His jaw tightened as he gazed back at the couple. "Give it a rest."
"Why don't you ask her to dance?"
His anger was replaced by irritation. "You're like a damn dog with a bone."
She trailed long shell pink coated nails over his smoothly shaved jaw. "Bear that in mind." Switching her gaze, she stared at the couple thoughtfully. "I know her. Abigail Blake, she is the force behind that very successful chain of bookstores." Angling her head, she stared at her brother.
"And an excellent way to get her attention is visiting the one on Bow Street."
Chapter 4
He had every intention of coming home and settling down to work. The manuscript had proven to be a hit. It had not just been his opinion. Zach Tremaine had been dazzled when he read it and had immediately assigned someone to write the script.
He had also had the pleasure of informing one shocked school teacher that she was now a full-fledged author, that a renowned producer was interested in turning her book into a movie. What he had not told her, at least not yet, was Dennis Armstrong, famous record producer would be commissioned to do the theme song. And just like that, the publishing house was getting written up.
He was proud of his accomplishment or had been until tonight.
Taking the bottle of scotch with him, he sat in front of the fire, gazing at the hypnotic flames. She had stirred up some disturbing memories. He had always thought of her as "little Abigail" because of how petite she was. He always remembered that night, mostly because he had had no business being with her. He had taken her innocence and went on his merry way.
Or so it would seem. No one except him knew that he had wanted to spend the entire night with her. He had made love three times and was going for the fourth, when he stopped. Emotions had been intense and heavy.
He had hastened her out of the apartment before he did something foolish, like asking her to stay, like drowning in her beautiful eyes, like asking to see her again.
Tilting the bottle to his mouth, he swallowed, wincing as the burn started inside his throat and moved down to his chest.
Her words hammered at him. He supposed he deserved it. He hadn't responded to her calls and had deleted her number from his phone. She looked great, he thought grimly.
Was she engaged? He hadn't seen a ring, and he had noticed everything about her. The flawless caramel complexion, the magnificent eyes chilled over first with contempt and then icy disdain. Those lips, the pouty bottom one that he had spent an excessive amount of time bruising.
The curves of her body. It had been what? Five years and he could still recall the taste and scent of her.
Laughing grimly, he swallowed more scotch. Deciding enough was enough, he rose a little unsteadily and firmly put the bottle away. He might just look her up at that bookstore. He needed to talk business anyway and he might be able to charm her into putting her dislike of him away.
With that in mind, he turned into his office.
*****
"Where's my baby girl?"
"Hanging out with her grandparents. They took her to the children's museum. Thanks." Abby accepted the glass of wine.
Wriggling her sock-covered toes, she tucked her feet under her and aimed a look at her friend. "You left a little early last night."
"Jetlagged. Still." Jillian flipped back her long tail of hair over her left shoulder and sat sprawled on the opposite mismatched sofa.
They were in her apartment. The scent of pine sol and potpourri lingered in the air. She had assigned a cleaning service to do a deep cleaning as soon as she returned and everything was sparkling. That would soon change, she thought with a grimace as she looked around the shiny center table and dust-free mantle.
"And I was pissed off with your brother. That man managed to get under my skin within ten minutes of me arriving at thebloody function." She lifted the glass to her lips and took a swallow. "I want to murder him. I had several cheerful thoughts of the different ways to accomplish it. He brought a date. God! I just managed not to tear the bitch in two."
Her eyes clouded. "How can he be so stupid? And who the hell is the bitch?"
Abigail wisely let her vent and waited until she was through. "Someone from his office."
"A lawyer." Her disgust was palpable. "How long has he been seeing her?"
"As far as I know, he hasn't. I've never met her before."
Jillian huffed out a breath. "So, nothing serious. Good. I would hate to go against my code as a healer and do some damage. But I have a plan."
