“Very well. It’s this way.” Shane helped me maneuver through the thickening crowd out in the hallway. I found the women’s room and ducked inside, grateful for a little anonymity and a break from the pressure of being on display. Even though I didn’t have to go, I locked myself in a stall and took a few deep breaths. While I was in there I heard the door open and close, footsteps, high heels clacking on stone tile.
Voices.
“Did you see the one he’s with tonight? Shane Trant. With that little…nothing? I can hardly believe it. He could have brought any woman he wanted, but he brought her? What rock did he dig her out from under?”
Rock?
“I don’t know,” said a second voice. “Ever since his wife died he’s been a wreck. He’s got someone new on his arm practically every week. But that’s okay. I can be patient. I know he’ll come back to me when he’s ready to settle down.”
That one sounded pretty damn sure of herself. I wondered if there was a reason for her confidence. What if what they said was true? Maybe I was a nobody, a passing fancy, a little fling, a distraction. Maybe when Shane was ready for something real, something beyond the whips and chains and yes, sirs, he would look for someone else.
Someone like that woman out in the lobby.
Someone totally unlike me.
The second woman added, “I just hope that girl’s clean, if you know what I mean. He doesn’t like condoms.” The women giggled. “I mean, I’m sure he goes to the doctor regularly, but when he’s ready to put a ring on my finger, I’m going to insist he have some tests run.”
Ring? There had to be a reason why that bitch figured she’d be the one to wear his ring someday.
“What are you going to do if the tests come back positive?” asked the other woman.
“I’ll figure out something. No way I’m going to turn down that bank account.”
More giggles.
Bitches.
And I was willing to bet they thought I was just like them, only after him for his money. They were wrong. Wrong!
“Did you hear the rumor?” Bitch Number One asked. “I heard People is going to make your Shane their most eligible bachelor this year.”
“That’s fine. He can be their eligible bachelor this year. Next year, he won’t qualify.”
Louder giggles.
God, it was no wonder Shane was trigger-shy when it came to women.
I considered hiding in the stall and waiting for those two money-grubbing bitches to leave, but I decided I wanted to face them head-on. I pushed open the door, met their shocked gazes. I recognized one of the two women right away. She was the one who’d accosted Shane when we’d first arrived.
So you think he’s going to marry you?
Within a split second, the surprise was gone, replaced by cool, assessing glares that irritated me instead of intimidated me.
Those bitches thought they knew Shane.
They thought they could control him.
They didn’t know a damn thing.
I smiled. It wasn’t a fake one. It was one hundred percent genuine. “Hello,” I said, smile at full wattage. “I’m sure Shane can tell the difference between someone who’s interested in him versus his money. He’s not a stupid man.”
Feeling much better, I touched up my lips, fluffed my hair and headed out to the ballroom. Shane intersected me just inside the entrance and escorted me to the front table. After making sure I was comfortable, he gave me a little wink and left.
I glanced left and right. No sign of either woman from the bathroom. I was relieved. Sure, I’d put Miss Rich Bitch in her place, and I was feeling quite powerful for having done so, but I didn’t know what she’d do, given some time to plan her retribution. I expected she’d say or do something tonight.
What I hadn’t expected was what came next.
Or rather, I should say, who.
“Bristol, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” Jordan, Shane’s old friend took the seat beside me.
Oh, this was just…perfect.
Sure, Shane had warned me Jordan would be there. But he hadn’t told me I’d be forced to sit next to him.
“Hello.” I gave him a polite smile then turned to the woman who was seated a couple of chairs away. Unfortunately, she was engaged in a conversation with the man next to her. My gaze moved to the next pair of people, two women, also chatting with each other. And the next three seats were empty, as was the seat meant for Shane.
That left only me and Jordan.
“Shane is so much better at this kind of thing than I am,” he said, resting an arm over the back of my chair.
“Isn’t that good for you?” I said, leaning forward. This was awful. Awkward and uncomfortable. I didn’t know which would be better, ignoring him or making small talk.
I went with ignoring him at first. But after having to knock his hand off my shoulder several times, I concluded it might be better to keep him busy by talking so he’d stop touching me. “Shane told me you’re old friends.”
“Yes, very old. We met in sixth grade. His family moved into the house across the street from mine. We went to the same high school and college. Then, after we graduated, we went into business together. We’ve been partners ever since.”
“That’s a long time. I haven’t spoken with any of my friends from grade school in ages.”
“Shane is like a brother to me, the brother I never had.”
“I see.”
He leaned closer, completely invading my personal space bubble. “You’re a very beautiful woman. I can understand why he’d like to keep you to himself. For now. But in time he’ll change his mind. He always does.”
I scooted my chair away from his. “Don’t be so sure about that.”
He chuckled. “I’ve known Shane a lot longer than you.”
“True, but I know myself much better than you do, and I’m telling you that I won’t allow him to share me. Not with you. Not with anyone.”
He scooted his chair next to mine again and angled toward me. I was really getting annoyed, and I made sure he knew it. Ignoring my squinty glare, he said, “The last girl we shared said the same thing. Now, she’s begging us for another night.”
I bit my lip against the temptation to shoot back a sarcastic comeback. I could see, by the dark glitter in his eyes, that he was baiting me. He wanted to keep me talking.
So I decided to go back to the silent treatment.
Even when he was practically sitting on top of me.