit in a zoo.

Kenneth, Kenneth, Kenneth. Where was the guy? She skimmed the room. Lord, look at all the pretty men. It looked like a freaking Ralph Lauren convention. Maybe he’d—there.

She narrowed her eyes as he appeared from behind a group of people and slipped his arms around Ashley, who giggled even louder.

“How did you do it, Ashley?” she muttered.

“Your water.”

Allison resurrected her smile and took the glass of water from the server, wondering if he’d heard her comment.

“Would you like to order something to start with? Our calamari is a very popular choice. Or we have—”

“I’m fine.” She winced at the edge in her voice. Easy girl. She glanced up at the server through her lashes and murmured in her best husky voice, “Thank you, Jordan. I’ll signal you if I need anything else.”

A flush stole up his neck and he gave a brisk nod before scurrying away.

Good. Hopefully he’d let her be for a bit. She turned her gaze back to the room, just in time to see the bride-to-be plant a wet kiss on Kenneth’s mouth. And he allowed that? Kenneth hated PDAs.

Allison scowled, but her frown died as Kenneth stood to leave the room. This was her chance for an intervention.

Lowering her menu, she waited until he’d passed by her on the way to the bathroom, then stood to follow after him.

Before she’d taken two steps, strong fingers wrapped around her arm, halting her progress.

“Long time no see,” Clint murmured.

Her eyes widened, but she didn’t protest as her old friend tugged her through the restaurant.

In an empty hallway, out of view of the diners, he came to an abrupt halt and she bumped into him.

“Clint?” His name fell from her lips in dismay. She still couldn’t quite believe he was here, but then why wouldn’t he be? He’d been Kenneth’s best friend when they were kids.

Just seeing Clint again robbed her of the ability to speak. It had to have been at least a year since they’d seen each other.

She ran her gaze over him. Black hair just a bit too long, piercing blue eyes, and a tall—at least several inches over six feet—muscled body. Apparently being a forest ranger agreed with him. He hadn’t looked this good last time, had he? Or maybe he had and she just hadn’t been looking?

The realization that he still held her arm blinked her back to reality and her thoughts dissipated into annoyance. Why had he dragged her across the restaurant like she’d been ready to shoot it up?

“What are you doing?” she asked.

He arched a brow and smiled, but the gesture didn’t seem to hold much humor. “I was just going to ask you the same thing, Allie. Last I checked you weren’t invited to this dinner.”

Allison’s cheeks burned with the reminder. So it was like that, was it? At one time she, Kenneth and Clint had been thick as thieves. She’d grown up just houses away from Kenneth and Clint—who was originally from Montana—had always spent the summers with his grandma who lived next door to Kenneth’s family. Even after college Clint had still come out. It was a habit he hadn’t broken.