Page 91 of Captivating Mr. Second Chance

“Is that—”

“Bobby.”

Ethan’s jaw hit the floor. Bobby Magnate was here, athisfundraiser, smiling and waving at Laney as if he didn’t cheat on her, turning her whole life upside down. “What the hell is he doing here?”

She dropped her hold on him and started off toward Bobby. But there was no way Ethan wasn’t going too.

He was hot on Laney’s heels as they exited out of the carnival and into the hall that led to the lobby of the hotel.

“What are you doing here?” Laney asked.

“I came to see you,” he said, his voice thick with an Australian accent. “You wouldn’t answer my calls or texts.”

Ethan rolled his eyes. He knew it. He knew it would escalate.

Bobby reached for Laney’s hands, but Ethan cut him off, and Bobby angled his head to the side. “Oi, hey mate.” He put on a friendly smile, but Ethan wasn’t falling for it. “I came to speak to Laney alone, yeah? Mind giving us a minute?”

“I do mind, actually,” Ethan said, taking a step in front of Laney.

Bobby, who was about the same height as Ethan, but had more than a couple pounds on him like Laney had said, smirked. “And who are you?”

“Ethan,” Laney said, her hands on his waist, gently pushing him to move aside. “It’s fine. I got it.”

And yet Ethan was an immovable stone. He glared at this asshole Aussie. “I’m Laney’s boyfriend. Who areyou?”

Bobby shifted his gaze to Laney, his brow narrowing. “Joey, really?”

Laney let out a tired sigh. “Bobby, please, this really isn’t a good time.”

“Joey?” Ethan repeated, bouncing his attention between cocky-as-shit Bobby and a weary-looking Laney.

“Pet name,” Magnate explained with a fucking grin that had Ethan’s hands curling into fists at his sides.

“I’m gonna ask you, nicely, to please not call her pet names. And while I’m at it, you need to stop calling and texting her. She clearly does not want—”

Laney grabbed Ethan’s shoulder, forcibly moving him. “Ethan, don’t. I told you, I will take care of this.”

“Yeah,” Bobby repeated. “Joeywill take care of this.” He laughed, turning his eyes to Laney. “Babe, since when do you like people speaking for you?” He stuck his hands in his pockets, like this was all a funny coincidence that they were here, and rocked back on his heels.

“You are an uninvited guest,” Ethan said, stepping closer to Bobby. “You need to leave.”

Bobby squinted like he was thinking about it then shrugged. “No, I’m good.” Once again, he reached for Laney, this time making contact, wrapping his hand around Laney’s wrist. “But if you could let Laney and me have some time alone, that would be good.”

“No, it’s not good.” Ethan tugged Laney away and stepped in front of her. “No one wants you here, including Laney.”

“You’re not going to let her speak for herself?” Bobby shook his head, as if Ethan didn’t know anything about the woman they were currently fighting over. “She hates that.”

“You know what else she hates? You.”

Bobby snarled, getting right up in Ethan’s face. “You have no idea—”

“No.” Ethan shoved him back, ignoring Laney’s pleas to go back inside. “Youhave no idea. You cheated on her. You threw her away.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Bobby snapped. “I love her.”

Ethan growled, his jaw tight with tension. “You don’t deserve her.”

“Just get the fuck out of my way.” Bobby pushed at Ethan’s right shoulder, which only gave Ethan more room to cock his elbow back and finally follow through with the promise he had made himself. If he ever saw Bobby Magnate in real life, he’d punch that son of a bitch.

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