“So, we’re not just tossing this back then biting into the lime. Got it.” She sniffed the liquor. “I’m trusting you, Bradford. Don’t do me wrong.”
He considered telling her she shouldn’t trust him—no one should. He’d lost whatever was good in him a long time ago. Instead he raised his glass higher. “Just a sip.”
She hesitated. “Do I bite into the lime before? After?”
“Neither. Not the first time.”
Joanna made a face in anticipation of not liking it, but she closed her eyes and did as he’d suggested. Her eyes flew open. “Oh, that’s not bad. You’re right, it’s smooth.”
“All the pleasure without the pain. Isn’t everything better that way?” He hadn’t intended to go there, but she was messing with his ability to think straight.
She searched his face. “Yes.” Her voice was husky and intoxicating. He was a man who was always hyper-aware of his surroundings. In his line of work people didn’t last long if they lowered their guard.
He could normally list not only all the people present and their location in the room, but also what they were wearing and if they had anything in their hands. There could have been a man swinging a machete beside Bradford in that moment and he wouldn’t have noticed.
Cheeks flushed, she looked away. “So what do we do with the lime?”
He knew he was entering dangerous waters. Desire didn’t necessitate action. He wasn’t an adolescent learning to control himself. Joanna was a nice woman who may or may not realize she was turning him on. Either way it would be a mistake to get involved with her. She was too innocent. Too trusting. The corner of his mouth twisted wryly as he imagined how fast she’d run from him if she knew even a sliver of what he’d done.
Still, he raised his lime wedge. “This time squeeze a little of your salted lime into your mouth then take a sip.”
Their gaze met and held. She raised her slice in perfect timing with him. They squeezed, sipped, swallowed in unison.
His brain completely shut down as he fought back an impulse to lick the salt off her lips. He downed the rest of the shot and slapped it back onto the bar.
She copied him, returning her glass as well. They stood there for a moment, not speaking, not looking at each other.
A movement at the door of the ballroom caught his eye. He growled, “Your friend is here.”
Joanna expelled an audible breath. “Oh, good. And she’s with Daphne. Claire asked us to help her feel comfortable here.” She waved them over.
The appearance of her friends created an easy out for him. “I should—”
She touched his forearm. “Stay. We’re all at the same table. This is your chance to get to know them.”
Bradford looked down at her hand on his arm then raised his eyes to hers. He didn’t pull away this time. His heart was beating wildly in his chest and he couldn’t get his feet to move.
“Please.” Joanna shot a persuasive smile at Bradford and warmth spread through him as he caved to her charm.
“Sure.”
Joanna had never been into the “bad boy” type, but she had to admit she had a growing affection for the man beside her. If people took the time to get to know him, she bet they’d see there was a lot of good beneath Bradford’s tough exterior.
Aly and Daphne were making their way across the room. Aly looked stunning in her deep blue gown. Head held high, she drew attention. More than one man turned to watch her stroll past.
Daphne’s eyes were round, and although she looked beautiful in her gown as well, she appeared ready to bolt out of the room. Aly said something to her and she stood taller, but still afraid.
“I’m so glad you bought that dress. You look awesome,” Aly said as she joined Joanna and Bradford. She hugged Joanna.
When Joanna stepped back, she said, “You do too. We’ll have to go shopping together again. That was fun. I had no idea you knew so much about fashion.”
Aly laughed. “Daphne, this is one of my closest friends, Joanna. She meant to say I always dress impeccably, so she was not shocked at all by my good taste in gowns.”
Joanna laughed. “Yes, that’s exactly what I meant.” Daphne held out her hand for Joanna to shake. Giving in to an impulse, Joanna said, “I’m a big hugger. May I?”
Daphne nodded and Joanna kept her hug brief. She felt stiff at first, then relaxed. Some people had very clear physical boundaries they did not like crossed, but Joanna had discovered over the years that the more technology distanced people, the more they were hungry for human connection. Never underestimate the healing power of a warm hug.
Aly nodded toward Bradford in greeting. There was a distinct chill between the two of them that saddened Joanna. When it came to diagnosing ailments, Aly was definitely the pro. When it came to things of the heart, though, Joanna liked to think she had a slight advantage.
Aly was a great friend, a wonderful doctor, and normally kind to everyone—which was why Claire had apparently entrusted her with Daphne. It was difficult to watch her with Bradford.
“Daphne, this is Bradford.”
Daphne didn’t offer her hand in greeting.
Nor did Bradford.
She looked afraid of him.
He looked annoyed.
More tequila anyone? “Bradford and I just did a tequila shot to ease our way into the event. Aly? Daphne? Want to join us?”
Daphne shook her head. “I d-don’t. I’m not a drinker.”
“Tequila,” Aly cringed then turned to the bartender and asked for white wine and ginger ale. “I guess I know who I’ll be driving home later.”
“She thinks I can’t hold my liquor.” Joanna gave Bradford an elbow to the ribs. “In a drink off I would have mopped the floor with you.”
“In your dreams,” Bradford said in a harsh tone.
Joanna tipped her head so she could look up at him. He wasn’t upset with her, so what was with the tone? He was a tough read. Was anger all he knew? “Oh, really?” She turned to the bartender. “Another round, please.”
Aly intervened, “Joanna, are you sure you—?”
“I grew up sipping my grandmother’s moonshine out of a teacup.” Joanna picked up a shot glass, then handed one to Bradford and winked. “That’s a little family secret she took to the grave, so if you ever meet my parents don’t say anything.”
He raised his glass as if in agreement. They both bit into their salted limes, took a sip, bit into the lime again then finished the shot. It felt like a dance of sorts that ended with her smiling up at him and him frowning down at her.
“Bradford,” a male voice called from across the room. Clay Landon was walking toward them with his wife, Lexi.
“Shit,” Bradford said without even turning his head in the direction of the voice.
Joanna looked back and forth between the man people said was rich enough to buy and sell the Barringtons and a seemingly irritated Bradford. “Everything okay?” Joanna asked in a low voice she hoped only he could hear.
“Yeah.” Bradford flexed his shoulders then turned to face the approaching couple—smile-free, but that was expected from him.
Clay gave Bradford a back-slapping hug. “I had to pull a few strings to arrange for us to sit together. Ian’s under the impression that you don’t like me. I told him you don’t like anyone so I don’t take it personally.”
At Clay’s side, Lexi was beautiful, confident, and amused. “Bradford, just go with it. He hasn’t come back to earth since Sophie complimented him on his success as Connor’s fairy godfather.”
“I can see how that might go to a man’s head,” Bradford said dryly.
Joanna was fascinated by the exchange. Money apparently didn’t impress Bradford nor did Clay. Clay, on the other hand, seemed to genuinely like Bradford. His endorsement was another tally in the column of why Aly’s take on Bradford was inaccurate.
Clay wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist. “It’s all your fault, Lexi. If you didn’t make me so happy, I wouldn’t want t
o help others find their own happily ever after.”
“Now that is something I don’t mind taking the blame for.” Lexi laid a hand on the side of his face. “You keep doing you, Clay. It’s kind of sexy that you want to help people find love.”
“Kind of?” Clay wiggled his eyebrows. “Like tell the nanny we won’t be home tonight sexy?”
She whispered something in his ear that brought a flush to his face. In the awkward silence that followed everyone temporarily looked away.
“Clay and Lexi,” Bradford said, “I’m sure you remember Joanna and Aly. And this is their—friend, Daphne.”
Joanna put both hands over her heart and said, “I have heard wonderful things about you from Angelina and Connor. You have every right to celebrate that win.”
Clay’s chest puffed. “Thank you. See, Lexi, I was wonderful.”
Lexi laughed. “You’re not helping, Joanna. Compliments go straight to his head.”
Clay leaned down slightly in Joanna’s direction. “Lexi thinks it was a fluke—that they would have gotten together regardless. She doesn’t understand the magic in what I did.”
“Magic. Who couldn’t use some of that?” Clay was an easy man to like. He didn’t care at all about trying to impress any of them. He was who he was—no apologies.
He gave Joanna a long look. “Do you have your heart set on someone who requires a little nudge?”
Joanna flushed. The tequila shots were setting in, but not enough for her to claim Dylan publicly. “N-no.”
Lexi hugged Clay. “I see what you’re doing, Clay; don’t think I don’t. You want to find another couple you can bring together. Don’t give him a name, Joanna, unless you’re ready for the pumpkin coach and ball. Clay can be a little over-the-top at times.” She hugged him. “It’s one of the many things I love about him.”
Clay waved a hand in the air. “What is a fairy godfather without a charge? Just a sad man with a magical wand.”
“Poor baby,” Lexi said. “We’ll find you someone to help.”
Joanna looked across to Aly for guidance, but she didn’t offer any. No. I can’t say anything. It’s one thing to dream and joke about marrying Dylan, it’s another to set a plan into motion. One is harmless, the other could make things awkward for Dylan as well as Angelina, and I don’t want that.
Her eyes locked with Bradford’s. Behind his seemingly practiced stare, she sensed a profound sadness that made her wish she knew him well enough to hug him and tell him everything would be okay. He could use a little of Clay’s magic. She almost said that, but at the last minute she decided to keep that thought to herself as well.
The noise level in the ballroom had risen as the room filled, but when it suddenly lowered people turned to see who had arrived. Phones raised to photograph the Sutton brothers as they entered—tall, muscular, and insanely good-looking. Their huge social media following was no big mystery . . . a woman would have to be dead not to be moved a little by those two.
Angelina was holding Connor’s hand. He bent to ask her something then smiled, looking so much in love with her Joanna gasped. “I want that someday,” she whispered to herself.
“A Sutton?” Bradford asked in a low tone.
Joanna’s gaze went to Dylan. He was certainly handsome and polished. Universally attractive. Her heart didn’t race the way she’d expected it to, though. Would she feel something for him again if they spent time together? “Maybe.”
Bradford walked away.
Clay looked at Lexi. “I told you tonight was worth flying in for.”
She shook her head. “Clay Landon, whatever you’re thinking—no.”
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “Aly. Joanna. Daphne. We look forward to sharing a table with you, but there’s something Lexi and I must do first.”
“Oh, Lord,” Lexi said. “See you in a few, ladies.”
Joanna and the others said they looked forward to it then watched Clay and Lexi make their way across the room in the direction Bradford had gone.
Claire arrived with Ian, and Daphne scurried away to greet her.
“I’m not going to say it,” Aly said.
“Good,” Joanna said lightly, “because I probably don’t want to hear it.”
Aly laughed. “Tequila gives you some sass.”
Joanna smiled. “I suppose it does.”
After a short pause, Aly said, “Drinking with Bradford; how did that happen?”
“First, we weren’t ‘drinking’ together, we had two shots to unwind. Second, it really bothers me that you’ve decided you don’t like him but you’ve never taken the time to get to know him. You’re better than that, Aly.”
“Whoa, let’s unpack some of that. You and I tell each other everything, so asking how you and Bradford ended up downing tequila shots is not crossing any boundaries. And I never said I don’t like him. I said you need to be careful with him. I’ve been asking around about him and no one will tell me what he does. It’s concerning.”
“To you. Not to me. He’s been nothing but nice to me, so I don’t really care what he does for a living. If it was illegal, I don’t think he’d be here. Did you see how Clay Landon just fawned over him? That’s enough of a reference for me. If I even required a reference before liking a person—which I don’t—and nor should you.”
“I hate it when you’re right.” Aly sighed. “I am judging him based on very little evidence, but I get this vibe from him . . .”
“What kind of vibe?”
“I shouldn’t say it.”
“Well you might as well now that you’ve brought it up.”
“Like I wouldn’t be surprised if I heard he’d killed someone.”
“Oh, my God.” Joanna scoffed. “You’ve watched too many crime shows. Even in those though, it’s never the obvious choice who did it, so it wouldn’t be him anyway.”
Aly clasped her small purse in front of her. “Laugh it off, but there’s something about him . . .”
“You could say that about every person in this room. Ease up.” Joanna nudged her friend with her hip. “When it comes to reading people, I’m the one with the good instincts. Remember that neurosurgeon you tried to date. I told you he liked himself more than he could ever like you.”
“You did call that one correctly.”
“And the astrophysicist with the foot fetish. Come on, you thought he liked you barefoot just because he preferred shorter women. No way. I saw the way he checked out my tootsies when I wore sandals.”
Aly laughed. “You win. You are definitely a better reader of men. Maybe I’m wrong about Bradford. I hope I am.”
“You are.” Joanna searched the room until she spotted Bradford. Their eyes met and held. “He’s not dangerous, Aly, just sad. I see that expression in the eyes of throw-away horses all the time. He’s shut down. Someone hurt him, maybe threw him away too. He looks angry because he’s probably learned it’s safer to keep people at a distance, but if you look past that you see something else. He’s here to support the Barringtons and they adore him. That says all I need to know about who he is on the inside.”
“You almost sound interested in him. Have you given up on Dylan?”
“Bradford and I are just friends.” Reluctantly, she dragged her gaze away from Bradford and sought out Dylan in the crowd. He was surrounded by a circle of adoring women. It was fun for Joanna to fantasize about being with him, having him choose her above all those beautiful women, but it was becoming more difficult to imagine being with him. “Do you think he’s as nice as Connor or has his celebrity status gone to his head?”
One of the women with him said something that made Dylan laugh. He appeared to love all the attention he was receiving. Aly sighed. “I’m sure even a humble person has a difficult time remaining that way when all they hear is how wonderful they are. Unending praise is not good for anyone.”
“So I definitely shouldn’t flatter him.”
Without looking away from Dylan, Aly said,
“Not unless you want to become part of that herd.”
“I don’t.” Joanna looked around the room. It was quickly filling with the rich and famous. When Sophie Barrington threw a charity ball anyone who was anyone showed up.
With Connor on her arm, Angelina made mingling look effortless. Neither had come from money nor even gone looking for it, but Connor’s sister, Viviana, had married into the Barrington family and that meant events like this were now part of their lives. Which doesn’t mean it needs to be part of mine. I’m already happy with my life. “Although it would have been fun to have a fairy godfather.”
Chapter Three
“Bradford,” Clay called out as he approached with his wife.
I should have left when I had the chance. Bradford straightened to his full height. He didn’t say anything because silence often spoke louder than words.
Most men found Bradford intimidating, sadly Clay wasn’t one of them. “Could I have a moment of your time?”
“No.”
Clay smiled at Lexi. “He’s funny, isn’t he?”
Lexi gave Bradford a long look, then gripped her husband’s arm. “This is a bad idea.”
After giving her hand a reassuring pat, Clay said, “Every new idea is doubted at first but then they work out and are considered genius.”
Bradford shook his head. “I could list countless times ideas took a much darker path.”
Clay clapped a hand on Bradford’s arm. “Then you’ll just have to trust me.”
Leaning in, Bradford growled, “Don’t fucking touch me.” He straightened and frowned.
Lexi looked from him to her husband and back. “Do you want me to call Clay off?”
“You do realize I can hear you?” Clay asked with amused sarcasm.
“No, I can handle this.” Bradford looked Clay in the eye. “What do you want, Clay?”
Clay waved a hand in the air. “You’re right. This is a conversation we should have alone.” He smiled down at his wife. “Lexi, do you mind giving us a few minutes?”
Reluctantly Rescued (The Barrington Billionaires, Book 9) Page 3
