Page 12 of No Ordinary Love

"Amara," a voice called out from behind us. Bobby and I turned, and I was ready to tell Bobby the hell with him feeling lonely; I was outta here.

Rena Covington stood like royalty in a peach-colored chiffon dress and a diamond choker that made her look like Audrey Hepburn from the ballroom scene in the end ofMy Fair Lady, only older. I had to stop myself from curtseying.

"Mrs. Covington," I smiled politely. "How are you?"

She surprised me by hugging me and then blew a kiss in the air next to each cheek. "I'm well, darlin'. Bobby, I'm so glad you could make it."

Bobby hugged her next. They were apparentlyoldfriends, as Bobby's wife used to sit on some charity boards with Rena. Bobby was like me, blue collar upbringing while his wife had been a Charleston blueblood. They'd had a great marriage, and he'd told me how her family had never made him feel like he didn't fit in. The Covingtons, he said, were wealthier than his wife's family and way more stuck up, probably because of it. He didn't like Patsy or Shelby or even Lucas, but it appeared he didn't have a problem with Rena.

"I hear you ended your relationship with my grandson," Rena, who was famous for not having a filter and not caring how anyone felt about what she had to say, said loudly enough for several people around us to hear.

Now, if this was Patsy or Shelby, I'd get it. They'd go out of their way to humiliate me.ButRena? Well, maybe her indifference had only masked her dislike, I thought sulkily.

"This is a lovely ball," I pleasantly spoke, ignoring her statement, "I hear that the Covington family supports the Heritage Foundation."

"Yes. And you're sitting at my table," Rena announced, then sighed, "Well, Bobby is, and since you're his plus one, so are you."

I looked at Bobby, aghast.Hell to the no!I wasn't going to spend an evening eating gourmet low-country cuisine with my ex's grandmother, who hated my guts for being too plebeian.

"You're so generous, Rena," Bobby gushed. He looked so happy that I was reluctant to make him feel bad. He'd mourned his wife for a long while, beforeandafter her death, and I was being silly and selfish.

I put on a bright smile. "That sounds lovely, Mrs.—"

"Call me Rena or Grandma; I don't like being called something everyone calls my daughter-in-law."

I licked my lips. Had she just asked me to call her Grandma? I felt like I was in some Tennessee William-esque play and had no clue what my lines were.

Rena insisted on walking with me on her right and Bobby on her left toourtable.

Every nerve in my body was on edge, and it only got worse when Rena seated me between her and some man I barely noticed. Unfortunately, directly across the table were Lucas and Kath, deep in conversation with their heads close together. The sight twisted something in my chest.

I forced a smile as Lucas nodded. "Amara, it's nice to see you."

"Hello, Lucas." Okay, that didn't sound pathetic; that sounded fine. Right?

"Amara, how wonderful that you're here." Kath didn't sound like it was wonderful at all. I took some pleasure from that.

Before anyone else could say anything, Rena introduced the table to the man on my left. He looked familiar, but I couldn't place him. He was utterly handsome, and I knew if I'd ever met him, there was no way I'd forget.

"Everyone, I'm so thrilled to have Jaxon Caldwell here. As you all know, and saw our young man from Charleston win the PGA Championship last year, finishing 12 under par with a stunning final round of 65," Rena announced.

A flurry of introductions were made.

I didn't know golf from my ass, so all I heard waswinnerandchampionship.

Once everyone settled down and the servers topped off everyone's drink, including mine, because the hell with it, I was going to loosen up a little and have some fun, I decided.

"Amara, Rena speaks very highly of you," Jax informed me.

"Rena does?" I quirked an eyebrow and turned to see Rena speaking with Bobby, not interested in my companion or me.

Jax had broad shoulders, easy charm, and a sexy smile. He leaned close when he spoke so I could smell his cologne—musk and leather, very sensual. And when he grinned, it was nothing short of dazzling. I may have been nursing a broken heart, but I wasn't blind.

"Rena mentioned that you'd be here tonight and that shereallywanted me to meet you."

I frowned uneasily. Why on earth would Rena want that?

I was conscious of Lucas watching me, his expression unreadable, while Kath leaned across him to speak to a woman sitting on his other side. There was a physical ease between them, and I just knew that they'd already had sex. How long did it take for him to stop thinking about me and start fucking her? A week? Two? Or maybe right after I told him I'd moved out?

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