Page 6

Chapter Six

JACKSON

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I spotted the bartender with the pretty brown eyes and pouty mouth from Triana at the party. But then I learned that the restaurant was catering the event, and it made sense. Not in the mood to get doused by beer again, I make a mental note to steer clear of her. After a while, I forget about the woman, until I see her talking to Wickham.

It shouldn’t bother me, but it does.

She heads away from the party, and he tags along. Where the hell are they going? Before I can stop to analyze my decision, I follow them. I don’t trust Wickham one bit. Maybe he knows she’s the bartender responsible for the beer incident. I wouldn’t put it past him to gain her trust then spin a story to make me look bad to the Lions organization.

They’re standing in front of what I assume is the catering hub. I hide behind some bushes and observe. I can’t hear the conversation, but I can see Wickham smiling, and the woman is eating it up. I snort in my head. Why are women so dumb? He’s a snake.

She finally enters the building, but Wickham stays put and starts scrolling on his phone. He’s no doubt waiting for her. I’ve seen enough. I walk away from my hiding spot and make a beeline toward him.

He looks up and frowns. “What are you doing here, Darcy?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“Were you following me?”

“What are you doing with the staff?”

He scowls. “It’s none of your business.”

“It is my business,” I grit out. “Anything you do on and off the ice reflects on the team. I haven’t forgotten the stunt you pulled after the World Junior Championship finals.”

His gaze darkens. “That was a long time ago. And it was all BS anyway. No charges were filed.”

No charges were filed because your father bailed you out . I refrain from saying that out loud, because I can’t prove he paid the girl to recant her story. “That means nothing.”

The bartender from Triana’s walks out holding a tray and smiling. Not the fake smile she gave me when she was apologizing for the beer shower. A genuine smile that brightens her entire face, and makes her pretty eyes sparkle. It annoys me it’s meant for Wickham. But her smile wilts into nothing when she sees me standing there.

Wickham’s expression switches in the blink of an eye. “Oh, Izzie, just in time. What do you have for me?”

Izzie… what a ridiculously sweet name. It doesn’t suit her at all.

“Uh… shrimp croquette.”

“Perfect!”

She stares at me while Wickham helps himself to the tray of canapés. “Can I help you?”

I don’t answer right away, trying to come up with a reply that doesn’t make me sound like a jerk. But Wickham moans and says, “You’re an angel, Izzie. This is delicious.”

She smiles again, and her cheeks flush. My annoyance doubles, and before I can stop myself, I blurt out, “Please refrain from socializing with guests.”

Her eyes widen. “Excuse me?”

“She wasn’t socializing. I followed her,” Wickham interjects, but I ignore him.

“I’d hate to lodge a complaint with your boss. I let the beer incident slide; I won’t be as lenient anymore.”

Hell. So much for not sounding like a jerk.

“Darcy, come on. Why do you have to be such a condescending ass?” Wickham retorts.

“You’ve been warned.” I turn on my heel and leave, regretting my outburst more with each step.

Sure, my first impression of Izzie wasn’t the best, but my attitude just now did little to warn her about Wickham’s unsavory ways. If anything, I just shoved her in his direction. Now I’ll have to keep an eye on both of them for the rest of the night.

Fuck me.

* * *

IZZIE

“Well, that was fun,” Gavin says as soon as Jackson walks away.

I’m a little shaken by the altercation and don’t comment. Jackson was a jerk, but he wasn’t wrong. I shouldn’t be socializing with guests.

“I need to make my rounds.” I head over to the party at a slower pace than normal. I don’t want to catch up with Jackson.

“Hey, don’t let Darcy get to you. He’s an arrogant prick who loves to put people down, especially those he deems are beneath him.”

“Darcy didn’t get to me,” I lie. “Sadly, I’ve dealt with his type before.”

“Well, I’m sorry that I got you onto his path of wrath. I feel it’s my fault.”

You’re not completely wrong, dude, but it was also my fault. I encouraged it.

“It’s okay. Do you want another croquette?”

He smiles cheekily. “Well… maybe one for the road.”

We part ways, and I focus on treating guests with impartial cordiality. Jane’s performance is over, and the set-up crew—not our crew—is getting the garden ready for dinner. That means this is my last round serving canapés.

Once the tray is empty, I head back to the kitchen but stop in my tracks when I spot Lydia and Mari Carmen making a beeline for the main house. Fuck a duck.

I set my tray down on the nearest high table and follow them. I don’t want to lose sight of them. The girls aren’t supposed to go near the house. They have a head start, and I need to navigate the guests without bumping into anyone. Breaking into a run isn’t an option. By the time I reach the house, I’ve lost them.

I use the side entrance and walk into a living room that’s almost as big as my parents’ house. I shouldn’t gawk, but it’s impossible not to when I’m standing in the middle of so many cool things. There are paintings hanging from the walls that I guess must have cost millions.

Focus, Izzie. This isn’t a tour in a museum.

I turn left and continue to look for the girls. I don’t hear them. If they’re being stealthy, it means they’re up to no good. But then I hear giggling ahead. It’s coming from behind a closed door down a wide hallway. I rush to it and push it open, but it’s not Lydia and Mari Carmen that I find. It’s Jane and Chad in a state of semi-undress.

Jane yelps, covering her naked breasts, and Chad turns around, positioning himself in front of her, and forgetting to cover the bulge in his pants.

“Sorry!” I retreat quickly with my eyes closed and shut the door.

When I turn, I come face to face with Jackson Darcy. My heart leaps into my throat. “Jesus Christ! You scared me.”

Frowning, he asks, “What are you doing here?”

“I was looking for my sister.”

Either Jane or Chad knocks something over in the room behind me. Jackson’s spine goes rigid, as if he were a hunting dog who got the scent of his prey. “Who’s in this room?”

Shit. I flatten my back against the door to prevent him from opening it. “No one.”

Yeah, that wasn’t suspicious at all.

“Move aside,” he commands in a dangerous low tone that instead of scaring me, kind turns me on. What’s wrong with me?

I scowl to hide my stupid reaction. “Who do you think you are? You’re not my boss.”

He narrows his eyes and steps into my personal space. My heart is pounding in my chest like a hummingbird. “Don’t test me, woman. I can get you fired.”

Fat chance of Paco firing me over this, but if Jackson complains to his boss, it could mess up things for Paco in the future. I can’t be responsible for him losing business.

“Fine.” I step aside.

Jackson doesn’t hesitate to push the door open, but he takes only one step in and stops.

“What the hell!” Chad blurts out. “Is this Grand Central Station now?”

“What are you doing?” Jackson asks.

I peek inside to make sure Jane is okay. She’s dressed, but she’s still hiding behind Chad.

“What do you think?” Chad tucks his shirt in his pants.

“I tried to stop him from barging in, but your captain is more stubborn than a mule,” I chime in.

Jackson whips his face to mine. “You could have told me who was inside.”

He has me there. I could have, but I didn’t want to rat out my sister and her fiancé. I’m the only person who knows their secret… well, I was. Now Jackson Assface knows too.

“She couldn’t,” Chad butts in.

Jackson looks at him. “Why not? What’s going on here?”

Chad takes Jane’s hand and tugs her to his side. “I was waiting for the right moment to tell you, but since you’re here, I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Jane Bennet.”

I wait with bated breath for Jackson’s reaction. From my research of Chad, I gathered he and Jackson are friends, but who knows what type of friendship they have.

“Your what? ” Jackson blurts out.

“You heard me. Jane and I are engaged.”

Jackson opens and shuts his mouth without saying a word. The look of sheer astonishment on his face is comical.

“How can you be engaged? Did you even date beforehand?” he finally asks.

Chad raises his chin. “As a matter of fact, we dated for several months before I proposed.”

Jackson pinches the bridge of his nose. “Several months… how many months exactly?”

Chad’s jaw locks tight, and Jane looks worried.

I’ve let Jackson run this interrogation for too long. “Who cares how many months? And why are you so bothered? Is Chad your brother or something?”

“He’s like my brother, and it’s my job to make sure he’s not engaged to a gold digger.”

Jane gasps.

Fury erupts from the pit of my stomach. “How dare you call my sister a gold digger! You don’t even know her, and you’re already making assumptions.”

He narrows his eyes. “ Your sister? Why am I not surprised?”

“Hey guys, what’s up?” Lydia appears out of nowhere with Mari Carmen in tow.

Of course she had to show up now.

I whirl around. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“Uh… Mari Carmen and I wanted to see the mansion. What are you guys doing here? It’s the most boring room in the house.”

No surprise she’d think a study with bookshelves bursting at the seams with books would be boring.

“I’d better go,” Jane says in a shaky voice. Hell, I know she’s about to cry, all thanks to Jackson.

Chad holds her hand tighter and doesn’t let her step away from him. “No. We’re leaving this room together. We might as well announce to the entire party that we’re engaged.”

“You’re engaged to Chad Bingley?” Lydia’s voice rises an octave.

Ah shit.

“Yes. The plan was to tell everyone when things calmed down a bit for Chad but…” She looks at him. “What the hell, we might as well do it tonight.”

I try to capture her gaze, hoping she sees my panicked expression. They’re going to announce their engagement to the world before telling Mom and Dad. Our parents will be crushed.

Chad beams at her. “All right. Let’s do it.”

“Are you sure that’s wise, Chad? What are your parents going to say?” Jackson butts in.

“Honestly, I’m not concerned about their opinion.”

Normally, I’d try to convince Jane to wait as well, but she looks so happy, I can’t ruin it for her. I don’t want to be an asshole like Jackson, who’s grinding his teeth so hard that his cheeks have hollowed in. I don’t need to read minds to know he’s going to try to change Chad’s mind. I hope Jane’s fiancé is strong enough to tell his friend to mind his own business, but if he isn’t, then he’s not the man for Jane. That won’t make me hate Jackson less though. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever loathed someone as strongly as I loathe him.