Blood boiling, Wendy plastered on the sweetest as sugar smile she could muster. Based on the lack of recognition in Tripp’s expression, Wendy had to assume Olivia had never shown him a picture of her best friend. Olivia had started dating Tripp the summer Wendy spent with her grandmother in Florida. It had been a whirlwind romance and by the end of August, Olivia had been left broken hearted.
Clenching her fists so tight, she wasn’t entirely sure she didn’t break the skin, she watched Tripp take the lemonade to the table and pour the jug into a larger dispenser. Then he grabbed a rag from somewhere and wiped his hands before tucking it back where he’d found it.
Those clear, blue eyes never left hers as he strode toward her.
No, strode wasn’t a good enough descriptor.
The man sauntered as if he were God’s gift to mankind.
Wendy hated him.
Tripp held out his hand, flashing her a megawatt smile. “I’m Tripp. You must be Wendy. I hear we’re being set up.” He winked.
He actually winked! What was wrong with this guy?
Her cheeks hurt from the smile she continued to force. “I hear the same,” she murmured, placing her hand in his. But he didn’t shake it like a normal person. He brought her hand to his lips and brushed a feathery kiss to her knuckles.
“Is that a southern accent I hear? Where are you from?”
Wendy pried her hand from him as smoothly as she could manage. “Georgia, mostly. But I have family in several of the southern states.”
“Wow, that’s quite a long way from home.” He leaned closer to her and lowered his voice as if he didn’t want anyone else to hear him. “But don’t worry, I can help keep you safe.”
Oh, the strength it took not to roll her eyes into the back of her skull. “Bless your heart,” she said as sweetly as she could muster. “That’s so kind of you.”
The way he grinned at her made her stomach knot even more. The guy definitely didn’t know who she was. Good. That would make her next plans all the easier to carry out. Tripp broke her friend’s heart. He reeled her in and made her believe that true love could exist before dropping her like a hot potato.
Well, if he thought he could waltz into Wendy’s life to manipulate her, he had another thing coming. She wouldn’t be so easily swayed by his charm and good looks even though there had been a moment of insanity when she’d first caught sight of him.
Guilt trickled through, mingling with the other raging emotions and making one nasty cocktail. What would Olivia think if she knew that Wendy had a momentary lapse of judgment?
Olivia was level-headed. She would overlook a fleeting thought of attraction. Just so long as Wendy ensured a line was drawn between the two of them, everything would work out. That was why she needed to make it perfectly clear to Tripp that she was off limits.
No flirting. No sweet words. He would escort her down the aisle for the wedding then they’d part ways and never see each other again.
But first, she was going to get even with him for hurting her best friend.
Tripp was still droning on and Wendy only listened with half an ear as she scanned the immediate area. The guy obviously cared about his looks. Maybe she could capitalize on that.
Yes, she could work with that. There were drinks, condiments, and even mud readily available. She just needed to find the perfect opportunity and take advantage.
“What about you?” Tripp asked.
Wendy blinked and smiled again. “I think you’re a little too cocky for your own good.” She’d said it with a teasing tone—one that had his smile growing.
I’m going to ruin youshe sang in her head.
The next couple of weeks would be all about payback.
CHAPTER TWO
The woman was a vision.
No, that description didn’t do her justice.
Wendy was exquisite.
She was definitely his type, and then some. She was his type on steroids. Everything he wanted in a girl was wrapped up in a neat little package and that was just her looks.
