“What was that?” Teagan whispers, hurrying on her heels to stay at my side. I guide us to another area of the ballroom. A bar, tucked into a back corner, is exactly where I need to be, and when I reach it, I slam down my hand, getting the bartender’s attention.
“Scotch,” I demand, my fury beginning to match my own father’s. Of course, the one trait I get from my father is his temper.
“Corbin?”
“Give me a sec,” I snap at Teagan, and squeeze my eyes closed. Inhaling a deep breath, I wait for the bartender to hand me my drink before I toss most of it back in one large, unsatisfying swallow. “Sorry.”
“No apology necessary,” Teagan answers.
“There is. My dad’s a dick, which I warned you about. It also means I don’t want you around him or anyone loyal to him, which is ninety percent of the people here, without Trey or me close to you. Ever, Teagan. Understand?”
“Well, no.” Her gaze roams the crowd, and I don’t ask what or whom she’s searching for. “I don’t understand, but I’ll trust you. Can you tell me why that made him so angry?”
Yeah…because right now I want to tell her that the love of my father’s life was a fucking waitress at some diner he met, fell in love with, and knocked up, and he’s spent the last twenty-five years taking care of Jill and Grant Maverick while completely turning his back on his original family in the process.
That’s exactly the kind of conversation I want to have with someone like Teagan, who’s probably never been touched by the kind of ugliness in my family.
“I will someday.” She’ll learn eventually anyway. “Just not tonight.” I drain the rest of my scotch and order another, along with a glass of wine for Teagan.
But my mood is hard to shake, so we fall into a tense silence. When Trey and Caitlin head toward us, laughing and joking with each other like only great friends can do, I welcome the distraction.
“Be prepared,” I say, my voice lighter, liquor warming my blood. “If you thought that was easy, this will be a whole new ball game.”
Chapter 11
Teagan
I barely have my fresh glass of crisp white wine in my hand before Corbin spins me to his side, his hand curling into my hip and holding me tight.
“Who am I looking at?” I ask as two beautiful people walk toward us, Corbin their intended target based on the woman’s smile and the assessing gaze of the man.
Trey.
Of course. Corbin is correct: I’ve been more nervous about meeting his friend than I have been over seeing his parents. I wasn’t quite prepared for the exceptionally gorgeous woman to greet us as well, her smile friendly, but her eyes even more keen than Trey’s.
“Trey and Caitlin,” Corbin whispers in my ear. And damn, his voice. His body essentially wrapped around mine does funny things to me. A tightly wound coil low in my stomach loosens, warmth and attraction spreading through my limbs.
I take a sip of wine but it does nothing to cool me. I’m losing my mind. I’ve been able to control it all week. But he’s vulnerable after his conversation with his father, and it’s calling to the part of me that wants to care for others. Take care of him, pull him to me and hold him tight.
“I figured,” I answer, but my voice is hoarse, too breathy.
“Hey.” His thumb presses against my chin and he tilts my head back. I recognize the minute he sees what I’m battling—attraction, lust. His eyes dilate and his lips part. Does his hand tighten on my hip? Pull me close to him? It must be my imagination on overdrive. He’s surrounded by beautiful, magazine-worthy women all the time. I know the long list of lovers he’s had. I don’t come anywhere close to fitting the bill. Which is why his friends will never believe this is real. God, this is a disaster. “Teagan—”
“So, you look like a shiny, new happy couple.”
At the new voice, I’m guessing Trey’s, Corbin doesn’t move. His eyes stay on mine, his thumb at my chin. I can do nothing except remind myself to breathe. Nodding once, he drops his hand from my chin and looks to his friends.
“Hey, man.” I shift quickly in his hold, needlessly brushing my hands down my dress at my thighs. “Caitlin. How are you?”
She leans in and kisses his cheek, stepping back before turning to me. “You must be Teagan. It’s nice to meet you.”
I shake her offered hand and do the same to Trey.
“Nice to meet both of you,” I reply. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Trey’s hand squeezes mine, holding on longer than polite. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you this week, too. Must take a special person to rear-end someone and then move in.”
“Trey—” Corbin’s voice is a warning, but all I see is amusement glimmering in Trey’s dark brown eyes as he smiles down at me.
