Page 173 of Indecent Lies

His narrowed eyes moved across the crowd like he saw no one he gave a damn about.

Searching.

Seeking.

I’m here, she wanted to cry out giddily, but went on watching him.

Mouth dry.

Heart in an awful calamity.

Oh my gosh, anyone who was anyone were all here at her mother’s charity soiree and Tait looked about as bothered as a marrow for the dignitaries as he strode forward, the crowd parting for the man who was no longer one of their own and thank God for that.

He stood above everyone, exuding power, aura and downright sexiness, she heard many female gasps, though she couldn’t pull her eyes from him to check who from.

Dumping the glass of untouched champagne on the table, her dad noticed the disturbance too and took hold of her arm as she tried to meet Tait halfway.

“Penelope, this is not becoming, think of Ronnie for God’s sake.” He instructed with an air of disgrace to his tone.

She’d told them where she’d been, who she’d been with. Who she loved, more to the point.

“Dad, get off me, I told you already, I don’t give a flying saucer for Ronnie Pitstop,” she shook his hold free and kept moving.

Excitement flashed through her and made her smile, though it dropped when she was in front of Tait because his face radiated a mood so dark that she shivered.

Not fear.

Never fear.

“Tait,” she breathed, practically vibrating out of her skeleton.

She didn’t ask what he was doing here, she was just so glad he was.

So very glad that her smile came back easily as she tipped her neck to better see him at the same time he ranged his head down.

“Little girl…”

Oh, boy, she was in trouble.Yippee.

She smiled bigger.

She couldn’t believe he’d come all this way for her, not back to a place he hated.

Out of her peripheral she saw Ronnie making his way over.

Dressed in a skinny blue suit which made him look ultra-feminine with his tassel loafers, funny that she never noticed that until she fell in love with how a biker dressed.

Now all she craved on her man was scuffed leather and worn denim and magnificent ties.

Tait looked and smelled delicious.

“Penelope, what on earth is going on? Must you continue to humiliate me with your latest dalliance? I’ve saw fit to forgive you for your tantrum, now tell your…friend he has to leave.”

Ronnie didn’t get any further because Tait rounded on him like a great blustering tornado and his vicious stare would have turned anyone to stone.

Ronnie, rightly so, took a step back.

“Say one more word to her in that condescending tone, you greasy little prick and you and your shiny suit will take a dip in the pond outside, via the fucking window.”