“The ex-fiancé, I presume?Eden Davis.This is my husband’s gallery.Come with me, I need to show you something.”And grabbing him with surprising fierceness for such a tiny woman, she dragged him behind her.
Longingly, he glanced back at the tray of champagne.He’d been so close.
As he followed Eden, he again noticed people staring at him, talking behind their hands.What the hell?
“Look what the cat dragged in,” a very familiar voice said behind them.Hayden Weston.
Bracing himself, Hunter pulled himself free from Eden’s grip and turned to face his previous boss.He just managed to swallow his groan.Not just Hayden, but the whole Weston clan was there, clearly surprised to see him.
“Oh, you must be the brothers and their lovely wives.”Eden smiled and greeted everyone.“And you are Willow’s mom; she has your smile.You all must be so proud of her.”
Cooper, the only one who didn’t look surprised to see him, slapped him on the shoulder.“I’m glad you’re here.Have you seen Willow?”
“Here she is!”Eden called out gaily as she opened her arms.“Willow, darling, I’ve just met your lovely family and your ex-fiancé.”
He turned and there she was, looking at him with the same stunned expression her family had.The tight band around his chest he’d been aware of since he’d left the Weston ranch days ago, eased somewhat, giving him a chance to inhale.
She took his breath away.Dressed in a glittering top and a short skirt that left those long, sexy legs bare, she looked every inch the successful artist.But it was the light in her eyes that lifted his heart.He was moving toward her before he’d made the conscious decision to do so.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” a voice boomed over a speaker.“Welcome.It is my pleasure to introduce Willow Weston to all of you—the artist of these exceptional artworks hanging on the walls tonight.”
Touching Willow’s hand, his eyes roamed over her face.“Hello, gorgeous, you look amazing.Can we talk?”
“Willow?”the voice boomed again.
“Uhm… maybe later?”Before he could stop them, the small black-haired woman was steering Willow away from him.
“What the hell are you doing here?”Hayden grunted under his breath.
“There you are!”another voice called out from somewhere close.
Hunter didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.Jade, his sister and his self-proclaimed backup had arrived.This should be interesting.
Smiling, Jade grabbed his arm and hugged him.
“Fancy meeting you here,” he said.
“Told you I’ll have your back,” she whispered.Turning to the Westons, all frowning now, she pointed to Hayden and Becket.“So, who are these two guys who look ready to slug you?”Jade wasn’t known for pulling punches.
Both Hayden and Becket turned red in the face.
Hayden’s eyes flitted between Jade and Hunter.“I thought you loved our sister.”
“But here you are with another”—Becket’s eyes dropped down to Jade’s hand and he inhaled sharply—“fiancé?”
“Ladies and gentlemen, if you could pay attention for a moment?”the voice boomed again.
Turning his back on the Westons, Hunter found a place from where he could watch Willow.Just then Wilder arrived with two glasses of champagne.
“My fiancé,” Jade whispered to the Westons.“Wilder Nelson.Hunter’s my brother.”
As she and Wilder joined him, Jade nudged Hunter.“I seriously hope Willow is nicer than her mean-looking brothers.”
“They’re just looking out for her.”
“Is that her?”Jade asked as Willow moved in behind the microphone.
“That’s her.”
