Tom lifts a shoulder in a half-shrug. “We kept it pretty much under wraps. Juan ended up dying while I was in the facility, and it hit me pretty hard. He was way too young to have died, and I think that smacked me with a firm dose of reality and helped my recovery more than anything.”
The stiffness in my shoulders loosens. Tom wasn’t being a nosy ass; he was simply sharing how someone else’s choices affected his own. “I’m glad you got the help you needed. A wise man once said, ‘Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t make them all yourself,’” I say, and Auburn turns to me.
“Who said that? Albert Einstein?”
I shake my head and grin at him over the rim of my glass. “Nope. Usher.”
He and Tom laugh. “The man’s a lyrical genius.”
“Anyway,” Tom says, “I just thought I’d tell you in case you wanted to let Mindy know her dad changed my life. I’m not sure if that’s something she’d want to hear.”
I pat him on the shoulder. “I actually think she would love that story. You should share it with her when she gets here.” Lifting my wrist, I check the time and frown. “Which should have been ten minutes ago. Have you heard from Gianna?” I ask Auburn since the ladies were getting ready together.
“She texted a few minutes ago that they’re in the limo and will behere soon.” He looks down into his nearly empty glass. “I’m going to get another drink. You need anything?”
I shake my head. “No, I’m good.” He and Tom head toward the mahogany bar on the left side of the room, and I glance again toward the entrance. I’m looking for Mindy but instead, I see the last person I want to see. And he’s headed my way.
Grant motherfucking Carlisle, heir to the Carlisle Jewelry empire, flashes a smile that’s all white teeth and arrogance. As usual, his blond hair is slicked back and pulled into a stupid man bun at the nape of his neck, and his skin has that deep tan color that tells me he spends a lot of time outdoors. He looks like he’d be just as comfortable on a surfboard as in a boardroom. His dark-blue suit is annoyingly well-tailored, fitting his long legs as he makes a beeline toward me. I’d almost forgotten he was playing in this tournament, but I’m certainly remembering now.
“Hale,” he says, still grinning.
“Carlisle,” I grit out, sizing him up. We haven’t come face to face in years, and I’d forgotten how tall he was.
“Congratulations on the win today.”
“Thanks,” I return, baring my teeth in what’s supposed to be a smile but probably comes off more like a sneer. “Your team placed… what? Fifth?”
His grin broadens, and I want to undo every bit of work his high-priced orthodontist ever performed. “Fourth, actually,” he says in his Aussie accent that grates on my nerves. “Not a bad showing.”
I want to tell him that sounds like something a loser would say, but I hold my tongue. This is not the time nor the place to ignite our family feud.
“Is there something I can help you with?” I ask instead.
“Just wanted to offer my congrats.” He lifts a shoulder and lets it fall. “And to let you know Carlisle Jewelry is looking forward to working with you guys on the hospital charity gala.”
I slide my tongue across my top teeth, doing my best to maintain a professional demeanor. “Same.” Which is a fucking lie. They’re the last company I’d want to be connected to, but we’re in polite company.
“Perri in particular. She’s an absolute gem and quite cheeky, isn’t she?”
He has the nerve to wink, and my eyes narrow into slits. I’m about to tell him to keep my sister’s name out of his goddamn mouth when Auburn returns with a hearty greeting.
“Grant, nice to see you.”
Carlisle pulls his gaze from me and turns that irritating smile toward my friend as they shake hands. “You too, Auburn.” The two of them discuss golf while I stand there and clutch my glass so tightly I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter.
Finally, someone calls Carlisle’s name, and he glances toward a leggy blonde before grinning at us again.Does this fucker ever stop smiling?It grates on my last nerve.
“Good to see you both,” he says, lifting a glass of amber liquid in a salute. “And Hale, tell Perri I’ll call her when I get back to town so we can catch up.” He pauses before adding, “You know, about the gala.”
I’m sure he can feel my glare boring into his back as he turns and strides away. Maybe I should tell Auburn about the history between our two families. And to watch out for his wife because I don’t trust Grant Carlisle as far as I can throw him.
But Auburn isn’t looking at me. He’s staring at the arched entrance to the room with a goofy smile on his face. Following his line of sight, I immediately understand why. His wife is standing there in a red cocktail dress, makeup impeccable, with wine-red lips and her raven hair smooth but with some volume.
Gianna is the picture of elegance, but when she takes a half step to her right, she disappears from my consciousness. In fact, everything does. The soft string music wafting through the space… gone. The well-dressed people milling about… they no longer exist. It’s as if I’m in a vacuum.
Becausesheis here. My Mindy.
My entire world narrows to a single spotlight shining from above to highlight the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen in my life. The gold and white of her dress sets off her tanned skin, and the entire package is topped with a mass of brilliant red hair set in an elegant updo withlarge, sleek loops. And there seem to be strands of gold interspersed within the red.
