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The corner of his mouth lifted. “Keep saying that, and I’ll make sure we retire to our room early.”
She returned his saucy smile and, after a quick kiss, he sauntered off toward the buffet table. She made her way to the edge of the crowd and sat on one of the deck chairs that had been spread around the perimeter of the party. She buried her toes in the sand and took a deep pull of the sea air. Ahh. It had definitely been a long day, but this sure beat hanging out in her little apartment with only the Food Network to keep her company. She drew patterns in the sand with her feet as she watched Wyatt stroll her way with a fresh drink and a plate of the biggest shrimp she’d ever seen. The flames of the tiki torches flickered over his dark features and smiling eyes, which were half-hidden by hair mussed from the steady ocean breeze. The sight of him stole her breath. She’d thought him beautiful in his buttoned-up suit and that always serious gaze he wore behind his glasses, but seeing him like this—relaxed and open—churned up something warm and achy inside her chest.
In that moment, she wished this were all real. That she was his. And he, hers.
She shoved the thought away and the twist of pain it caused. Rein it in, girl. There was old Kelsey latching onto impossible hopes again. You’d think she would’ve learned by now and trained that instinct out of herself.
Another man put his hand on Wyatt’s arm before he reached Kelsey, halting him and pulling him into conversation. Wyatt glanced over with an apologetic shrug, but she waved him off. She didn’t need him to babysit her. In fact, a little quiet people watching sounded like a nice break. Plus, she needed to get her game face back on so Wyatt didn’t catch her looking at him with hearts in her eyes.
But before she could even lean back in her chair to relax and take it all in, an unwelcome visitor settled herself in the chair next to her. “Is this seat taken?”
Kelsey’s teeth pressed against one another, and she didn’t even bother to look Gwen’s way. “It will be when Wyatt makes his way back over.”
Gwen sniffed. “I’ll be sure to hand over the seat if he needs it. But if Piedmont got a hold of him, he’ll probably be there for a while. That man likes the sound of his own voice.”
Seemed like Gwen had something in common with Piedmont. Kelsey downed the last sip of her juice and nestled the glass in the sand. Maybe if she didn’t respond to Gwen, she’d get bored and go the fuck away.
“Juice. Nice,” Gwen said, eyeing Kelsey’s empty glass. “Have a reason not to drink? Or just not old enough yet?”
Do not get in a fistfight at the fancy party. Do not get in a fistfight at the fancy party. “Baptist.”
“Sure you are.”
Kelsey looked at her finally, hoping her expression revealed how close she was to a throw down if Gwen didn’t shut the hell up. “You have a point to being here?”
“So you’re the Saturday night special now, huh?” she asked, primly sipping her own champagne. “I only thought I’d be friendly—you know, woman to woman—and warn you not to hang your hopes on him. I see how you look at him.”
Kelsey opened her mouth to deny it, but who was she kidding? “It’s not like that.”
“Right.” Gwen shook her head almost imperceptibly, a flash of pain tightening her features when she glanced in Wyatt’s direction. For the first time, Kelsey felt a dash of sympathy for the woman. “All I’m saying is Wyatt will only ever love one thing—his job. Nothing will take over that space. Not a woman. Not a family.” She pinned Kelsey with a cold look. “And certainly not a stripper with a record who’s lying bald-faced to him.”
Kelsey sucked in a breath.
Gwen’s features dripped with smug satisfaction. “Next time you try to sneak into some wealthy guy’s bed, do a better job of hiding your tracks and don’t leave incriminating evidence in a bag that you don’t keep with you.”
She tossed Kelsey’s passport onto her lap, and everything inside Kelsey went cold. This bitch had gone through her luggage?
“I can’t believe he didn’t run a background check on you and took you at your word. Apparently, blonde hair and big tits make him stupid.”
Kelsey almost punched her then. Her fingernails bit into her palm.
“What the fuck did you just say to her?” Wyatt growled.
Kelsey’s head jerked to the right, finding Wyatt standing a few feet away, his eyes on fire.
Gwen smiled, so pleased with herself. “Your little girlfriend is scamming you, Wyatt. You might want to check your credit card accounts to make sure she hasn’t already stolen your numbers. She’s no chef, she’s just a garden variety whore.”
Whore.
The word had been used so often around Kelsey. First directed at her mother, then at her. The single word could twist a blade right through her insides. Tears burned her throat, but hell if she was going to cry in front of this woman. No fucking way.
Wyatt charged forward, absently handing the drink and plate he’d been holding over to Kelsey. Gwen stood, leaving she and Wyatt toe to toe. His expression was a roar of rage, but his tone was pure ice water. “You know, the fact that you would stoop to digging through my girlfriend’s things and using your contacts to pull information about her is fucking pathetic, Gwen. And calling her a whore? That’s ripe considering you’re here with your married boss.”
“We’re not—” But her protest sounded weak even to Kelsey.
Wyatt smirked, his eyes cold behind his glasses. “Sure you’re not.”
“I’m trying to help you!” she said, her voice a whisper version of a shout. “She’s lying to you.”
