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“Julia.” Wilson Hayes grasped her elbow, practically wrenching it, when she entered the grand hall, but not before she saw her mother’s shocked expression.
Good.
“What the hell?” Her father growled in her ear. “The dress it’s practically … It’s indecent.”
She pulled away from her him. “I happen to love my dress, Father,” she sneered. “You and Mother demanded I show. Well, here I am.”
“If you were younger—”
“Well, I’m not. I’m thirty. Your days of controlling me are long over.” She shook off his grip, smiled at the waitstaff who was frowning at them, and swiped a flute of bubbly from his tray. “Thank you.”
Her mother’s eyes widened but she remained silent.
Julia sighed dramatically and stepped away from her parents, smack into her lecherous uncle.
His eyes lit up as he slowly traveled her form, his tongue practically hanging out of his wet lips. She shuddered, almost having become a victim to his proclivities firsthand after she turned thirteen. She wasn’t revisiting that tonight.
“UncleRandolph.”
Her gaze moved to her aunt, in a number that was not doing her any favors. However, the dress’s green color did match the level of envy blasting out of her overdone eye lift. Her second or third?
“Aunt January, how are you tonight?”
“I’m fine, Julia. How nice you could finally bless the family with an appearance after moving back, granted what you’re wearing is very suggestive.”
“Well, we’re all suggesting something aren’t we?” Julia raised her brows for effect.
“You insolent brat.” Her aunt hissed. “Nothing ever changes with you.”
Julia was about to retort when Wilson’s arm circled her shoulders, weighting her in place, and maneuvering back to him. He gently guided her to pivot. His touch almost felt … fatherly. What now?
“I’d like to introduce you to my daughter Julia. Julia, this is Tarik Stone. He’s new to Torch River. A very accomplished man and someone you should take the time to know.”
Her eyes riveted on the man she had fucked with total abandon weeks earlier. What in the hell was he doing here?
He looked spectacular in his tux. No surprise there. He had looked appetizing in the worn jeans and tee and good enough to eat when he was naked.
This was one of the few times she was grateful someone was holding onto her, even if it was her horrible father. She was dazed and speechless.
Tarik Stone was more breathtaking than she remembered. While still on the longer side, the wavy, silver-streaked hair and facial hair had been recently trimmed. His eyes, dear God, those eyes—chestnut brown with swirls of honey-gold and green, twinkling with amusement and mystery. This was the first time she was truly seeing them, and she was mesmerized.
“I’m Susan Hayes, Julia’s mother.”
Julie blinked; her stupor broken. The fact that her mother butted in and could put a sentence together without slurring the words was surprising. But then, a man who looked like Tarik Stone could probably sober anyone up. She already knew he could suggest a sexual tryst without any fallout.
He was polite, murmuring, “Susan.”
“Julia.” Wilson’s tone held a warning.
Tarik extended his free hand. “Julia.” He purred, his smile lazy and sure, just for her. “Nice to meet you.”
She froze, unable to meet his hand. Pretending his touch wouldn’t affect her was unthinkable. She would melt.
“I commend you, Tarik. You seem to have rendered my daughter immobile and speechless, something very few can do.”
Anger flashed in Tarik, so quickly it was as if Julia imagined it. But no, his eyes had darkened under the furrowed brow and bounced between her father and herself.
Tarik’s tone held the whisper of a wrong, but it was light as he winked at her. “I think your daughter might feel overwhelmed, Wilson.”
