Page 56 of Celebrity

From a distance, I saw Dev smirk in my direction. I narrowed my eyes at him and he lifted his cocktail as if saying, “Glad it’s you and not me.”

“I guess the rumors are true.” Veronica inspected my ring with a frown. “Who’s the lucky man?”

Like she had no clue. I’d heard enough people making whispered comments to tell me they’d listened to the tabloid reports about Devin and me.

“He’s here somewhere. I’m sure you’ll meet him later tonight.” I kept my answer vague. “I heard you’ve been dating one of the Texans players.”

Her face lit up as I moved the conversation to her. “Oh, you know how it is. Athletes are perfect to practice on, but I’m holding out for someone else.”

I could guess the man she was waiting on.

“Do I know this gentleman?”

“Devin Camden, of course,” she said as if that had been a stupid question, and her glare could have killed me. “We’ve been seeing each other on and off for years. Our families are very close.”

Veronica grabbed a drink off a passing tray and chugged the contents of the glass. Hope she realized the cocktails Jacinta served at her parties could lay a three-hundred-pound man on his ass.

“Veronica, I think that ship has sailed.” Jill lifted a brow. “Rumor has it that he’s been in a secret marriage for years. You’re close to the family. Do you know who she is?”

I kept my face composed, not giving away anything. “Everyone will meet his wife sometime during the evening.”

“I’m sure I’ll like her very much. Devin has great taste.” Jill smiled up at me, reiterating to me how different she was compared to her fake sister. “Is she from down south or a Seattle girl? I bet she’s gorgeous, like you.”

“I wouldn’t say she’s a Southern girl, but she isn’t from Seattle either.”

Veronica handed her glass to a passing waiter and then asked, “Is she foreign? Is that why he kept her hidden?”

Jill nearly spit out her drink and not-so-subtly elbowed Veronica in the side.

“I’m sure they have their reasons for wanting their privacy. I can respect that,” Jill assured her sister, who was frowning. “Wouldn’t you agree, Veronica?”

I could see myself being friends with Jill. She played the social game but never crossed the line. She reminded me of Jacinta. Too bad her sister was sour-faced next to us.

“I suppose. What I want to know is, how does she compare to me? What about her made Devin marry her?”

The woman’s underhanded digs were getting me to the point of retaliating. Veronica knew I was Devin’s wife, and no matter what she hoped, it wasn’t going to change anytime soon.

Jill set a gentle hand on my arm as if to keep me calm. “He’s obviously in love with her.”

Veronica snorted, making me see red. She had to be drunk, that could be the only answer.

I’d thought Southern belles were poised to perfection and held in their insults until they were in private circles.

I’d better leave before I said something I shouldn’t and possibly deck her hard enough to knock her into the water.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to check when my brother will arrive.”

“One second.” Veronica grasped my arm, stopping me from leaving her. “I have a message you can relay to Devin’s wife.”

Jill pried Veronica’s fingers from me. “Veronica. Let Samina see to her family. We can talk later. Maybe on the riverboat.”

She ignored her sister. “Hold on with both hands. Secret wives can be easily replaced.”

Jill gasped and pulled on her sister, giving me an apologetic look. “Ver, I think it’s time we had some water. I don’t want you to get seasick on the boat. Samina, please excuse us.”

“I know what I’m saying.”

“Veronica, I agree with Jill. It’s time to switch to something that will clear your mind. I would hate for you to have to explain to your father why you were raising your voice to the daughter of one of his biggest donors.”

---