Page 49 of Seductive Scoundrel

“Garlic!” Mia cries. “Now you’re not going to kiss me.”

“I’ll always kiss you,” I tell her, leaning in and doing exactly that. “We’ll stink together.”

And then I realize what I’ve done. Luckily no one was paying attention, but I need to be more careful to suppress my instincts to have Mia at every opportunity – even inopportune ones.

“Who is that woman shooting daggers at us?” Mia asks, moving closer to me.

Okay, well apparently someone did notice my less-than-stealth move.

It could be any number of women, but there’s one in particular that I hope it isn’t. When I turn to confirm, I have to hold back a groan. “That’s Gwynne.”

“Ex-girlfriend?”

“I don’t have ex-girlfriends. Ex-fuck buddy and event date.”

Mia nods. “She’s coming this way.”

I sigh. “Of course she is. I’ll handle her.”

“No, I’ve got it.”

There’s a steely determination to her posture that suggests I might have underestimated little Mia Ford from Kansas. I just hope she hasn’t underestimated Gwynne, who cut her teeth inthisworld by the second grade and it wasn’t from being nice.

I pull Mia closer to demonstrate whose side I’m on and brace for impact.

Chapter Fourteen

Mia

My heart thumpspainfully in my throat as a beautiful, platinum blonde nightmare glides towards us. There’s a smile fixed to her perfectly pink lips that doesn’t match the anger flashing in her eyes – but that’s exactly what I expect.

I’ve handled a few of Kyle’s exes before. Situations like this one only get out of control if you let them. The trick is to remain calm no matter whatshesays or does. That’s a bit tough after having a glass of merlot “accidentally” dumped on your white dress, but with a lot of restraint, it’s doable.

So even though I wanted to punch that woman in the surgically perfected nose, I didn’t, because then she’d be getting exactly what she wanted – a scene that proved I didn’t belong. I didn’t give it to Miss Merlot, and I won’t give it to Gwynne.

Tonight is already beyond my wildest expectations, and I won’t let her ruin it. I thought I’d just blend into the background and stand silent while Dean chatted people up. But that’s not how Dean is. He includes me in the conversations. He listens to what I say and is happy to be here with me – and I’m going to make sure it stays that way.

“Dean,” Gwynne coos, her Cheshire Cat grin growing. “So nice to see you, darling man. It’s been ages.”

Dean nods, and then wraps his arm around my waist, clearly filling Gwynne with resentment and me with satisfaction. “Yes, it has.”

Based on his steely expression, the distance was by his design and not hers.

She gives me the once-over before turning her attention back to him. “Well, I guess slumming takes time away from what’s important in life.”

Dean’s fingers grip my waist tighter as his mouth opens, but I speak before he can. “It does. Fortunately, slumming never lasts.” I shake my head. “After a while, you realize the mistake you’ve made and move on to more important things, places – people.”

A soft chuckle emanates from Dean while fire scorches Gwynne’s face.

“I don’t think we’ve been introduced,” she says, a fake smile fixed in place again, the fire reduced to embers. She’s used to society life. But thanks to the time I spent as Kyle’s plus one, so am I.

“No, we haven’t,” I reply, leaning into Dean and making sure she gets the message – the man is mine.

At least for now.

“Clearly, because I know everyone – who’s anyone.” Her eyes light up and I laugh. It feels like I’m back in junior high trading insults with the girl who’s as popular as she is mean.

Dean shoots me a sideways glance, and there’s relief on his face now that he realizes I won’t let someone as petty as Gwynne spoil our evening.

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