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“Christ above,” I whispered. This man could turn me into a puddle on the floor.
Tripp let his eyes roam over me before they locked with mine. Even from across the crowded room, I could see the desire in them. Or was I imagining it?
He’s here with another woman, you idiot. Smile and walk away, Harley.
Before I could do that, Tripp smiled at me, the dimple in his cheek evident from across the room. My eyes burned with tears, and my heart ached as I forced one in return. I dared to look to either side of him, expecting to see Mallory. When I didn’t, I let out a sigh of relief. She must have been in the restroom, or possibly talking to Melanie.
When my eyes captured his again, I had to remind myself to take a damn breath.
Turn around, Harley. Turn. Around.
Forcing my feet to move, I spun and headed outside. A cool rush hit me in the face, causing me to take in some much-needed air.
I dropped my chin to my chest and let out a long sigh.
I was never going to be able to move on… Never would I be able to love another man like I loved Tripp Parker. One single tear trailed down my cheek as I let the reality of this into my heart.
He was the only thing I was certain I wanted in my future…and he was lost forever.
After spending too much time hiding outside, I mentally prepared myself and headed back in. I had worked things out in my head the best I could and decided I need to pull my big girl panties up and make it through this night. Once Tripp finished helping me get the clinic back I would move on with my life. I wasn’t sure if that meant finding someone to spend the rest of my life with, or casually dating, or maybe living out the rest of my life surrounded by animals. Whatever my path would be, I would be happy for Tripp. He had moved on and found happiness and feeling sorry for myself wasn’t making anything better.
Squaring my shoulders, I moved about the room. I spoke with people I knew, and people I didn’t know. A number of people at the dinner were not from Oak Springs. Most of them were rather intriguing, and I found myself passing the time by making up stories of who they could be.
I smiled and scanned the room, letting the drugs and booze take over as I played out their pretend lives in my head.
The young, tall sandy-blond man with the beautiful redhead on his arm was an investment broker from New York City. The woman was an actress, trying to make her way on Broadway but happy to be on the arm of a rich man who kept her sexually satisfied and well-kept with jewels and expensive clothing—not to mention a BMW.
Then you had the dashing thirty-something-year-old man with the English accent. He was a Duke of something or other. A rich family history of old money and fast cars. The blonde on his arm was his mistress because the bastard’s poor wife was most likely back in England, pregnant with his heir. The mistress looked utterly bored having to mingle with everyone in the room and made no attempts to hide her distaste for Americans.
I giggled as I pulled a drink from my glass of champagne.
“What’s with that smile on your face?” Melanie asked as she stood next to me.
With a roll of my eyes, I shook my head. “I’m letting my overactive imagination run wild as I make up stories about the strangers in the room.”
My eyes nearly came out of my head as I saw Trevor with a stunning young woman on his arm.
“Who is that with Trevor?” I asked, taking another glass of champagne as a waiter walked by, replacing it with the empty glass I had just drained. I was for sure feeling it as the room spun slightly.
Melanie grinned from ear to ear. “That…is Scarlett Littlefield. She’s the daughter of one of my very best friends, Lynn.”
“She is stunning!” I said, taking a drink.
“Trevor is refusing to speak to me because of her.”
My eyes traveled over to look at Trevor and Scarlett. Trevor was always a bit of a rebel, at least from what I remembered. The hint of his tattoos on his hands gave him a bit of a bad boy persona. His buzzed hair and unshaven face made him even more attractive. And I wasn’t the only woman in the room who thought so.
Scarlett Littlefield was staring at Trevor, trying not to seem smitten with him. Of course, she herself was unbelievably gorgeous. Her soft brown hair had subtle hints of blonde highlights in it. She was tiny, and had a body to die for.
