Page 21 of Single Mom’s Undoing (Lucky Lady Reverse Harems #1)

CLARA

T he main thing I wanted to avoid since Bill Lockwood’s return were town functions.

However, a small fundraiser for the local library was not something I could skip, especially not when Jodie was the one organizing it.

She is raising funds to buy new books and to open an after-school program with live readings from children’s favorites.

I had to show up, if only to support her.

“I know you’re stressing about who’s coming, but I promise I kept the Lockwood’s off the invite list,” Jodie whispers as we meet by the mobile juice bar set up in the library’s main hall, right next to a lovely Swedish buffet.

“It’s a shame, if you think about it. They’re big donors,” I grumble. “I’m sorry, Jodie.”

“Don’t be. Carter wrote one hell of a donation check to make up for it,” she giggles. “He’s the only Lockwood allowed.”

“Won’t the others be offended that they weren’t invited?

” I wonder aloud, gazing out at the swelling crowd of academics and teachers gathered to support Jodie.

I recognize some of them while others are complete strangers, a few visiting from out of town.

She’s got quite a lot of support for this initiative, and it makes me happy.

Jodie rolls her eyes. “Please. Bill Lockwood wouldn’t be caught dead in a place that doesn’t serve beluga caviar and French champagne. He’ll live.”

We chuckle as we mingle with the crowd. She introduces me to some of her colleagues and fellow teachers from the Blackthorn Falls elementary and middle schools. A few of them remember me, but Jodie gives them the kind of glare to warn against digging into the past for sake of conversation.

As we pass by a mirror, I catch a glimpse of myself. The pale pink dress I’m wearing falls loosely over my curvy figure, yet I still feel too big for it, too big for this town.

A sudden rush of emotions comes over me, led by insecurity. It’s been a while since I’ve felt like this.

A champagne glass pops into my field of vision.

“Thirsty?” Damon asks, holding it out for me to take.

“God, yes, thank you,” I reply and down the whole thing in one gulp.

He laughs. “Easy there, sport. The night is still young.”

“I was parched.”

“And yet you stood by that juice bar with Jodie for more than ten minutes,” he quips, his gaze following her as she moves through the crowd. “Look at her go. Schmoozing and rubbing the right elbows to get more support and funding. Little does she know we?— "

“Little does she know you what?” I cut him off.

“That I dropped a check for $200,000 into that donation box of hers,” Damon says.

I gasp. “You didn’t!”

“ We did, on behalf of Vanguard Security.”

“Oh, Damon, you guys are amazing!” I throw my arms around him and hug him tightly, breathing him in and finding much-needed comfort in his warm embrace. “You do realize she’ll put up a plaque somewhere to honor you.”

“We’re counting on it,” he replies with a playful wink. “I can refer her to a good craftsman for that.”

I giggle as he snatches a second glass of champagne from the waiter doing his rounds through the main hall. “Thank you.”

“You look beautiful, by the way,” he adds. “Gorgeous, even.”

“You think?”

“I’d have put you into something tighter myself,” he replies, his hand resting on my hip. His touch alone is enough to send my pulse racing, but I keep my wits about me as I respond with a smile. “These curves of yours weren’t meant to be hidden.”

“I disagree. Actually, a tight dress on her figure would be a disaster.” Elizabeth pops out of nowhere, smirking and holding up a champagne glass of her own.

My stomach drops, and I feel queasy all of a sudden.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Damon growls. “I don’t remember your name being on the invite list. You can bet your ass I checked. ”

Elizabeth looks gorgeous in a floral print dress; her slim legs are perfectly tanned, her hair flawless, pinned into an elegant bun on the top of her head.

Diamonds glisten in her ears, and sleek, nude open-toe Louboutin pumps adorn her feet, showing off her perfect shiny red toenails. She’s ostentatious and stylish.

I feel like a bloated peach next to her.

“Damon, honey, I’m invited to every charity in this state. Not personally, but through the Julian Hempstead Fund. I’m on their board,” Elizabeth says, a pretentious tone to her voice.

“The Julian Hempstead Fund provides books and literary materials for schools and charities across the country,” Damon mutters. “How the hell did you get on their board? You’re an art dealer.”

Elizabeth shrugs, clearly satisfied with the element of surprise.

“I know the right people, obviously,” she responds, then gives me a once-over with a most critical eye.

“This dress fits you better than anything tight; trust me. With your figure, you would’ve been a nightmare for the editor to blur out of the event photos.

Besides, pink works great with your complexion, Clara. ”

“What the fuck is your problem?” I manage, baffled by the deluge of insults that she was able to throw at me without so much as the fluttering of an eyelash.

“Just saying.”

Damon steps in. “How far do you think this bullshit mean girl routine of yours is going to get you, Elizabeth? Because it doesn’t help your campaign to get anywhere near Shiloh, that’s for sure. ”

“Don’t bring our daughter into this,” Elizabeth sneers. “Just because you’re banging a fat chick doesn’t mean I can’t have something to say about it.”

“Beauty, my dear ex-wife, is something you’ve never had and clearly can’t recognize,” Damon says. “A woman, a real woman, carries her curves with grace and elegance. She doesn’t rise by putting other women down.”

The words hit Elizabeth deep. Her lips press tightly into a resentful red line.

“Furthermore, I’ll make you a promise. The more you try to fling your poison at me and at the people I care about, especially Clara, the harder I’m going to make it for you in family court.

You think Bill Lockwood’s lawyers are good enough?

Wait until you see what the lawyers behind a pissed-off father at Vanguard Security are capable of. ”

“Elizabeth,” Jace sneers as he joins the tense exchange. “I was hoping we wouldn’t run into you tonight. Where’d you leave your broom?”

She gives him a confused look. “My what?”

“The broom you flew to get here,” Carter replies, firmly positioning himself beside me. Suddenly, I am flanked by three of the handsomest men on earth. Elizabeth stands there looking small, ugly, and bitter.

I could laugh but that would be in poor taste. She’s taken quite the kick already.

Her claws are slowly retracting, judging by the look on her face.

“No need to be assholes,” Elizabeth mutters .

“I hate to sound like a four-year-old, but you started it,” Damon shoots back with a wry smirk.

“Learn to leave well enough alone, Elizabeth, and please, find your way out. You’re not welcome here.

This is a charity event for the library.

The only reason you showed up was to hurl insults at a woman we’re exceptionally fond of. ”

“A gorgeous, intelligent, insanely talented woman,” Carter adds, giving me a soft smile while Elizabeth rolls her eyes.

My heart grows about three sizes. “Whatever beef you have with Damon, take it up with him in court, Elizabeth. Leave the rest of us out of it, unless you want us to keep responding in kind.”

“And I doubt you’re up for that,” Jace chimes in, then takes a slow sip of his whiskey. “I’ve got a foul mouth on me tonight and zero tolerance for frustrated bitches.”

Elizabeth gasps and spins on her heels, quick to make an exit.

I watch her disappear into the crowd, the afternoon light glazing her in a honey-gold aura as she leaves. For a moment, peace is restored, and I actually think we might be able to enjoy the rest of the event without any more unpleasant hiccups.

“Are you okay?” Carter asks me.

“Yes, she was just being a bitch. Some women never grow out of high school, I guess.”

Damon sighs deeply. “I’m sorry you have to deal with her, too, Clara. She’s my issue, not yours.”

“No, it’s fine,” I tell him. “I’m just grateful you’re all here supporting me, but most importantly, supporting Jodie. It’s a big moment for her. ”

“Well, at least the wicked witch is out of here for now,” Jace chuckles then gives me a dark look. “We have our own demons to deal with, don’t we, Clara? No room for side plots like Elizabeth.”

I nod slowly and lower my gaze.

Damon groans. “Turns out there’s more than one wicked witch in town. What’s Margot doing here?”

“What?” My head snaps up to see her heading toward us.

My heart stops. The look on her face speaks of trouble, but her stride is fluid, calm and controlled, like the way her black cocktail dress falls around her slender hips.

She picks up a champagne glass as she passes by the waiter, reaching us in a matter of seconds, while I struggle to keep myself from unraveling altogether.

“I thought Jodie didn’t invite any other Lockwoods besides you, Carter,” Jace mutters. “What gives, brother?”

“Damned if I know,” Carter replies, just as confused.

Margot smiles as she approaches. “Gentlemen. Clara. I just stopped by for a glass of bubbly and to drop off a check,” she says. “Jodie seemed surprised to see me. Apparently, my invitation got lost in the mail.”

At least Jodie had the common sense to offer a decent lie. I scour the crowd until I see my friend looking back at me, her eyes wide with concern. I respond with a slow blink, if only to ease her nerves. She’s got enough on her plate with this event already. I can handle Margot on my own.

“Thank you for the donation,” I say to Margot. “It was very kind of you. ”

“I will always support education. A good education helps young people make better decisions for their lives. Wouldn’t you agree, Clara?” There’s an undertone there that deeply unsettles me.

I feel as though I’m walking barefoot across a minefield. One wrong step and BOOM!