She looked past her brother to see one of his childhood friends, Regan Fallbrook. She never noticed him a moment ago even though he was dressed as a groomsman. She guessed it was hard to look at other men when she with the one of her dreams.
He gave her a hug surprising her. “I thought that was you. Look at you all grown up.” Regan’s eyes went down the length of her in interest. “Wow, you really did grow up. You’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve seen yet.”
“Hey,” Royce barked. “Need I remind you that I’m marrying the most beautiful woman on the planet today? I’ll tell Anne you said that too.” That caused some light laughter among them.
Regan was blonde and blue-eyed, but no Lance Hartley. She always thought he was cute when she was younger, but he was a bit of a snob. He always teased her to the point of being a bully. She had the impression that he really didn’t like her all that much, but then he’d tried to kiss her once when they were alone. He also knew that she was engaged to Richard at the time but still tried. She was seventeen, and even then thought his way of showing affection was immature. It was something that you’d expect kids in elementary school to do. He was likable enough and a loyal friend to her brother, but not her idea of a datable man due to his spoiled outlook on life. He was another one that had everything handed to him. As far as she heard he attended Princeton and got some degree in economics. He was probably being groomed by his father to take over the company, whatever that was. She never really paid attention to the talk among them.
“Yes, but Anne is off limits,” Regan teased.”
“So is Tammy,” Lance added raising her hand to show the expensive engagement ring with a lift of a single brow.
She stared at Regan with a smile of pride at Lance’s feigned jealousy. Yet, there was the lawyer again. Cool, calm and indecipherable. Now she knew he switched into that mode when he became irritated or to exude his authority. Regan had already rubbed him the wrong way. She’d make sure to let him know that he was harmless when she got him alone.
Her brother then introduced Lance to Regan then the rest of his groomsmen who gathered around the two newcomers.
“What a shame.” Regan faked a pained expression as Lance was shaking hands with the rest of the men. “What a lucky bastard. I would have married you in a heartbeat if your parents weren’t set on you marrying Cavanaugh. That guy has a screw loose.”
Well, she wasn’t going to argue with him about Richard, because he was right. It was just surprising how many people seemed to think that about him, except her mother. “Like you’d have a chance,” she countered with humor but it didn’t reach her eyes. It was empty flattery from him. She didn’t dislike him, and he seemed nice enough, but a snob through and through. If he knew how she lived now, he wouldn’t spend a minute longer in her company. She could not vision herself married to this man either.
He shrugged. “Well anyone’s better than that guy. I’m glad you didn’t marry him though. I don’t like him. He wasn’t good enough for you.” His eyes flicked to Lance. “He might do.”
She nodded smiling. “I think so.” She actually appreciated his support. Then he switched back to the Regan she knew.
“As for a chance with you, I can be very persuasive dove.” He took her hand and kissed it. “Congratulations anyway, but I don’t mean it.” There was teasing in his eyes.
She chuckled because he’d said it loud enough for Lance to hear and even looked in his direction to see if it goaded him.He would never grow up. He was still the same man she knew all those years ago. He was a bit of a clown and that did make her feel at ease around him. However, he wasn’t genuine like the people she’d met over the past five years. She’d never laughed so much in since she’d left home then she did a whole lifetime with her family. She was so uptight, and taught to worry about what people were always thinking about her. She needed to keep up on fashion and gossip…ugh. Gosh, she really started to miss Sulphur Springs.
At that moment Lance turned back and removed her hand from his giving him a sharp look of warning. “Mine. Very mine.”
His tone was even and calm, but Tammy was starting to figure him out better. He didn’t like Regan.
Regan lifted his hands in surrender still smiling. “Point taken Mr. Prosecutor. No harm intended.” He winked at Tammy before he turned and walked away chuckling to himself.
Oh, so Royce obviously had already told him that she was engaged and all about her new fiancé. Yet, Regan thought he could come over and stir things up anyway. Oh, the life of a spoiled millionaire. The things they do to amuse themselves. Part of him probably wanted to see if there was attraction between them, but she’d told him years ago, that she wasn’t. Some men just don’t take defeat well. “He’s just provoking you.”
“Another pompous ass.”
She detected the irritation in his tone and wondered if he actually did feel a twinge of jealousy. Oh, wouldn’t that send her heart soaring! “He’s harmless.”
He squeezed her hand to get her attention. “He’s not harmless. He looks at you like Richard does.”
Well that ran a shiver down her spine. Any mention of Richard would do that to her but Regan had never tried anything like Richard had. She started to explain but he interrupted her. “No, I don’t think Regan is—”
“—trust me Tam, I can see another alpha male a mile away. He spent the better part of this greeting staring at your breasts when he thought you weren’t looking.”
Her mouth gaped. “Hedidn’t.”
“Can’t say I blame him, but he’s got interest in you even though he acted like he was teasing.”
“I’ve known him since I was little.”
“Which makes it worse, because he’s seen you develop into a stunning woman. He thinks he’s more entitled. I’m willing to show him he’s not. I can be a worthy adversary. I’ve already discussed what I want from you. If he can’t get it together after a lifetime around you, he lost.”
The smile that spread across her face was a traitor. She tried to hold it in, but she couldn’t. It was the reflection of the intimacy discussed and how he made her feel—desirable. Lance had been very honest and forward with what he wanted. His masculine assertiveness was enthralling to her. She still thought he was wrong about Regan, but what did she know about things like that? She was only attracted to one man in her life, and he was currently holding her hand possessively.
His eyes dropped to her mouth, and held it for a moment, yet he didn’t smile in return. When he met her gaze again, his was hungry, his voice deeply husky. “I have to let you know, that when you smile like that, I could drop all what I promised you about my rescinding control and show you what I’m truly capable of.”
Her eyes widened and the smile disappeared. She honestly didn’t know what—or how she looked when she did that, but it stirred something in him. Her belly leapt around, thrilled at his reaction. Who knew she could provoke such a thing in him?
