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I was too intrigued to walk away now.
* * *
When I lookedin on the party, it was obvious things were wrapping up. The caterer, who introduced herself as Dina Bell, thanked me for my help earlier.
Dina didn’t mention Tina, but she didn’t need to. I knew she was the sister Tina mentioned earlier. The physical similarities were striking.
“It’s no trouble,” I assured her, squeezing her hand and offering a polite smile. “Your sister had everything well in hand, so even if I hadn’t checked on things in the kitchen, it wouldn’t have mattered.”
Dina’s laughter was bright and cheerful. “That’s Tina. If I want an issue addressed and brought into line, I just need to tell her.”
“Does she work for you?”
“Tina?” Dina canted her head toward me, speculation in her eyes.
I kept my face blank.
With a faint smile, she shrugged. “Only when I call to ask her to help. I’m glad I did tonight. Panicky brides, I can handle. Angry exes are a little harder.” She glanced past me, and her eyes widened. “Crap…Selena, don’t!”
She rushed off, and I turned to see a heavily pregnant woman flashing her boss a chagrined look before lowering a tray back to the table.
No longer engaged in conversation, I made another sweep around the banquet hall, searching for Tina.
Not seeing her, I blew out a breath and slipped out the heavy wooden doors.
And there she was.
When she saw me, her eyes widened slightly.
“It looks like everybody survived the evening without bloodshed,” I said, offering a smile.
“I wouldn’t say that.” She wagged a playful finger at me. “You did have to send an employee to the ER for stitches.”
“True.” As I tucked my hands into my pants pockets, I nodded toward a few stragglers just leaving the rehearsal dinner. “I was referring to your guests, though.”
“Oh.” She smiled faintly. “Yeah. It ended up going pretty well. Mary Jo left not too long after you did. “I think it upset her that you would send in security just because of her.”
“Well,” I lifted a shoulder, “maybe she shouldn’t have crashed the party of her ex-husband.”
“She still considers him her husband…remember?” Tina’s wry smile and sharp humor had me grinning.
“I’ve tried to forget. It was kind of sad.”
She laughed.
Unlike her sister, Tina’s laugh wasn’t bright and cheerful.
No, it was low and warm and dark, as seductive as her eyes. Drawn to her, I found myself stepping closer, only to stop as a look of wariness entered her eyes once more.
“Listen…I know I’ve already asked once….”
She arched an eyebrow.
I paused, waiting for…something—a cutting dismissal, a flirtation…anything. So far, Tina wasn’t doing anything the way I’d expected.
Was that what I found so appealing?
Her lips bowed in a soft upward curve, and one thing was certain, I was dying to taste that mouth.