Barefoot by the Sea

Hartgrave’s fist balled as he raised it. “See this, motherfucker?”

Ian didn’t look at the fist, instead hearing Henry’s parting shot. Stay out of trouble. “She was in the restaurant.”

“And you stalked her in the parking lot.”

“That’s not my version of the events.”

He took another step closer, his gaze flickering to the bike behind Ian, then back to Ian’s face. “You touch my wife, you’ll never see that motorcycle again.”

Ian nodded.

“It’ll be in the bottom of that bay.”

Another nod.

“With your dead body on it.”

Ire shot through his veins, the image of Luther Vane flashing in his brain at the threat. He wasn’t the least bit scared of this blowhard in front of him, but what if the N1L got to Hartgrave somehow? As preposterous as that seemed thousands of miles and an ocean away, what if Ian told Tessa the truth and she whispered it to a friend and that led to a stray comment? Really, how many degrees of separation was this man from Darius or Luther Vane?

Right then, he knew without a shadow of a doubt that no matter what he felt, how much guilt pained him, how hurt she’d be, he couldn’t tell Tessa the truth.

In fact, he had to do the opposite.

“Did she mention to you that I got engaged to Tessa Galloway?”

The other man frowned. “What? You just got here.”

Ian shrugged. “Love at first sight, my friend. She’s wedding-dress shopping right now. We’re hoping you and Grace make the beachfront wedding.”

He scowled, slowly lowering his fist. “That don’t mean you won’t try and get what you can from my wife before you got your own problems.”

Not bothering to argue, Ian shook his head. “I like what I have, pal.”

Hartgrave snorted. “You like what I have.” But the conviction was gone from his voice, and maybe a little bit of the threat. “Remember what I said.”

He took a few steps back and turned around to go to his truck, throwing one last glare over his shoulder at Ian, who stayed right where he was until Hartgrave’s truck had disappeared, taking any hope of telling Tessa the truth with it.

Chapter Twenty-two

Tessa’s soft gasp as she looked in the mirror was drowned out by Zoe’s squeal and Lacey’s “Aww” and Jocelyn’s slow clap of approval. Ashley watched from the floor of the dressing area, smiling up when she wasn’t texting.

“That’s so totally it,” Zoe announced, fluttering around the dressing stage like a robin over her nest. “That neckline, that bodice, that little row of pearls. Love!”

Tessa took a minute to look down and smooth the cool silk over her hips. The handkerchief hemline rose and fell flirtatiously around her ankles and calves, making it perfect for a beach wedding. The fabric had a shell- pink cast to it, so it didn’t scream virginal first-time bride. And the tiny rosebuds along the portrait neckline made her hurt with how perfect they were.

Perfect for Tessa, not Zoe.

“You’d never wear this,” she said. “I should have tried on that one with the gold belt and plunging neckline.”

Zoe’s eyes widened. “Yeah, I loved that dress, but this one is…it’s you.”

“Precisely,” Tessa said, glancing at the others for an assist that was clearly not coming. “I thought this was going to be your wedding dress.”

“Well, just in case, you should buy it.”

Three—no, four—heads nodded in agreement with Zoe.

“You guys! I’m not spending…” She reached down to look at the tag, but of course there wasn’t one. She wasn’t in a department store; they’d come to an exclusive Naples boutique that reeked of money. “Whatever it costs.”

“It’s so pretty, Aunt Tess. You could wear it for any fancy thing.”

“But you all want me to buy it for a farce of a wedding?”

“What makes you think it’s a farce?”

“Lacey!” Tessa choked on her name.

“Seriously, Tess,” she continued, getting up from her comfy viewing chaise to approach the stage. “The way he looks at you, the way he talks to you. I mean, did you see the look on his face when you said you’d be trying on dresses? Maybe you can wear it twice—once for the bridal consultants and, again…later.”

Why were they all helping to build up her hope?

The next “You guys are nuts” welled up, but somehow the words didn’t come out. They weren’t completely nuts. He had given her the dreamiest smile. And last night, under the stars, they’d kissed for hours and talked more—not about him, but about all kinds of things.

There was no way that guy didn’t like her a lot. And vice versa.

She turned back to the mirror, the rush of seeing herself in the dress washing away common sense and reality and questions.

“Buy the dress, baby,” Zoe said. “No alterations and it fits like a dream. And you have to have something to wear for the big event.”

“Can’t I just wear a pretty dress I already own?”

“I’m afraid the consultants won’t buy it,” Lacey said.

“Ash?” Tessa asked, but she was texting. Finally, Ashley tore her gaze from the screen to look up and, from the glint in her eyes, Tessa knew exactly whose name was on that phone.

“What?” Ashley asked from her residence in la-la land.

“I was hoping for the voice of reason.”

“I think if he makes you feel good and you really love him, then go for it.”

Tessa narrowed her eyes. “I’m not going to pretend I love him,” Tessa said. “But…” She grazed the smooth fabric again. “If I have to pretend to get married…”

They all waited, hanging for the verdict, but she blew out a breath and looked around, as if he might show up at any minute.

“I’m really falling for him,” she whispered, so softly Zoe had to step closer to hear her. “I mean, like, whoa and damn, girls, I am really falling for him.”

Jocelyn joined Zoe, closing in. “And that’s a problem, why?”

“Because I still sometimes think—no, I actually know—he’s not telling me everything about himself. He even admitted there was more than he was telling, but refused to disclose.”

“Give him time,” Jocelyn said. “Some men take eons to open up.”

“Still,” she said. “It scares me.”

“Relationships are scary,” Lacey said. “You think he’s not telling you everything. And I thought Clay was too young and Joss thought Will was too close to her father and Zoe thought Oliver would tie her down.”

“He does, occasionally.”

On the floor, Ashley giggled. “Aunt Tessa, I think they’re trying to tell you that every new guy has problems but, if it’s true and lasting and honest, you’ll overcome them.”

Lacey beamed at her. “Right you are, baby girl.”

Ashley smiled back, then gave a knowing and hopeful look to Tessa. “Are you listening?”

“Yes,” Tessa assured them. “But this is different. It seems like every time we get close, he shuts down.”