Jennifer ignored Madlyn and held both of Tessa’s hands in hers with a frown of concern on her face.
“Why are you upset about this?I sincerely doubt the guy will ask me out, and if he does, all I need to tell him is to back off or say no.For heaven’s sake, I can tell from here he’s way above my class rating and way out of my league.”
Jennifer couldn’t prevent herself from glancing over at the table.Something about the man drew her.His dark, brooding good looks reflected his gaze’s interest, sending a sizzle of awareness through her body.
“Who is he?”A slight shiver ran down her spine at his intense staring.
“His name is Grant Batali.Devon hasn’t gone in-depth about himself because the guy is really private, so I can only tell you what I know.He’s a friend of Devon’s from childhood, but several years older.Devon is thirty-one, so he must be in his mid-thirties.”
“And...?”Madlyn pushed.
Tessa rolled her eyes.“And he’s self-made.He’d built up his business by the time Devon graduated from college.Devon seems to think he’s brilliant.I’m not sure where or if Grant went to college.I also don’t know anything about his family.Devon’s never said anything about that, either.He always seemed to want to talk to my husband privately, which might be one of the reasons he makes me so nervous.”
Madlyn threw her arms out.“So, what’s the problem?”Madlyn wailed.
Tessa cringed as several people turned toward them.“God, Madlyn, keep your voice down.”Tessa turned back to Jennifer, and her frown deepened.“I don’t know why, but he’s always made me uncomfortable.There’s just something about him.He’s always been very nice to me, always polite.But I sometimes feel like he wears a disguise to mask the real man, and underneath is an extremely intense, dangerous one.”Tessa pulled her hands from Jennifer’s grasp and set them on her shoulders.“But it’s more than that.I don’t know how to put it in words.”
The women turned toward the source of their discussion and found he still sat relaxed at a table across the room with a drink in one hand and his other hand resting on the back of the empty chair next to him.It looked like he was listening to the man on the other side of him because he would often nod or comment, but his gaze stayed locked on Jennifer.
“Why would he be looking at me, Tessa?”
Tessa snorted.
Madlyn cussed.“Jesus, you don’t get it, do you, Jen?Some men seem to like drab women like you.”Madlyn’s voice was a little snide, and jealousy colored her words.
Tessa shot a look at Madlyn in annoyance, with a hint of anger, before she turned back to Jen.“I wish you could see yourself as the rest of the world does.”Tessa held up her hand for silence and to stop the argument she knew would follow.“And I’m sorry, Jen, but he is looking at you.”
Jennifer frowned at Tessa but pulled her into a quick hug.“Please, don’t worry.Even if he is looking at me, the minute he meets me and finds how unsophisticated I am, he’ll walk away.”
Tessa gripped Jennifer tighter.“No,youdon’t understand.You’re going to find him attractive—every woman does—and he will find you irresistible.”She ignored Jennifer’s snort.“I’ve just never known him to have a girlfriend, only one-night stands with sluts or very short-term lovers.And you don’t have a slutty bone in your body.”
Jennifer laughed.“You’re right.I don’t.He’ll find out I’m not a fun-loving party girl and certainly not a one-night stand, and leave me alone.Stop worrying...”
“Hot damn, I finally get to meet the hottie,” Madlyn whispered, awareness and excitement clear in her tone.“By the way, I am perfectly capable and eager for a one-night stand with that man.”
Jennifer’s and Tessa’s heads snapped around to see the man headed their way.Tessa pulled Jennifer around to face her and tightened her hold on her hands.“Just remember what I said, okay?”
“Ladies.”
The flow of people and noise from the crowd disguised his approach, so he still startled all three women.Jennifer’s gaze traveled up and up, finally landing on the most handsome man she’d ever seen.He was well over six feet tall and made of pure masculine energy.His hair was dark.Very dark, almost black.But it was his eyes, black as coal, that seemed to look right into the heart of her.She realized her mouth was hanging open when he chuckled.
“Tessa, will you introduce me to your friends?”He made it sound more like a command instead of a request.His gaze stayed locked on Jennifer.
Jennifer pushed her thick hair from her face, and a shiver coursed through her at his raspy tone of voice.She stiffened and turned to Tessa when her friend made an anxious sound under her breath.She didn’t like that he made her friend nervous and uncomfortable.Tessa was a sensitive, loyal person, and they had always been protective of each other.
Jennifer could see why Tessa was apprehensive.His features couldn’t be called cold, but they looked detached.Jennifer narrowed her eyes at him, crossed her arms, and moved to stand in front of Tessa, even though Tessa was taller and weighed more than Jennifer.Jennifer’s mouth turned down, and she bristled when a twinkle sparked in his eyes, and his mouth twitched.
Grant held up his hands in an imitation act of surrender.The twitch in his mouth became more pronounced as he stared down at Jennifer.“I come in peace, ladies.”
Tessa cleared her throat and tried to pull Jennifer behind her, but Jennifer’s body stiffened.Tessa let out a frustrated growl when she found there was no way to get around her because of the tall tables, stools, and people in the way.“Jen, for God’s sake, move,” Tessa whispered frantically.
Jennifer turned her head to talk over her shoulder but never took her gaze off him.
“No, Tessa.I’ll take care of this.”
