“Y’all, this is my wife, Miranda. Miranda, this is Heidi and”—he cleared his throat and apologetically glanced at me—“Emery.”
Miranda eyed me up and down, as if she were sizing me up for a Miss America competition. “Emery. Like…Emery?”
“The one and only,” I muttered.
“Your ex-girlfriend is here, and you didn’t even tell me?” Miranda hissed.
“He didn’t know I would be here,” I said, stepping in for him for a reason I couldn’t fathom. “I came with a friend.”
Miranda didn’t seem to hear me, or she didn’t care. She turned on her heel and fled in the opposite direction.
Landon rolled his eyes and then scowled. “Sorry, y’all. I’ve got to…” He nodded his head after Miranda and then jogged to catch up with her.
My eyes widened with shock. Heidi’s mouth was hanging open.
“Wow, what a bitch!” Heidi said.
“You’re telling me.”
“At least we know one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re way prettier!” Heidi said, holding up her glass for a toast.
Five
Jensen
The hardest part of the night was over, and now, I could finally have another drink. Dealing with Sutton had been harder than I’d anticipated, and the whiskey bottle was calling to me stronger than normal.
Or maybe it was that woman who had been seated in the third row. I didn’t know where the hell she had come from, but damn! Long dark hair, perfect legs spilling out of the slit in her dress, gorgeous mouth that had been begging me to kiss her. I had decided within three seconds that she was the hottest person in the room, and it had taken everything in me not to ditch the bridesmaid on my arm. I’d wanted to escort her straight out of the room and into my bed.
It had been a while…a long while…since I had that kind of reaction to anyone in Lubbock. Dating here was impossible, and since I did business all over the country, it was easier to meet people on the road. So, maybe she didn’t even live in Lubbock. I sure hoped not. Made it much more difficult to date when everyone knew the precise dollar amount you were worth and the dirty business with my ex.
Here was to hoping she wasn’t a local I’d somehow missed in my thirty-something years here.
I kept a stash of good liquor with me and poured myself a double out of a whiskey bottle that Austin had almost handled all on his own. He was out in the center of all those sorority girls, probably deciding which one or two or three he should bring home with him. But my eyes were searching out the brunette.
I nodded my head at Morgan, who was talking to Austin’s best friend, Patrick.
“Hey, man!” Patrick said.
We shook hands and clapped each other on the back. I’d known Patrick forever. He was practically family. And, if Morgan didn’t stop mooning over him, he’d end up as family for real.
“Hey, Pat. What did you think of the ceremony?” I asked.
Patrick cracked a grin. “Typical Sutton.”
“That is the damn truth.”
“She seems happy at least,” Morgan interjected. Her eyes were glued on our younger sister, who was at the center of the dance party.
“She always looks like that,” I said.
“Fact,” Patrick agreed.
“Oh, shit,” Morgan groaned.
I followed her gaze and saw Miranda storming across the room with Landon on her tail. Pretty common occurrence honestly. That was what their relationship always fucking looked like. I still did not understand how that idiot had ended up with her. And I hated that my failed marriage wasn’t warning enough for him.
“I’m going to go check on him,” Morgan said with a sigh.
“Just leave them,” I insisted. “Your hatred of Miranda will only make it worse.”
Morgan grinned wickedly. “Will it? Well then, I’ll just be a minute.”
I shook my head at my evil sister and watched her stalk out of the room toward Landon and Miranda. I wouldn’t wish Miranda upon my worst enemy, let alone my brother. But, for a while now, Morgan and I had been on Operation Miranda, which consisted of seeing how far we could push Landon into divorcing her.
But, despite my brother’s issues, my mind was still on that girl. There were hundreds of people in attendance for Sutton’s wedding. She could be anywhere. I just needed to find her.
“Oh no,” Patrick said.
I raised an eyebrow in question.
“You’ve got that look on your face.”
“What look?” I asked.
“The one you get in the boardroom. It’s the same one you get chasing pussy.”
I grunted at Patrick. He wasn’t wrong. “I hope she’s as big of a challenge as the Tarman merger I’m working on right now.”
Patrick laughed in that unabashed way of his. “I doubt it. You’re a fucking Wright, man. Girls are not a challenge.”
My grin returned at that. “We’ll see.”
That was when I saw her. Her body was turned, facing the exit. She had an empty glass of champagne in her hand, and fuck, did she look gorgeous. A tightly fitted dress showed off every single curve on her body. Her hair was tugged off to one side, and I almost licked my lips at the thought of kissing down her throat. I couldn’t wait to hear her moan my name into the night.
I picked up a tray of champagne on the way over to meet the brunette. I was glad that she was standing with two of my employees so I had an easy in for the conversation.
I knew all of my employees’ names who worked at the corporate headquarters for Wright Construction. I personally welcomed every employee and made sure they knew their value. No one was going to work at my company and not feel appreciated. I knew how I had gotten to where I was. I never planned to take it for granted.
“Ladies,” I said with a charming grin. I offered the tray to the group of women standing with the brunette. “You looked like you could use a refill.”
“Oh, look at that service,” Heidi said, winking at the other girl.
“Not every day you get champagne from the boss,” Julia said. She took a glass herself.
“Thanks,” the other girl said. She exchanged her empty glass with one from the tray.
A waiter immediately snaked over and removed the tray from my hands.
“Are y’all enjoying the party?” I asked.
“It’s nice,” Julia said.