AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“A crap-ton of restaurants,” Kelsey said, grinning.
A wide smile broke over Kade’s face, and he swept Kelsey into an enthusiastic hug, taking Wyatt by surprise. “Hey, dollface, how the hell are you?”
“I’m good, I’m good,” Kelsey said, embracing him back and laughing with the tight squeeze he gave her.r: Roni Loren
Kelsey was pleased to know she was actually contributing as well. She’d even suffered through a dance with Wyatt’s rival, Tony Merrill, in order to give Wyatt a chance to chat with someone Tony had been monopolizing. She’d been skeptical that she could offer any value for Wyatt, but she should’ve never doubted herself. Wyatt wouldn’t have taken her along if he didn’t think she could help. He was nothing if not intensely practical. And it wasn’t like he needed to come up with some tropical vacation scheme to get her into his bed. When it came to him, she was an easy sale.
After another chat with one of the people on Wyatt’s list, Wyatt grabbed Kelsey’s free hand and brought it to his chest, dragging her against him. “Getting tired, love?”
“Maybe a little.”
He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “Go sit and relax. I’ll grab us something to eat.”
“Yes, sir,” she said low enough that no one else would hear.
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.
