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He had sent a complete wardrobe and a stylist to the apartment that he had temporarily moved her to when she had finally agreed to help him. The stylist had called him in less than an hour when Haley refused to even try on many of the garments he had chosen for her.

“I would rather die.”

She probably would just to piss him off. He snorted to himself.

Haley made it an art to downplay every feature on her body. The clothes she wore belonged to a bygone era that was better off dead and buried six feet deep. Not only had she given him grief about the clothes, but she had argued about going to the salon he had taken her to as well.

Biting back the words filling his mouth, he opened the door and ushered her outside to the crowd milling around. “How are you and Nadia friends? You couldn’t be more opposite.”

“She lets me be me,” she said simply.

“Desmond!” A feminine voice drew their attention.

Desmond turned his head to see the woman walking toward them in sandals that were slapping on the tiles in hurried taps.

“I was expecting you an hour ago.”

“Amelia,” he greeted the woman as she drew abreast of Haley and him. “Haley and I were stuck in traffic on the way out of the city.” Releasing Haley, he pressed a prefatory kiss on Amelia’s cheek.

The tall blonde brushed a lingering kiss on his cheek before turning to Haley. “Desmond said he had talked you into coming,” Amelia said excitably. “I’m so happy you decided to join us. We’ve missed you terribly.”

Haley allowed herself to be pulled into a hug, giving her the same glamorous smile she wore like another extension of her clothes.

“I’ve missed everyone, too.” Haley raised her arms, hesitantly hugging Amelia back.

Releasing Haley, Amelia scooted between them to hook an arm between Haley and his arms. “All of the family are excited to see you again. Dad said he didn’t believe you would show, but I told him that, if Desmond was bringing you, you’d be here. No one says no to you, do they, Desmond?”

Desmond smiled down at her indulgently. “It’s been known to happen.”

“I’d have to see it to believe it.” Amelia gave Haley a conspiratorial wink. “Don’t you agree, Haley?”

“Absolutely.”

Her answer was so low that he could barely hear it over the music.

As they neared a small group sitting in lounge chairs, Desmond glanced at Haley to see her face had gone pale, as if she was going to pass out.

“Amelia, would you mind getting Haley and me a drink? It’s been a long drive.”

Their momentum stopped. “Of course. I’ll be right back.”

Desmond retook Haley’s arm as soon as Amelia moved away. “Get that look off your face,” he snapped harshly. “No one is going to say anything to you. They’re too afraid they’ll anger me. Get a grip on yourself, or we’re wasting our time even being here.”

His effort to buoy her courage resulted in her taking out her inhaler from the pocket of her dress to take quick puffs. Did the woman have a pocket in everything she wore?

“Okay.” Her expression changed, giving him the same fake smile that Amelia had greeted them with.

Ready to pull his hair out of his head, he forced himself to show some concern when what he really wanted to do was spank her silly. She had no confidence that he would be able to protect her.

“Better?”

“Some.”

“At least I can work with that.”

“Arrogant asshole,” she mumbled under her breath.

He jerked his head down toward hers. “What did you call me?”

Her fake smile remained plastered on her lips. “I said, arrogant assholes ahead.”

“I must have missed the last part.”

She shrugged. “You must have.”

This was why he had become annoyed by the little mouse a minute ago. She could speak up when she wanted; she just lacked the courage not to skittle away when something deviated marginally from her neat and tidy routine. How Haley could be related to the cut-throat family she had been born into stumped him.

He wondered, if not for her friendship with Nadia, if her personality would have turned out differently. Each person at the party hid behind a false glamorous façade. Some of the older women had soulless eyes, as if they held no enjoyment in life anymore. The other half looked as if they were about to feast on the others’ remains. Her male relatives were pretentious schmucks who didn’t have a full set of balls between them. What was more sickening to him was each had enough money to dupe others into their various schemes to exploit them for their own financial gain.

When they reached a group of occupied chairs, his hand remained firmly on Haley’s arm.

Taking George’s hand as he rose, he put his dislike aside to copy the same warm grin. He had lost count of the numerous instances when he had deliberated on which of them was being the faker of the two of them. Desmond thought he was, but he never lost sight of the fact that George could be. Being too confident could end with his throat slit and his so-called friends divvying up his money.