It was Matt and Mara’s birthday?

He hadn’t mentioned it before leaving, and Mara hadn’t said anything on the phone. Typical. Now she was here at a birthday party empty-handed. Although there were so many people here it was unlikely anyone would care.

Penny walked around for a few minutes. There was no sign of Matt or Mara. She decided to ask the next person she saw. A curvy girl with brown skin and long, dark, twisted hair stood at the buffet table staring at the food with a mournful expression.

“Trying to decide between the mini egg rolls and the artichoke dip?”

The girl whirled around with a guilty look on her face that turned to surprise when she spotted Penny standing next to her. “Oh, hello. I was just wondering what I could eat that wouldn’t instantly add five pounds.”

“You and me, both. I’m looking for Matt Simmons. Have you seen him?”

The girl jerked her head toward the other side of the room. “He’s with the beautiful people. It might take a while.”

Penny looked in the direction the girl had indicated until she found him. He was in the middle of a group, holding a beer and looking supremely uncomfortable. Mara stood next to him, holding hands with an attractive blond man. She recognized Jackson Alexander, whom she’d seen on TV a lot recently, and his brother, the finance guru. There was also a pair of twin girls so beautiful it instantly made Penny wish she’d changed clothes into something a little nicer than her jeans and button-down white shirt.

She was supposed to go over there and interrupt them? No way. “Geez. I haven’t felt like this since high school,” she mumbled.

“Welcome to my life, sister.” The girl at the buffet picked up one of the mini egg rolls and bit the edge of it delicately. “Those are the cool kids and the rest of us mere mortals are just caught in their orbit. Luckily, they’re all really nice, but the Wonder Twins are so perfect they cause an instant inferiority complex, so you’re not alone. I’m Kay, by the way. Nice to meet you.”

Penny grinned, liking the girl more and more. “I’m Penny. So, the Wonder Twins, huh? Which ones are you talking about? The girls, or Matt and Mara?”

Kay stopped chewing and tilted her head. “Does it matter?”

“I guess not.”

“Don’t worry, though. The girl twins are both attached, so they aren’t hitting on Matt if that’s what you’re worried about. Are you his girlfriend or something?” Kay swallowed her food with a loud gulp, looking suddenly worried.

“Not exactly. It’s kind of complicated. So what about you? Which one are you attached to?”

Kay looked behind her. A stocky, dark-skinned man stood a few feet behind her. When he caught Penny’s eye, he nodded. He was handsome and completely focused on Kay. Penny wasn’t sure she could handle being at the receiving end of that kind of intensity.

“What about that guy? He’s been staring at you this entire time.”

Kay whipped around and snatched another egg roll from the table. “That’s Elliott Alexander. But we are not attached by my choice. Trust me.”

“Never mind. I have a feeling that’s complicated, too.” Penny picked up a plastic cup and poured herself a drink. At least she wasn’t the only one having trouble understanding the opposite sex.

“Penny? What are you doing here?”

Matt appeared at her elbow. He didn’t exactly look happy to see her. She lifted her arms and said, “Surprise. Happy Birthday.”

He met her eyes. “I was under the impression that you wanted us to spend less time together, not more.”

Penny’s stomach clenched. He looked so cold. He’d always looked at her so warmly before. Now it was like they were strangers. “I was wrong. That’s what I came to tell you.”

His eyes narrowed.

“I also wanted to apologize. It’s not fair to assume that you’re reacting inappropriately every time you get angry. You have a right to your anger just like everyone else.”

Matt’s scowl softened. “Thank you for that. I don’t like it when we fight.”

“I don’t either,” Penny admitted. “So let’s not fight anymore. Let’s dance and eat some birthday cake and then…” She leaned closer so only he could hear her. “I can give you your present when we get back to your house.”

The fire she was used to sparked in his eyes. He smirked, the trademark smartass grin she loved so much. “Am I going to like it?” His hand trailed down her back and rested on her hip.

She had to clamp her thighs together against a sudden ache of desire. The man could arouse her with nothing more than a grin and a hand on her hip. “I hope so, because it sure likes you.”

*   *   *   *   *

IT SHOULDN’T BE this hard to follow one person, Eli thought. But yet when Kaylee walked through to the kitchen, she looked up and saw him and walked back out. She snuck out to the back porch when his back was turned. No matter what he did or when he did it, somehow she could anticipate his plans and blow them all to hell. Guarding one small girl shouldn’t take this much of his mental energy. It was maddening and annoying and exhausting.

The bathroom was probably the only place he could be sure she’d be safe.

When she walked across the room to use the powder room next to the kitchen, she glanced behind her and then spun around. Startled, Eli stopped dead in his tracks.

She jabbed a finger at his chest. “What are you doing? Stop following me!”