Page 9 of The Rancher

As they walked in, she saw what looked like full bars along the walls to her left and right. People were already lined up to get their cocktails.

Wait staff moved among the partygoers with trays of champagne flutes.

Ray grabbed two glasses and handed one to Lyris. “A toast.”

“To what are we toasting?” asked Lyris.

“To me. It’s a wondrous night, and I have a beautiful woman on my arm.”

She felt the heat creep up her face from her neck and knew she probably looked like a tomato. With her red hair and pale skin, she could blush with the best of them. “Thank you. It’s always welcome to have a handsome man give me such a nice compliment.” She sipped the champagne. “This is very good champagne. I’m surprised. Usually these functions serve relatively cheap wine.”

“I make sure we serve a good champagne and the bars are stocked with the best liquors and liqueurs.”

“That’s good. I would assume most of these people are big donors to the cause.”

“They are and I want to treat them well as a thank-you for their donation.”

A tall woman with black hair approached. She placed her hand on Ray’s arm and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. “Ray, you’re here. I was beginning to wonder if you were coming.” She wiped the lipstick off his cheek.

“Marissa.” Ray pulled his arm out of her grasp. “May I introduce Lyris Jennings? She is my new vet.” He turned toward Lyris. “This is Marissa Holloway. She owns another breeding farm and racing stable.”

The willowy woman was over six feet tall in her heels. She had the body of a swimsuit model. She wore a scarlet dress, cut similar to the one Lyris wore, except Marissa’s was open almostto the navel and slit above the top of her left thigh. When she walked, you could see where her thigh met her hip. If she turned too quickly, you could see a lot more than that.

Lyris extended a hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

Marissa looked at Lyris’s hand. She frowned and her nostrils flared, but in the end, she shook it. “Of course, you are.” She turned back to Ray. “Oh, darling, you didn’t tell her about us, now did you?”

He stiffened and placed his arm around Lyris’s waist. “There is nothing to tell. That happened so long ago it’s barely a blip in my memory. Speaking of which, where is good old Scott?”

“He’s here somewhere.” She waved a dismissive hand and then put that same hand on Ray’s chest and purred as she moved closer. She wasn’t the least intimidated by Lyris’s proximity.

“How can you say that us getting married was just a blip?”

Lyris looked at Ray and slightly cocked her head, waiting for the story.

Ray narrowed his eyes. “We didn’t get married. You saw to that the moment you started sleeping with my best friend.”

Now, Lyris widened her eyes. This was more interesting than any soap opera on TV. “Wow. Just wow.”

Ray grabbed Marissa’s hand by the wrist and forcibly removed it from his chest.

“It’s not as lascivious as Ray makes the event sound. We were just having a good time,” insisted Marissa.

A tall, blond man came up behind Marissa and wrapped his arm around her waist, bringing her back against his chest. “Hey, baby,” he said as he kissed her upturned cheek. “Did you miss me?”

Marissa pushed him away. “You know better than that. Just stop.”

With the way Ray’s eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared, he looked like he was about to set his ex-fiancée on fire and her boyfriend with her.

For his part, Scott pasted on a smile that didn’t reach his eyes and turned toward Lyris. He extended his right hand. “Scott Ross. Pleased to meet you.”

Lyris took his hand and shook it. “Lyris Jennings.”

Scott held her hand tightly. “Are you Ray’s hot new squeeze?”

She raised an eyebrow, undecided if she should be insulted or amused. She went for insulted and pulled her hand back. “I’m not anyone’shot, new squeeze. I’m Ray’s new veterinarian.”

Scott’s brows lifted slightly. “His vet, huh?” He turned his gaze toward Ray. “Your taste in…vets…has greatly improved. Bravo, Ray.”