Colt looked over his shoulder at his brother. Lance nodded catching his brother’s look.
“When is this?” Colt asked.
“My family didn’t have my address. The letter took a while to find me. It’s next weekend.”
“We can’t let her go alone,” Elaina spoke up scanning the crowd in the room.
“I don’t need to involve you in—”
“It’s settled then. Lance will go,” Colt volunteered.
Lance never said anything to the contrary, so apparently he’d agreed somehow.
“Wait a minute—“
“You can’t go alone,” Debbie said.
“It’s obvious you’re shaken,” Elaina added.
“For God’s sake Tammy, you are part of our family,” Colt finished.
The support was overwhelming. She put her elbows on her knees and buried her face in her hands. She was doing her best not to weep. She never showed her emotions, ever. This was so sudden and unexpected. It was still surprising that none of them even asked her why her family didn’t know where she lived. She knew it was out of respect for her privacy. What a wonderful group of friends she had. They were going to help her even though they knew nothing about her. “You are all so amazing. I couldn’t ask for better friends.”
Elaina hugged her. “We’re here for you.”
“I have to go to New York anyway. I have a charity dinner midweek next. I don’t mind. I’ll just leave a few days earlier.”
She heard the deep treble of Lance’s voice and was grateful he read the situation well. He was trying to minimize the impact of her guilt over accepting help. Knowing that, of course, didn’t help at all.
“Tammy?”
It was Elaina’s voice; soft, sweet and concerned.
She nodded and lifted her head. She honestly couldn’t go back alone. She needed someone. Elaina was pregnant, Debbie couldn’t do the five hour plane ride and Tessa was too darn busy being the wife of a doctor, and the mother of two rambunctious children. She certainly couldn’t take Colton. He was married and it would be improper. Her eyes met Lance’s; she nodded agreeing to his offer. “Thank you.” She would be thrilled if it was under different circumstances, but she knew this wouldn’t go well with some of her family.
He gave a subtle nod and left. Colt followed him.
“Did you want to talk about it?” Elaina asked.
She looked at her friend. “I can’t.” She was struggling to regain control of her emotions. She couldn’t break down, she wouldn’t. Her mother would not have that hold over her anymore. “It’s a part of my life I ran away from.”
Elaina squeezed her hand. “It’s okay Tammy. You were there for me when I needed you. Just know I’m here. I know it takes time. I feel better that you are not going alone. Lance will make sure you’ll be okay.”
***
CHAPTER TWO
It felt strange standing beside him waiting for the luggage to arrive. She felt completely out of place, which wasn’t a common feeling for her. She supposed most people, male and female, would feel the same way next to Lance. People were walking by them and shifting around them, and the majority of women would give him a long hard look then glance at her with unveiled surprise in their expressions. They were standing close enough for strangers to recognize that they were together. Yes, she wasn’t a trophy looking companion, especially the way she was dressed, but the odd looks she got from them were offensive. What was wrong with a gorgeous man standing next to a plain woman? She actually narrowed her eyes and glared at one who immediately averted her gaze.That’s right honey, he’s with me! She felt a smug smile cross her lips, then felt instantly guilty about it. When did she act that way towards another human being? Was she that uptight?
She glanced up at him quickly. God he looked so immaculate and reticent. She’d never felt so uncomfortable standing next to a man before in her life. Lance was able to easily do that to her. Maybe if he spoke a little more it would be a little easier. On the plane he was much the same, but he’d spent most of it on his iPad going through what looked like case files. Well, it looked like that when she glimpsed at it. She wasn’t sitting next to him on the flight.
She also felt underdressed. He wore a dark blue-grey suit, light blue shirt and matching tie and he looked good enough to turn a lot of heads. She had on jeans and a simple white and light green striped blouse.
During the flight, the stewardesses kept stopping by and asking if he needed anything, not her, or anyone else in the section as often as him, just him. He always politely turned them down. She noticed that the other passengers in first class weren’t getting near the attention he was. She ground her teeth together and did her best to be polite when they finally did show up at her row. After all, they just couldn’t help themselves, just like her. She really shouldn’t have been in first class anyway. She was beholden to the Hartleys for it. They insisted on upgrading her ticket to first class. She was fine in economy, but Colton wouldn’t have it. If anyone knew Colt the way she did, it wasn’t worth arguing over. He always got his way. Although the seat wasn’t beside Lance because she’d gotten the last one, but it was a few rows back and across the aisle where she could observe him silently. She could also still see the stewardesses goggle eyeing him throughout the flight. Lance seemed oblivious.
The luggage carousel hummed to life, Lance, being a gentleman, grabbed her bag off the trolling belt at the same time he got his. “I got this Tammy,” he stated in a tone that said she had no choice. Obviously that domineering trait ran through the Hartley males.
All right, she thought to herself. She was too preoccupied to argue. She was going to save her energy for her mother.
