Chapter Three
Grant had to bite theinside of his mouth to keep from laughing aloud as these little women tried to protect each other from him.He probably should feel offended.They acted like he was a bad guy, but he could only smile at her little show of protectiveness over her friend.He wondered why they thought they had to protect each other at all, but it made him think of two little kittens trying to protect each other from a lion.
His gaze focused on Jennifer’s beautiful face before they roamed slowly up and down her body, from her tiny feet in black flats to the top of her head, where she put her massive amount of dark red hair in some kind of clip to tame it.Unfortunately for her, it didn’t work.Some of her hair had come loose and fallen down her back to her waist, but she somehow made it look stylish.
“Um, Grant, please meet Madlyn and Jennifer,” Tessa said a little coolly from behind Jennifer.
Grant turned to Madlyn.One look told him everything he needed to know about the woman.He stayed away from women like her.From her stylish fake blonde hair and her makeup done to perfection, to her expensive clothes and shoes, it all turned him off.But the cynical, hungry look in her eyes repulsed him.He couldn’t find anything real about those kinds of women.
“I’m pleased to meet you, Madlyn.”He shook her hand quickly, pasted on a smile he hoped looked sincere, and then turned back to Jennifer.
A subtle tension seemed to invade his body.“Jennifer, dance with me.”
Once again, it sounded like a rough command, but there was something about Grant’s demeanor and his eyes that showed a slight look of relief he quickly tried to quench when she stepped in his direction.
****
Jennifer
Jennifer’s eyes widened when her feet automatically moved toward him.She stopped suddenly, confused.Something about him tugged at her and softened something in her.A force that physically pulled her in his direction.She didn’t fear him, but she did feel a woman’s vulnerability.Her body felt so sensitized.Her skin felt too tight.Both were things she’d never experienced before.With her attention on Grant, Jennifer didn’t notice when Devon approached Tessa and placed his hands on her tense shoulders.
“We were just talking, Grant.Maybe another time.”Tessa tried to reach for Jennifer to prevent her from taking another step when Devon squeezed her shoulders and leaned down to whisper something in Tessa’s ear.A red flush covered her cheeks, and her lips tightened.
Tessa looked worriedly at Jennifer and then at Grant but didn’t say another word.
“If she’s in my care, I won’t ever let anything happen to her, Tessa.You have my promise,” he said gently and then held out a hand to Jennifer, who immediately took it and calmly followed behind Grant toward the dance floor.
****
Devon
Tessa instantly turned to Devon.“I don’t like that he’s interested in Jen.”Her words were a little frantic.
Devon pulled her resisting body against his chest.
“I don’t know why you’ve always been terrified of Grant.I know he can be intimidating and arrogant, but he would never harm Jen.In fact, he would be the first person I’d want you to call if something happened to me.He’s the only one I’d trust to help you, baby.Doesn’t that tell you something about the guy?I don’t trust anyone else with you.Give him a chance.”
Tessa lay her head against Devon’s chest.
“I just don’t think they would be good together.They’re nothing alike.And he sleeps around a lot.You’ve said so yourself several times.Jen doesn’t do that.I’m pretty sure she’s never had a relationship or a lover.He’ll end up hurting her.”
