“No problem.”
“Is there big money in flipping commercial properties?” Rob wanted to know.
“Oh yeah, if you dress them up just right. We do a lot of that type work in between going on location for larger projects, and several small jobs can bring in almost as much money as one of the really big developments.”
“Any big stuff on the horizon?” Lily asked, telling herself she was only making idle conversation. What did she care if Buchanan had to leave town to manage a large-scale development?
“Actually, our attorneys have a parcel picked out and ready to go—some waterfront property near Jupiter. Just some last-minute stumbling blocks to remove first.”
“Where is it?” Lily asked.
“I don’t even know.” Garrett smiled. “The real estate procurement team locates and sets up the properties for sale, then Rhett swoops in to approve and sign the final papers. After that, he drags me out to the site with the conceptual plans and shows me what he wants.”
“How nice to be so busy,” she murmured, hating that a simple discussion about Buchanan made her heart race.
The man had humiliated her, and she hated him for it. She felt her cheeks growing warm, and she hated that, too.
Garrett noticed. “Sorry, Lily. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Let’s get that drink we came over here for,” Rob said and took Lily’s elbow.
As they turned toward the mobile bar, Lily heard Tammy whisper, “Is he coming tonight?”
“I asked him, but he wouldn’t say if he was or not,” Garrett said.
“Will he bring a date?” Tammy asked.
Her voice was low, but Lily still heard, and her heart suffered a reflexive stab of pain. She stuck close to Rob and refused to look back. She didn’t want to know Buchanan’s plans. As Rob eased into the line at the bar, Lily heard a hiss coming from Tammy’s direction. She turned to see Tammy and Garrett staring wide-eyed at the ballroom entrance. Lily didn’t have to look to know Rhett Buchanan had just appeared at the event with a date.
She suddenly felt cold from head to toe, and she fought the scowl trying to reform on her face. Why should she give a fig if Buchanan showed up tonight with a date? She was so over him. But in that moment, she just couldn’t help herself, and she tracked Tammy’s gaze to the ballroom entrance to see the woman Rhett had escorted here tonight.
Lily promised herself—insisted—his date’s identity did not matter. Her gaze fell on Rhett’s broad-shouldered outline silhouetted in the doorway, and she stilled at the sight of the woman on his arm.
Unless Delia Armstead was his date.
“Damnation,” Garrett hissed. “What was he thinking?”
“You mean what was he thinking with,” Tammy said dryly.
Lily turned back to face forward with Rob. He gave no sign of having heard Garrett and Tammy, but his arm swept protectively around her shoulders, and she felt grateful. She had known if Garrett was here, there was a chance Buchanan would show.
So why had she come? To prove how brave she was? How unhurt she was? She didn’t feel very brave right now, and seeing Buchanan with Delia made her heart hurt so bad there was a stabbing pain in her chest. She could convince herself she was over Rhett as long as she didn’t have to actually see Rhett. She had convinced herself she didn’t care anymore, but seeing him with Delia made a liar out of her.
Rob let go her shoulder long enough to reach for the two glasses of champagne the bartender placed on the counter. He handed one glass to Lily and took her elbow to guide her away from the bar.
Stopping several yards away, he leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I want you to give as good as you get. He dared to show up here with Delia, after what she did, so we will make him pay. If you promise to look like you’re having the time of your life, I’ll get you out of here as soon as I can.” He leaned back to look in her eyes. “Deal?”
She nodded. “Deal. And thanks, Rob.”
“You’re my best friend, Lily. I’d do anything for you,” he said and leaned over to kiss her cheek.
Closing her eyes, she smiled and leaned into him. When her eyes opened, her gaze settled on Buchanan staring stonily from across the room. She glanced up at Rob and slid her arm around his waist.
“Smooth move, Lil. I caught all that, and right now he looks like he could clock me.”
“Maybe this isn’t wise,” she said, but she noticed Rob was smiling.
“Are you kidding me? I’m enjoying the hell out of this. How many times in my life will I get the opportunity to make a billionaire jealous?”
“He’s not jealous. He hates me. You weren’t there. You didn’t hear him call me a liar and scream at me to get out of his house.”
She shuddered, and Rob tucked her closer, hoping Buchanan got an eyeful. “You don’t know that he hates you.”
“I do. He accused me of being after his money, of luring patrons into the nursery like some kind of plant slut.”
Rob roared with laughter.
“That’s not funny.”
“Yes, it is. You a slut? Come on.”
Rob was still shaking with laughter when Tammy and Garrett approached.
“What’s so funny?” Tammy asked.
“Buchanan accused Lily of using her feminine wiles to sell plants,” Rob said, unable to contain his mirth.
“Oh good Lord,” Garrett muttered, looking embarrassed. “Lily, I’m sorry. If he tries to get near you, I’ll run interference.”
“No, it’s all right. I don’t care. It’s over. He made his position perfectly clear the other day, and it’s fine with me this way.”
Garrett and Tammy exchanged glances. Tammy leaned in and whispered, “But I thought you . . .”
“. . . fell for him?” Lily finished for her. “Purely infatuation and I’m over it.”
She didn’t bother keeping her voice down. She didn’t care if Garrett heard or not. She hoped he told Buchanan exactly how she felt.
“I’d be silly to think I’d fallen for a guy after only a couple weeks like some schoolgirl.”
“I had no idea he would bring Delia tonight,” Garrett said apologetically.
“Now that’s one thing I could have lived without,” Lily said, her smile fading, and she wandered off with Rob to see where they were seated for dinner.
Garrett left the redhead and walked alone to the bar. Rhett caught up with him there. The sight of Lily Foster here with her date had Rhett’s jaws clenching. He knew Garrett was behind her appearance here at the charity gala, but Rhett would make an effort to be civilized. After all, Garrett was his best friend.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Rhett growled when he caught up with Garrett at the bar.
“Enjoying myself.”
Rhett glared, coming alongside. “You know what I mean. Why didn’t you tell me she would be here?”
At least, Garrett didn’t give him that blank stare he had tried back at the office. Rhett had guessed he was up to something even then.
“What do you care? When you threw Lily out of your house, you gave up any hold on her.” He calmly ordered a scotch rocks from the bartender.
“So you brought her here to taunt me?” Rhett demanded, incredulous.
“No, Rob brought her here. I had two extra tickets, since you said you weren’t going, and I gave them to Tammy.”
“I told you I didn’t know if I was going,” Rhett said belligerently and demanded his own scotch rocks when the bartender turned to him.
“What’re you so pissed off about? You’re here with Delia.”
Rhett fought the glare forming. Lily being here was totally Garrett’s fault, and damned if Rhett had been able to stop glancing over at her ever since he’d walked in and spotted her. Delia had noticed, much to
his chagrin, and had no problem complaining about his wandering gaze.
“At least, she’s graduated to being just she instead of the liar.”
“It’s my business, Garrett,” he snapped.
“You’re right. Just like taking out that supermodel last weekend and bringing Delia tonight to prove your point.”
“I’m not proving any point.”
“Aren’t you? You want to be a jerk, you go right ahead, but don’t expect me to join you and treat Lily bad, too. I like her. She’s very nice. So is Tammy.” Garrett moved a few steps away from the bar to allow more patrons access. Rhett followed.
“Damn,” he suddenly growled. “They’ll let anybody into these charity events.”
Garrett followed his line of sight across the crowded ballroom. Aidan Cross had paused at the entrance. “Why does Cross still get to you after all these years? I don’t get it.”
“Just because you two have stayed good friends since college, doesn't mean I have to. Need I remind you, he’s stolen a half dozen BDC development deals right out from under our collective noses?”
“And we’ve stolen at least twice that many from him,” Garrett argued.
Rhett pointed an index finger like a pistol. “You just make sure he doesn’t steal the Cypress Key deal out from under us. I have plans for that gulf coast parcel.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Garrett sing-songed, “you still didn’t explain why you hate him so much.”
“And I’m not going to.”
“Heck, you two played on Princeton’s golf and lacrosse teams together,” Garrett persisted.
“Drop it.”
Garrett held his palms out. “Okay. Okay.”
“Let’s get back to your own double-cross deal tonight.”
“Aw geez, I already told you. I gave the two extra tickets to Tammy to give to whomever she wanted.”
“And you knew nothing about her coming,” Rhett sneered.
“You should be happy. Looks like Lily has found someone else to play with tonight, so you don’t have to worry about her pining away for you,” Garrett said, a little too smugly to suit Rhett, especially when his friend’s gaze strayed back across the room again.
Rhett turned and felt all his muscles tighten. At the far side of the ballroom, Aidan Cross had cornered Lily. He gulped back a snarl as Cross leaned in and whispered something in Lily’s ear. At least, it looked like that from here. She had a date with that grower from her nursery. What was she doing talking to that hound dog Cross—and looking all happy?
Rhett had to make a conscious effort to uncurl his fingers from the fist they’d made. He hated this whole gala scene tonight. He and Garrett were arguing, and the two of them never argued. And now he had to watch Cross making a move on Lily. He wanted to be anywhere but here, watching her smile up at that horn dog. How dare she? She should be miserable for lying to him.
Cinderella, my ass. She wanted my money, and I was ready to give everything to her.
He stalked back to an impatient Delia. At least, she didn’t hide her motives. Delia was quite up front about them. She had money. She just wanted more money. He turned his chair slightly before he sat down, so it would be harder to see her.
“You and Garrett looked like you were arguing. What was that all about?” Delia asked and eased her breast suggestively against his arm.
Once upon a time, her move might have aroused him. Tonight, nothing. That thought alone set his teeth on edge. But the knowledge—hell, the certainty—that he could turn slightly to his right and cast a furtive glance in Lily’s direction and that doing so, could arouse him, made him want to roar his disgust.
What was wrong with him? He’d never even slept with the girl. Correction, the liar. Hell, he hadn’t slept with anybody in . . . too damn long.
Maybe that was his problem.
Maybe if he sampled some of Delia’s sensuous goods, he could wash all these foolish notions out of his brain. Taking out the supermodel hadn’t done the trick, so maybe a tumble with Delia would.
His headache immediately loosened a notch, and he felt better already. He now had a plan. He always worked better with a plan. Damned if he would stay here and watch Cross make time with Lily. Anybody, but him.
Leaning over, he whispered in Delia’s ear, “You ready to go? I’ll send the foundation a check.”
She leaned back to see his face. Anger briefly flashed in her eyes. “Go where?”
His eyes narrowed. “Your place.”
“Ready when you are, darling.”
Lily and Rob had headed for the adjacent dining ballroom to see where they were seated for dinner. Rob was stopped twice by old family friends, and the third time, the couple tugged him away to greet extended family, leaving Lily momentarily alone.
She’d seen Rhett stalk to the bar and corner Garrett—no doubt to berate him for allowing Lily to attend tonight—so she kept her eyes averted and waited for Rob to return.
“Dare I hope you’re alone tonight?” a deep masculine voice said, much too close to her ear.
She turned slightly and immediately saw Aidan Cross’s lethal smile. All for her.
“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Cross,” she said politely.
He brought a hand up to his chest. “You wound me deeply. I thought we got to be Aidan and Lily at Delia’s party.”
She grinned. “So we did.”
“You look stunning tonight, but then you looked stunning at Delia’s, too.”
Was he flirting?
“Thank you. You’re very kind.”
“Kind has nothing to do with it. I know a beautiful woman when I see one. I couldn’t help but notice you’re not here with Rhett tonight. Did your escape attempt at Delia’s turn out badly?”
Lily gasped. “How did—”
He chuckled. “You looked so forlorn that night I followed you out to the garden. By the time I caught up, Rhett had you in tow and he looked none too happy.”
“Mr. Cross, that’s really none of your business.” The last thing she wanted was to rehash her relationship with Rhett tonight, especially with him here and dancing attendance on Delia.
“You’re absolutely right, and I’ll apologize if I can go back to being Aidan.”
Oh my, that lethal smile of his! He could woo grandmas out of their pensions.
“You don’t need to apologize, Aidan. I just don’t want to discuss Rhett.”
“Fair enough. You never answered me though. Can I hold out hope you’re here without a date this evening? I’d love to take you out after the charity auction tonight for a drink. Or two.”
Okay, that was flirting!
Lily suddenly felt very nervous. Aidan Cross was way out of her league and had dated even more women than Rhett, according to Garrett.
“No, I’m here with Rob Shaw, my good friend.”
Now why had she added that?
Aidan’s eyes lit up. Even she could see his interest.
Oh be honest, Lily. You’re hoping Rhett is watching a handsome man—his friend, no less—flirting with you, and you intend to make this last a while if you can.
“You’re all through with Rhett Buchanan though, right?” Aidan prodded.
“I already told you, it’s—”
“—none of my business. I get it.” He held up a placating hand. “I’m only asking because I don’t want to horn in on Rhett’s territory. Like I told you at Delia’s, he and I are sort of friends.”
She tilted her head. “How does one be sort of friends?”
He relaxed. “We went to college together, competed against each other in most things, and played on the golf and lacrosse teams together.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “We were sort of the odd couple. I came from ol
d money. Rhett came from no money. I had the best golf clubs, and Rhett played with garage-sale golf clubs.”
“Oh.”
“I saw you get all misty-eyed,” he chided. “Don’t feel sorry for him. He was the only guy on the golf team who could beat me. Hell, Rhett could have gotten his PGA card right out of college, but he was dead set on making his fortune the hard way.”
“What about you?” Lily asked. “Could you have gone on the tour?”
He shrugged. “I loved golf more than Rhett, but my father had other better plans for me. When you come from old money, Lily, you don’t have to earn it like Rhett. You only have to work to hang onto it. It’s a family responsibility for the generations that come after you.”
“You don’t sound very happy about that.”
“I’ve got no complaints. I have homes here and in Antigua and Hawaii and condos in New York and Telluride.” He spread his palms wide as though his life were an open book.
The poor guy didn’t look happy about all those homes and did look like he might have a complaint or two about his life.
“Wow, is that misty-eyed look for me this time?” he teased, then grew solemn. “I can see now why Rhett was taken with you, Lily Foster. You’re an easy person to talk to, and you make others feel comfortable.”
She smiled at the compliment and was about to answer him when she caught movement to her left and saw Rhett leading Delia right toward the spot where she stood with Aidan.
“Why don’t you and I sneak off someplace quiet and get to know each other better, Lily,” Aidan said suddenly, and loudly, right as Delia and Rhett swept past.
Rhett’s step hesitated one brief second. Lily thought she heard a growl, but she couldn’t be sure. She was sure however, of the smug look Delia tossed back at Lily right before Rhett led her from the ballroom.
“Why did you do that?” Lily cried at Aidan.
“Do what?” he asked, all innocence, his blue eyes wide. “Ask you to go out with me?”
Cinderella Busted (The Cinderella Romances Book 1) Page 14
