I force a smile, and he leads me through to the table. “Hello.” He smiles to everyone as he proudly presents me. “This is Hayden.”
I feel my face blush. “Hello.”
“This is”—he gestures around the table—“Margaret and Conrad, Eva and Mario.”
I give a wave. Oh hell . . . this is so awkward.
“This is Edward Prescott and Julian Masters.”
My eyes land on the last man . . . I’ve seen him before.
Where?
He gives me a sexy wink and raises his glass. “I told you we’d meet again, Hayden.”
My eyes widen. No way.
He’s the man who owned the yacht in Greece . . . what the hell?
They’re friends?
My mouth falls open in shock.
He and Christopher laugh out loud, and Christopher squeezes my shoulder blade. “You look like you saw a ghost, babe.”
I laugh, half-embarrassed and not sure what to say.
“And this”—he smiles proudly—“is Elliot, my brother. Elliot, this is my Hayden.”
Familiar warm eyes smile up at me.
Oh . . . he’s like Christopher.
Elliot stands and kisses my cheek. “Hello, it’s so lovely to finally meet you.” His eyes linger on my face as he studies me, and I feel myself flush under his gaze.
He pulls out the chair beside him. “Sit next to me, Hayden.”
Oh crap . . . do I really have to?
I fall into the chair beside him, and Christopher sits on the other side of me.
Christopher puts his hand protectively on my lap as the waiter fills our glasses with champagne.
“It’s good to see you,” Mr. Masters says from across the table. “How was the vacation?”
“Great.” Christopher’s eyes meet mine. “Brought home an amazing souvenir.” He squeezes my leg.
“I see that.” Julian smiles as he looks between the two of us. “How are you liking London, Hayden?”
“It’s beautiful.”
I glance up to see Elliot’s eyes fixed firmly on me. He has his finger up along his temple and is studying me in great detail. I glance over to Christopher, who is now happily chatting away with the rest of the table.
Help.
I sip my drink. Eish . . . I feel like this is a test. Actually, that’s not true. I don’t feel it; I know it for certain.
“Are you here alone?” I ask Elliot.
“Yes, my wife is in Hawaii. She left last week with her brother, and I’m catching the first flight out in the morning.”
“Hawaii. So beautiful.” I smile.
“Have you ever been?” he asks.
“No. On my bucket list, though.”
“We have a house there. Lucky enough to go every year for a couple of months.”
“Oh, wow.” I frown. “What made you choose Hawaii for your regular holiday vacation?”
“My wife lived there for a while and fell madly in love with the place.”
I smile as I listen.
“It’s a shame she’s not here to meet you tonight. You’ll love her. She’s a lot like you.”
Oh . . . how I wish she was here.