“How did you know she was going to freak?” Dex asked.
“This isn’t my first work event with them. Grace hates theseparties. Only comes for the shows or the perks, and there will be neither ofthose tonight.”
Dex watched Grace as she lit into Brent. “Wow. Hadn’t seen thisbefore.”
“I guess you’re lucky that way.” Emma smiled. “Dessert?”
Dex continued to watch, appearing thoughtful. Perhaps she hadn’treally meant what she’d said earlier about removing Grace from the equation.But then she turned to Emma and said, “I’m in.”
The two of them picked out an assortment of desserts, sat at anempty table, and watched the rest of the messy scene unfold. Brent seemed tolisten passively as Grace shot into his space and raised her voice. People atthe surrounding tables glanced their way. Some went back to theirconversations, and others remained glued to the scene. The vein in Grace’s neckthrobbed as she blasted him. There was no way to turn the volume down on thisexplosion. It wasn’t until she stabbed a finger into Brent’s chest that Emmasaw any reaction. He balled his fists but kept them at his sides. His jaw wasso tight she could see the muscle in his cheek pop back and forth as heclenched his teeth. He was clearly holding back. Too many people he worked withwere at the party, so he couldn’t go off on his wife in front of them. Even ifshe deserved it.
Brent finally brushed past her and went to the bar, and Graceretrieved her drink from the table where she’d left it. She immediately downedit and didn’t stop there. Next, she grabbed the first eligible male and pulledhim to the dance floor. This was more entertainment than Emma had expectedtonight, much more so than any performance from Emilio.
It was close to an hour later when Grace rushed to the bar andslammed into Dex, practically knocking her off her feet.
Dex steadied her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Dex blinked and moved back a few steps. “How much have you had todrink?”
“Just a few of those special Christmas cocktails.”
Emma held Grace up as she wedged herself between them and swayedbackward. “Jesus, those things are lethal. At least I had the sense to stickwith champagne.”
Grace gave Emma a sluggish glance and then focused on Dex.“Listen, Dex. Here’s the deal. I wanna go home, and Brent won’t take me.” Thewords were slurred, but Emma caught the gist of the conversation.
“I got this.” Emma searched the room, found Brent drinking at atable with his buddies, and darted that way “Your wife wants to go home.”
Brent shrugged. “I’m not ready to leave yet.”
“She’s asking Dex to take her.”
“That’s fine. Whatever.” He shrugged and turned to theconversation he was having with the group of guys.
“You’re a shittyhusband, you know that?” The words came out harsher than she’d intended, butBrent was royally pissing her off.
That seemed to get his attention, and he swung back around. “What?Why?”
“You need to pay attention to your wife before someone else doesit for you.”
“Just plant her at a table with someone. She’ll be fine.”
“So you’re not going to take her home?”
“Fuck, no.” His voice rose. “She’s acting like a spoiledprincess.”
“Hell of a night for you to grow some balls.” Emma spun around andraced across the room to Dex and Grace.
“What’d he say?” Dex asked.
“He’s being an ass.”
Grace nodded. “Exactly.” She swayed, and Dex steadied her.
“Come on. Let’s go.” Emma put her arm around Grace.
Grace twisted and peered at her through half-mast lashes. “I haveto pee.”
Fuck,can this night get any worse?
Dex slipped under Grace’s shoulder. “I’ll take her.” She reachedin her pocket and took out a valet slip. “Can you get my SUV, and we’ll meetyou at the door?”
By the time Dex came out with Grace, Emma had pulled the SUVforward to give the valet room to retrieve other cars. Dex was practicallycarrying Grace, who was in worse shape than Emma had thought. She jumped out toopen the door, and Dex buckled Grace into the back seat behind her. Sheimmediately fell asleep. Emma started to round the car to the passenger seat,and Dex waved her off.
“I’ll get in the back with her.”
They were almost to the house when Grace bolted forward in theseat and slapped her hand to the headrest. “I’m going to be sick.”
Emma jerked the wheel to pull the car over quickly, jumped out,and yanked the door open. Grace spewed all over Emma’s feet. She raised herhead and gave her a glassy-eyed stare. “Whoops.”
When Dex rounded the car her face went white. “Well, that’s justfucking fantastic.”
Emma couldn’t stop the laugh that erupted from her lips. “At leastshe didn’t get my dress.”
“Yet.” Dex moved Emma back before she settled Grace against theseat. She rummaged around on the floorboard and held up a shopping bag filledwith spare Christmas lights. Dex emptied the bag, handed it to Grace, and shutthe door. “Hang on a minute, and I’ll get something to put your shoes in.”
Dex headed to the back of the SUV. “Stay there. I have some trashbags. I always keep them to line the back whenever I’m transporting plants.”
Dex opened the back of the SUV, took out a bag, went back to Emma,and squatted down in front of her. “Step into this.” Emma did as she said andput her hand on Dex’s shoulder as Dex slid her hand down each of Emma’s calvesto her heels and slipped off her shoes. Emma couldn’t stop the jolt that shotup her legs and hit square in her mid-section. If the situation wasn’t sodisgusting, the whole act would’ve been totally erotic.
“Okay, now step out.” She picked up the bag and tied it shutbefore she tossed it into the back and closed the hatch.
“If you want to take shotgun, I’ll drive the rest of the way.” Dexglanced through the window. “Grace seems to
