The Billionaire Bachelor (Billionaire Bad Boys Book 1) Page 18

  In full view of the board, what else could she do but sip and smile and pretend her husband wasn’t hiding something from her? And that was what bothered her the most. She’d never seen Reese hurt. Given his reaction—closing down when hurt crept in was his defense mechanism.

  Across the room, Gwyneth locked arms with a bulky blond guy, his hair sharply cut, his facial features severe. He wasn’t unattractive, but his choice of arm candy made Merina dislike him instantly. Yes, there was a story there, and she intended to find out what it was. But for the moment, she was forced to mingle.

  Reese hadn’t given her much choice.

  * * *

  Pull it together, Crane.

  Reese, fists balled at his sides, stalked across the Crane Hotel ballroom. Not so much for whiskey but to escape his ex-girlfriend, who had ambushed his father’s retirement party. It’d been years since he’d seen her, since he’d punched Hayes in the face and demanded that Alex fire him.

  It was the act of a desperate man. A younger man. A less in-control man. But Reese didn’t care how unfair it’d been to take Hayes’s job away from him. Reese’s former best friend took his girlfriend, so it seemed only fair. After years of not seeing either one of them, finding himself faced with one was enough. Hearing that the other one was around the corner was too much.

  This was the problem with the unexpected. Reese thought he knew what to expect tonight. He knew his efforts and energy would be focused on Merina and the board and making sure his marriage appeared legit. Now he needed to regroup. It was obvious Merina knew something was up, but he wasn’t anywhere near ready to give her the short version.

  “Scotch neat,” he ordered. “Actually, make it a double.”

  The woman behind the bar poured what could be considered a triple. Reese jammed cash into the tip jar—could’ve been a five or a fifty, he had no idea—then lifted the scotch to his lips.

  Before he took a drink, Tag appeared in front of him, grabbed the glass, and set it on the bar. “Hi.”

  “Do you want to die?” Reese asked under his breath. The bartender cleared her throat and gave them some privacy. One of the benefits to being a Crane was that the staff tended to respect them.

  “Do this.” An easy grin appeared on Tag’s face. “You want to look as if you don’t want to kill me since people are looking.”

  “I don’t give a shit who’s looking.”

  “I can see that.” Tag deposited the glass behind the bar and pointed across the room. “Over there is better. For a lot of reasons.”

  He turned to walk away and Reese followed. Tag kept up conversation, talking about absolutely nothing as they cut through the crowd, pausing to say hello to a few people Reese hadn’t greeted yet. Once they were at a bar lined with taps, Tag ordered a few beers. From this part of the room, they could see the crowd, and no one was close enough to overhear.

  “Let’s talk about why you abandoned your gorgeous new wife after she met your despicable ex-girlfriend.” Tag took a drink of his beer, filling his cheeks with the brew before he swallowed.

  “Merina has questions I can’t answer right now.” Questions like who was Gwyneth to him, how long did they date, and what about her presence turned Reese into an overly starched shirt?

  “And you think walking away is going keep her from asking? If anything, you’re making it worse. Merina knows Gwyneth has something on you, or was something to you. She’s going to want answers.” Tag lost his easy grin.

  “You forget I have things under control.”

  “You forget I know a hell of a lot more about women than you do. Your wife is by herself after you introduced her to your ex-girlfriend.” Tag spoke purposefully, making sure Reese heard every syllable. “I’m not the only one noticing, Reese.”

  He glanced around the room. Merina was alone, drinking her wine and trying to look casual. Board members were dotted throughout the party, the one female board member standing in a huddle of other women whispering. Was she talking about Merina?

  “I suggest you sweep Merina in your arms and start dancing. Better yet, take her into one of the side rooms and have sex with her up against a wall.”

  Reese’s eyes snapped back to his brother.

  “Thought that’d grab your attention.” Tag gave him a brief smile. “Anything is better than everyone witnessing you nursing your wounds after Gwyneth dive-bombed you.”

  “Can’t we tell her to leave?” Reese growled.

  “No, you cannot.” This came from their father. The man of the hour was wearing an all-black tuxedo, tuxedo shirt, and bow tie. The stark contrast against his white beard and white hair made him look that much more regal. “I saw her, son. And Hayes. They are not here to cause trouble.”

  “Bullshit,” Reese said, turning to face his old man. He wouldn’t censor himself when it came to Hayes and Gwyneth. His father may have seen it as post–high school drama, but Reese knew better. It was the only time he’d ever been in love, had ever seen his future hovering ahead of him. The only time he saw potential for a family of his own. Marriage. A home. And then all of it was gone. In the blink of an eye.

  Just like Mom.

  “All due respect,” Reese told his father, “you don’t know what you’re talking about when it comes to them and you never did.”

  Alex’s cheeks mottled in anger.

  “Reese.” Tag’s voice was a gentle reprimand. “Dad.”

  Alex’s attention snapped from Reese to Tag.

  “Eyes all around,” Tag muttered.

  “I’m sick of the show,” Reese said. He’d prefer to drown his fury in scotch and crack the empty bottle over Hayes’s head. The asshole.

  “You need to say hello to him, Reese. Tag is right. People are watching,” Alex said. He didn’t smile, but his face relaxed as if he was having a cordial conversation with his sons and nothing more. “Grow up.”

  Reese ground his molars together.

  “Watch him.” Alex told Tag, then strolled into the party, arms up to receive more congratulations.

  “Breathe, Reese.”

  “Fuck off, Tag.” Reese turned on his heel and went to the other bar, where the female bartender was about to empty his abandoned scotch down the drain. He snatched the glass from her and drank it down in three burning swallows. “Refill that, will you?”

  At the same time, a cool hand slid over his tuxedo jacket. He turned his head to find a freckled hand resting on his forearm, a very big diamond ring on her finger.

  He lifted his chin and met Gwyneth’s green eyes.

  “Hey, sailor.” Her lips bowed into a smile. “Buy me a drink?”

  * * *

  Oh. My. God.

  Watching Reese medicate himself with scotch was one thing, but standing idly by while Gwyneth kamikazed him was another.

  Merina wasn’t going to allow the skinny redhead to hit on her husband. She finished her wine and relinquished the glass, but before she took two steps toward Reese, Tag stepped in front of her.

  “May I have this dance?” A smile lifted his trimmed beard.

  “No. I have a redhead’s ass to kick.” She smiled sweetly.

  “Ah. Yes, that would be good for the media.” He offered his hand. She regarded it suspiciously.

  “Are you going to give me more answers than he did?”

  “I doubt it.” He took her hand and she sent a look across the room at Gwyneth and Reese, wanting nothing more than to bust through the crowd like ten-pins before that woman could sink her teeth in him.

  Again.

  Funny how defensive Merina was and she didn’t know what had gone down between them. But something. Her intuition was spot-on even on her worst day.

  She allowed Tag to lead her to the center of the ballroom amidst a few couples dancing and chatting. He expertly turned her so her back was to Reese.

  “Just remember to smile.”

  She forced a grin and spoke between her teeth. “How’s that?”

  His mouth pulled into a grimace.
<
br />   When she went to move away from him, he laughed and towed her back in. “I kid, I kid. Come on, Sis, relax. I promise it’s not as big of a deal as you’re making it.”

  “Really?”

  “Probably.”

  Tag’s eyes were lighter blue than Reese’s, his hair sun-kissed and golden, the waves hanging over a white button-down shirt that had to have been custom-tailored to cover the expanse of his shoulders.

  She’d met Tag once before at a conference. Towering over everyone, dressed in a tight T-shirt hugging his rounded muscles and sporting a bearded smile that was oh-so-genuine, he wasn’t an easy person to overlook. He carried the Crane air of confidence and moved like he was in charge. And he was not bad on the eyes. She’d noticed that as well, though her danger-o-meter went off the moment he came near. This guy was a player.

  He towered over Merina, even taller than Reese by a few inches, so she had to tilt her head a little more than usual to talk to him.

  “Who is she?” she asked.

  “Who?” Tag’s eyes flicked to the side, then back. He grinned. How full of shit was he? Merina rolled her eyes to let him know she wasn’t buying it. “Oh, her.”

  “Yeah, her.”

  “That’s Reese’s story to tell, Sis.” True, but she didn’t feel like being fair. She wanted to know the truth and Reese wasn’t talking.

  “Obviously they dated and she’s horrible.”

  Tag laughed and squeezed her hand in his. Merina stole a casual look over her shoulder, making out Reese’s arm and Gwyneth’s dress before Tag moved her again and blocked her view with his huge body.

  Merina pegged him with a glare. “Is she a socialite?”

  “You could say that. She cares a great deal about money,” Tag said.

  “Were his flowers not well received?” she fished.

  “No can do on the intel.” Tag shook his head. “I have a suggestion, though. When he comes back over here, seduce him. Make him a little hot under the collar in front of everyone and then take him home and”—he winked—“you know.”

  “Kiss my ass, Tag!” She kept her voice down, but she didn’t hide her anger. “You don’t have any right to tell me what to do and what not to when it comes to Reese.”

  “Did I hear my name?” Reese appeared between them. His voice was low and soothing, his eyes tight at the corners. He’d escaped the clutches of Gwyneth Sutton Lerner, apparently. He offered a palm to Merina. “May I?”

  “Please.” She pulled away from Tag, who released her waist and gave his brother a look of concern.

  “Sure you’re okay?” Tag asked.

  “I’m good. Thank you.” Reese gave his brother a nod and Tag nodded back. In the midst of that subtle exchange, she guessed these two would do anything for each other.

  “I don’t need Tag to run interference,” she told Reese as she narrowed her eyes at Tag’s retreating figure. Several women’s heads turned and several of them were with dates or husbands. She clucked her tongue.

  “Go easy on him.” Reese tucked her against his body, and she instantly subdued, settling against him like she fit there. Tag was attractive, yes, but nothing was as electric as being held by Reese. All of her tingled. Sizzled.

  “He’s looking out for me.”

  “I saw her talking to you.” She moved one hand into the back of his hair, staking her claim to anyone watching.

  Reese studied her for the count of three before saying, “She told me where she and Hayes were sitting so I could say hello.”

  His words were carefully measured, almost robotic.

  “It looked more intimate than that,” Merina mumbled to his bow tie.

  “After this song, I’ll introduce you. You shouldn’t have been in the position to introduce yourself and I apologize for that.”

  His avoidance was bothering her. “Reese.”

  “Merina.” He pulled her close, splaying his hand across her back.

  Lost in his eyes for a few staggering seconds, she almost forgot what she was going to say. Then she remembered.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Whatever put that truckload of hurt in your eyes?

  “Not here,” he said after a few beats. She’d take it. That was better than the staunch “no” she’d received earlier. “I won’t give you a reason to worry again, Merina.”

  But he wasn’t doing her any favors by shielding her. She didn’t want Reese hiding his anguish from her. She’d rather him lay it on her lap so she could help him with it.

  A tiny voice of warning rose up and refused to be ignored. Hadn’t she tried to “help” Corbin by letting him move in with her? The last thing she needed to know was Reese’s messy history with any of the women he’d had in his life or his bed.

  Especially since Merina would be leaving both sooner rather than later.

  * * *

  The music slowed and Reese released Merina, most of him not wanting to. Holding her comforted him and allowed him to put off playing nice with the last two people on earth he wanted to be cordial with. Unfortunately, his father and brother were right. Reese couldn’t avoid them. Or he shouldn’t, anyway.

  What would the CEO of Crane Hotels do?

  He sighed and Merina took his hand, offering her steady brand of comfort. It was a novelty to have a woman at his side for anything other than business or pleasure. This was neither. She offered her friendship and support and nothing about her was faking it. She was here for him.

  He kept hold of her hand, and as they crossed the room, he told her the truncated truth. “Gwyneth and I used to be together. We ended things amicably. Hayes was an employee of Crane Hotels—manager of quality control for a while—until my father let him go.”

  She was quiet as they drew closer to the couple that had irrevocably changed Reese’s life.

  “Sounds like there’s more to that story,” Merina said, not fully accepting his offered half measure. But then, he hadn’t expected her to. She was smart and sharp and unafraid to speak her mind. Three things Gwyneth never was. The redhead who used to share Reese’s bed had nothing on the suave blonde at his side today.

  He pulled Merina closer, resting her hand at the crook of his arm and glancing down into amber eyes. “There is, but now’s not the time.”

  “Fair enough.” They shared a polite smile, but hers had a hint of heat behind it. Camaraderie. Silly as it sounded, her walking with him gave him strength.

  Hayes looked up from his food and swiped his mouth with a cloth napkin.

  Surprised, you bastard? Hayes had known Reese would be here, but he was probably surprised to see Reese venturing over to say hello.

  Hayes sipped from a glass filled with clear liquid with a lime floating in it. Club soda or vodka tonic? He’d celebrated his one-year sobriety the day before he was fired for being a douche. Hard saying if he’d stayed on the wagon since then. So much had changed.

  “I guess congratulations are in order,” Hayes said, speaking first. “On your marriage and I assume you’re taking over for your dad.”

  “One of those for sure, the other is to be determined,” Reese replied, his tone smooth.

  Hayes’s eyebrows jumped in consideration. He still had a small white scar on his lip from where Reese had clocked him. He’d landed a hit on his nose, too, but the bump on the bridge had predated Reese’s fury. Probably some other boyfriend he’d pissed off in the past.

  “Hayes Lerner.” He offered a hand to Merina, but she wrapped both hands around Reese’s biceps and smiled instead of touching him.

  Reese admired the hell out of her for it.

  “Mr. Lerner.” She didn’t make an excuse for not shaking his hand, and there was nothing rude in her words or expression. Hayes, realizing she wasn’t going to be cordial, awkwardly pulled his hand away.

  Reese wanted to kiss her. Later, he’d show his appreciation.

  “Your lovely wife and I met earlier,” Merina told Hayes.

  From the chair beside her husband, Gwyneth looked down her nos
e. Merina unwaveringly held her gaze.

  “It was kind of you to come out and wish Alex well,” Merina said. “I’m sure it wasn’t easy for either of you to show your faces here.”

  Reese smothered a smile, practically hearing the mic drop.

  “I have no problem being here,” Gwyneth hissed. But she was way out of her league. Her freckled cheeks went ruddy, betraying her anger. She’d never been good at hiding her temper. She and Reese had gone round and round over the stupidest shit when they’d dated. And then they’d gone round and round over Hayes, which turned out was even stupider.

  “Alex taught me a lot,” Hayes interjected, putting his hand over his wife’s to calm her. “Gwynnie reminded me that I was the bigger man by showing up here. Which is why we came. We’d never miss Alex’s retirement. No matter how you feel about us being here.”

  Pompous prick. That was the exact reason Reese bounced his fist off Hayes’s face all those years ago. He flexed his hand with the temptation to do it now too.

  Smarmy dickweed.

  “Alex is a good man.” Merina stroked Reese’s arm, bringing his temper down a notch. “I’m sure he can see exactly what you are trying to accomplish by being here. If you’ll excuse us.” In a stage whisper, she added, “I’m going to sneak out of here for a moment with Reese. You remember how hard it was to keep your hands off him, I’m sure.”

  Merina gave Gwyneth a saucy wink and snatched a cube of cheese off Gwyneth’s plate and ate it. She sucked on the tip of her thumb in what had to be the sexiest move Reese had ever seen. “Mmm. Thank you. I know that wasn’t mine, but I saw it and just had to have it. You know what that’s like. Try the crab bites. To die for.”

  Her arm wrapped around his, Merina turned. He walked with her, a smile tickling the edge of his mouth and a twitch coming from the recesses of his tuxedo pants. Bawdy and refined. That was his Merina.

  His.

  At least for now.

  “Now find us a closet so I can kiss you,” she said as they left the ballroom.

  Right fucking now.

  “No closet.” He flattened her back to the wall outside the door. Her eyes flared, her mouth curving into a pleased smile. He leaned close and brushed her nose with his. “Let ’em watch.”