“Praise the lord for small mercies,” Tieran says sardonically, forcing a very unattractive chortle from my throat.
Olivia’s eyes pinch a little, and then she finally looks over at me, and her eyes go round as saucers. “Oh my God!” she parrots again. “You’re Jade McKallen! Holy fuck, I’ve been following you for years. This is insane. God, you're even more gorgeous in person. Can I get a selfie? My girlfriends will never believe me if I don’t.”
“Can we go?” Oliver complains. Olivia ignores him, waiting for me to respond as she holds her phone out expectantly.
“Sorry, no. Tonight’s about the kids. I’d prefer to fly under the radar.”
“Christ, that’s cool. Isn’t she cool, babe?” Oliver’s gaze lands hard on me, heating as he takes in my dress, sweeping down over my bare thigh.
A growl slips out of Tieran’s mouth, possessive and predatory as he steps slightly in front of me. Oliver’s already walking away, clearly bored with the whole conversation, and Olivia hardly notices, her attention back on Tieran.
“You look good, T.” Her eyes trail down his body, and I have to remind myself the night is about the children, or I would be hauled out of here by security. “Really good. We shouldcatch upsoon.”
Her implication is more than clear, and I’m about to take a step forward, but then Tieran is pushing at the small of my back. “Our turn. Have a good night,” he dismisses her, ushering me forward in the queue.
“Are you alright?” I ask once she leaves, unbothered by his dismissal and with a gleam in her eye.
“Hmmm? Oh yes, I’m fine. I’m going to go use the bathroom quickly. I’ll come find you later.” He pauses like he wants to give me a kiss before departing but then realizes he can’t and strides toward the exit.
I watch him go the whole way before the disgruntled bartender grabs my attention and I order a champagne.
I’m standing at one of the back walls, feeling uneasy after the encounter with Tieran, his ex, and the sudden shift in his mood when a voice pops my peaceful bubble.
“Don’t you look ravishing,” Lawrence exclaims with absolutely zero sincerity.
“Lawrence.” My voice is clipped. “Where’s the missus?”
“Left her at home with the kids. Gotta see what’s on offer here, and I couldn’t well do that with her attached to my hip.”
I down the rest of my drink, desperately wishing another could magically appear in my hand. “Do you have any respect for women?”
“The ones who do what they’re told.”
My face doesn’t hide how I feel toward him. “You’re disgusting.”
“Careful, Ms. McKallen. That mouth of yours will get you in trouble one day, maybe even soon.” There's a weird look to his eyes I can’t decipher. It’s knowing and smug and so damn cocksure, it makes my hackles rise.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
He taps his glass against my empty one. “Have a good night.” And then, he strides away.
The whole conversation leaves me feeling rattled, and I decide I’m going to go find Tieran, needing his presence to ground me.
I head out of the ballroom in search of the bathrooms when I hear voices around a small alcove. I slow, straining my ears to listen when I hear Tieran’s voice, then Olivia’s.My heart starts pounding so loud, I have a hard time hearing what’s being said until I inch closer.
“Come on, T. No one has to know,” Olivia says, and my mind conjures images of her running her hands down his chest. I feel physically ill at the thought.
“Stop, Olivia.” His firm voice does little to ease my anxiety.
“You remember, don't you? How good it used to be with us.” I’m going to throw up. “You could have me right now, in this alcove.” Her voice is soft and seductive, the total opposite of my raspy resonance.
“I don’t want you. Olivia, so stop touching me and let me pass.”
“You’re playing hard to get. That’s cute.”
“Stop it.” His voice is edging on panicked, and the sound breaks my heart, pulling me out of my trance as I step around the corner to see her roaming her hands all overmyman.
“I think you should take your hands off him.” I don’t even recognize my own voice. It’s cold—lethal and filled with the promise of violence if she doesn’t stop touching him.
