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Creighton, the daughter of a senator—okay, Mary Paige had done an internet search on her—was the sort of woman Brennan Henry would end up with. Not the hayseed farm girl turned accountant who shopped at the Army Surplus and made her own soap from a cool idea she’d found on Pinterest. She and he never would compute, and Mary Paige trusted what computed.
“I don’t dance.” Creighton glided off.
“Awkward,” Mary Paige breathed, trying to free her arm from Brennan’s grasp. He held tight.
“Sorry about that. She hasn’t taken the fact she can’t announce our engagement in theTimes-Picayunewell.”
“Engagement? Are you two—”
“Only in her mind.” Brennan steered her toward a table heaped with silver serving trays, extravagant flower arrangements and two ice sculptures shaped like Christmas trees. “We’ve never been more than friends.”
“But with benefits, right? You do realize women regard sex as more than sex? No matter what they tell you in the beginning, making loveisdifferent for us.”
“Who said I had sex with her?” he asked, stopping in front of a carving station and examining the offerings.
“Every glance she gives you.”
“I’ve never misled her—or any woman for that matter—about my intentions, so I don’t need a guilt trip, Merry Sunshine.”
Merry Sunshinedid not sound like a compliment. All lightness disappeared as the facade of control, of bored indifference, slammed into place. Suddenly the man on the tilt-a-whirl vanished.
Mary Paige pulled her arm from his and this time he allowed it. Guess she’d upset the apple cart when she called him out on Creighton, and she really didn’t care about Creighton and what he did or didn’t do with the haughty brunette. Okay, she cared a little. She didn’t even want to think about anyone other than herself in his arms…which was…
Damn it.She was tired of thinking of Brennan and Creighton and about sex. If he was so blasé about dumping a senator’s daughter, a small-town accountant would be even less of a bother.
“I see your grandfather. Think I’ll go say hello.” She left Tall, Dark and Surly and headed toward the sparkling Malcolm Henry and the lovely woman standing next to him.
She felt Brennan’s eyes on her as she took each step. Something inside her wanted to turn around, apologize for rebuking him, and try to recreate the wonder of moments ago. But another part of her wasn’t a bit sorry she’d called him out on his behavior. Maybe he’d made no promises to Creighton, maybe she had misinterpreted his clear intentions. But Mary Paige believed he’d used Creighton’s emotions to his advantage, keeping her around as long as it was convenient for him, then cutting her loose when she no longer suited his purposes. Maybe Mary Paige was being unfair, but she hated to see anyone treat a person with so little care, to see someone manipulate another’s emotions.
“Mary Paige,” Malcolm said, reaching out a hand, ending her contemplation of men and dysfunctional relationships. Malcolm’s hands were as warm as his smile, and she could hardly reconcile him with the homeless man who had flipped her off when she’d met him nearly a week ago. This man was in his element, comfortable among the elite of society and relaxed in his role as CEO of MBH Industries. “Come meet my Judy.”
The woman standing next to Malcolm glowed even brighter at the man’s words. Mary Paige dropped her hand from Malcolm’s and extended it to the woman. “Hi, I’m—”
“Mary Paige.” The woman’s eyes were soft and her smile gentle. For some reason, Mary Paige wanted to move closer to her, to hear her sing, or braid her hair or some other ridiculous inclination. All she knew was something special lived within Judy.
“Malcolm’s told me all about you, and I feel you’re a sister of my heart. I do so love a woman who cares for others over herself.”
Mary Paige glanced at Malcolm, stunned to see such adoration in his eyes. It was almost mesmerizing.
“That’s quite a compliment,” Mary Paige said. “But I don’t think I did anything all that remarkable. Just being a decent human being.”
“Oh, but you did. Sometimes all it takes is the right person at the right time to reconnect you to something you’d forgotten.”
Mary Paige nodded, trying not to look confused. Then she realized Judy’s words were not for her, but for Malcolm. The woman wasn’t even looking at her as she said them.
Again, Mary Paige felt awkward.
“Ah, and here’s my heir,” Malcolm said, pulling his gaze from Judy to a spot beyond her shoulder.
“Grandfather,” Brennan said, moving beside her, holding a plate of oysters and that god-awful smoked salmon. “Judy, you look stunning.”
“Thank you.” Judy kept her eyes on Malcolm.
For a moment, no one said anything more. If anything, it felt even more awkward.
“Ah,” Malcolm said, swiveling his silver head toward the entrance to his right. “Right on time.”
They turned to see the progression trickling in led by an older black man wearing a shiny suit and a feather in his fedora.
