Page 95 of Succeeding Love

Standing at the bar with Stevens, he pulled me into a conversation quickly with a chairperson of some kind of committee for something that was probably important. I couldn’t focus much on what was being said. I just nodded alongand smiled at the right times, knowing my boss just wanted me for my smile right now. These older women love a successful younger man, and I’m the only fully single man in the firm right now. I know that was the main reason Stevens insisted I attend.

I was agreeing with some trivial compliment Stevens just gave the chairperson when familiar, sweet-sounding laughter reached my ears, making my heart drop to the pit of my stomach. I went still and almost spilled my wine everywhere, searching for the sound.

Stevens coughed, trying to catch my attention again. He wanted my focus on Miss Cougar-With-Too-Much-Perfume, but nothing could stop me from searching for the source of that sound.

That was when I saw her. My Fay. She was across the room near the cherub fountain, wearing the most gorgeous soft blue dress that exposed most of her back. Her thick, dark hair was swept up high in a ponytail, pulling your attention to her bare neck.

I knew it was her before she even turned her head to gaze up at her giant of a date. He was in a single sports coat and white shirt, not even buttoned all the way. His tattoos were showing open on his chest, making him look like a barbarian. His cowboy boots and jeans were nothing too out of the ordinary compared to the old money cowboys and cattlemen in attendance. Jeans and sport coats were the norm among the older tycoons, but seeing it on him was different.

And the way Fay was staring up at him. Damn, it made me sick. Did she ever look at me that way? I feel like I only get glares and the cold shoulder from her now.

“I’m sorry, chairperson. Let me guide you back to your table,” I heard Stevens say, but I still couldn’t take my eyes off my wife.

My ex wife.

Damn it.

When the bastard looked at her, it was like he was claiming her for all to see. His eyes were taking her all in, moving over her beautiful face, and then glancing at the alluring curves of her body periodically.

When I saw him lick his lips, eyes lingering on her bare back, I wanted to explode.

“Pull it together, man,” Stevens was suddenly in my ear, prying the wine glass clenched in my hands.

“That’s my wife,” I whispered roughly, fighting down so many emotions storming inside me. “That’s my wife!”

“I know it’s hard seeing your ex-wife with another man,” he gripped my shoulder, leading me a little forcefully back to our table. “I remember the first time I saw my first ex-wife at a restaurant on a date. I wanted to flip tables and the whole shebang, but this is work. Get it together, Nicholas.”

“That’s my wife,” I said again, trying and losing the fight not to stare back at that beautiful back and slender neck.

Stevens pushed me towards the bathroom, telling me to cool down and get it together again. He looked less sympathetic and more agitated, and his mutterings to Leroy sounded harsh.

This was my job. I needed to pull myself together.

I just didn’t know how to do that with my ex wife in the same room, looking the way she did in that gorgeous dress. Shewas lighting up the event without even trying, as she always did, but she was doing it onhisarm instead of mine.

How do I ‘get it together’ just like that?

Beginning Of A Nightmare

Feighlynn

“Wow, nice car,” the valet boy’s eyes went wide, staring at Vin’s car.

Vin helped me up from the passenger seat, waiting for me to adjust my dress before tossing the boy the keys. I stifled a giggle at seeing the excitement in the kid’s eyes.

“Knock yourself out, kid.” Vin took the ticket from the boy, who couldn’t have been over twenty-one, and slipped him a fifty. “I just filled her up if you want to take her around the block a few times.”

“Really?!”

“Sure,” Vin patted his back before helping me up the first set of steps.

“That was awfully sweet of you,” I beamed up at my action hero.

“I remember being at that age. I’ve got good insurance.”

I grinned, almost tripping on the hem of my dress as I stared up at him. He was so handsome in his jacket and dress shirt. I had a feeling I would trip on my feet all night.

I also knew Vin would be there to catch me. He caught my shoulders, then rubbed his hand down my bare back. His eyes darkened as his hand rested on the lowest part of my back.

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