She stiffened. “It’s okay, Serenity. Really.”
Serenity gaped, turning slightly to take Wendy in. “But?—”
“Two minutes,” Wendy assured. “Then you can come beat him up for me.”
Tripp narrowed his eyes. “I won’t need more than two minutes.”
Wendy squirmed beneath his stare. The second Serenity left, Tripp closed the distance between them.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but?—”
“What’s going on is that I don’t appreciate you hitting on me. I don’t want to be propositioned for whatever it was you were planning. And I wouldn’t date you if you were the last man on earth.” The last bit came out in a hiss.
His eyes searched hers for several moments, wasting precious seconds. Then he pulled back and offered her his best crocodile smile. He couldn’t decide if he wanted revenge or if he wanted the challenge she presented.
Maybe a little bit of both?
In that instant, his plans changed and he smiled. “One day you’ll love me, Wendy. Just you wait.”
She sputtered but before she could spew another hateful comment, he strolled away, his hands in his pockets like he didn’t have a care in the world.
“One day,” he called over his shoulder.
Who cared if anyone heard what he’d said. Wendy could tattle on him if she wanted.
Game on, sweetheart. Game on.
CHAPTER THREE
Wendy broughtthe lemonade to her lips, but she couldn’t enjoy it. She was on edge. Regret and anxiety were her best friends now. What had she been thinking?
It was the heat of the moment, that’s what.
She wanted Tripp to know that his charm wasn’t going to get him out of everything—especially not out of the hot water he was in with her. She’d wanted him to feel a degree of embarrassment that Olivia had felt when he’d broken things off with her.
Unfortunately, her southern sensibilities were not so happy with her rash decision.
Dang it.
She blew out a breath, praying that if she stayed tucked beneath this maple tree that no one would pay her any mind. It was probably a little late for that, seeing as she’d made such a scene.
Tripp had managed to bring out the worst in her.
Wendy narrowed her eyes as she not so accidentally found him in the crowd. He was speaking to Hallie now—Hallie, who didn’t seem all too pleased with him either.
She was poking him in the chest, and he was smirking at her.
Wait a minute. They were familiar. Were they family?
Wendy groaned. Of course they were family. She was probably one of his other cousins. How big was this family? Turning away, Wendy fought the blush returning to her face. This had been a mistake. She shouldn’t have come. Heck, she should have taken Serenity up on backing out of her responsibilities. It wasn’t like she’d begged to be here.
Blowing out a breath, she had just about made up her mind to search Serenity out of the crowd when she caught sight of the woman herself striding toward her.
And she didn’t look happy at all.
Uh oh.
Shoot. Shoot. Shoot.
