“I won’t.” Not anymore.
“Pops, do you mind?” Jack cut in. I peered around him and found Dad dancing with Mom.
“Do you think he’s jealous?” Nigel winked at me, and I laughed. I couldn’t help it. However, I doubted jealousy had Jack returning to reclaim me, considering this was the grandfather he adored, the only person who loved him completely—besides me. He probably didn’t want Nigel overtaxing himself.
“Hell, yes, I am,” he countered, tone dry. “You’ve had her long enough.”
“For half a song?” Nigel shot back.
“This is a five-minute-long one.”
“Pfft! You make it sound like it’s an hour.” Then his mouth pulled into an evil smile. “We should let the piranha stew a bit longer. She’s been sending cold stares our way, probably waiting to get those fish-fangs into us.”
I wasn’t surprised that Margo was watching, but Jack’s teasing expression dropped. “Pops, no. I don’t want you caught up in her web.”
“Eh, the black widow doesn’t scare me,” he retorted, slowing to a halt. “I’ve dealt with her for a long time. I’ll be okay, Jack.” He kissed my cheek, patted Jack’s shoulder, and made his way to where my parents were seated. With Leland Sinclair.
The man was incredibly good-looking and in his prime. Maybe, because I was happy, I hoped he’d find happiness, too, with someone who would love him for himself.
Ila had mentioned the tragic story surrounding Max’s father. To love someone who never loved you must be awful. I’d faced heartache, and as brief as it was, it had been an excruciating experience. But to live with that for decades…no wonder he appeared so cold.
“Come on, let’s go outside. Need some air.” Jack steered me to the other side of the dance floor, then he clasped my hand. We could have used a different route to leave, but no, he walked straight past his grandmother without acknowledging her.
Uh-oh. Was Jack deliberately tugging the demon’s tail?
“Jack.”
At that low, cold voice, he stopped.
Oh, boy. I inhaled sharply. Hell was about to rain fire down on us.
27
Ray
Jack strolled backto where his grandmother and his mother sat near the dance floor. Vivienne appeared to be sober for a change, and Margo Blackstone’s gaze pinned me like daggers. I held her stare, refusing to let her intimidate me again.
“Jack. The wedding’s over. I expect to see you at Atherton tomorrow. We’re entertaining.”
My teeth clamped down in irritation. Before Jack could speak, I said, “He’s busy.”
Her dark eyes narrowed, looking at me as if I were a fly that should be swatted.
“You don’t listen too well, do you?”
The underlying threat would have made a weaker person bolt. Jack’s thumb stroked my palm, soothing, comforting, giving me strength. “Seems I don’t.” Anger surging, I said coolly, “A pity I tore up your check. I should have donated it to charity.”
Her back went ramrod straight. Vivienne stirred uneasily at her side.
“Grandmother, you have to stop threatening my wife.” Jack let go of my hand and slipped his arm around me, drawing me into him. My heart tripped. “Yes, we got married in Vegas.”
Shit.This is what he planned?An open confrontation?
If she was pale before, Margo went corpse-white now. Her furious gaze locked on me. “It will be annulled.”
“I don’t think so,” Jack said coolly. “One, I am not like my father, who caved under pressure. Two, we consummated our marriage many times over since the weekend in Vegas. Good thing Ray stayed with Max and Ila this week, so your spies couldn’t report anything back to you.”
Despite his quiet tone, being so in tune with him, I could sense his deep-seated anger.
