Mistress & a Million Dollars / Satin & A Scandalous Affair: Mistress & a Million Dollars. Jan Colley

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ

      “Not in the least.” She enjoyed Jake’s company but, as handsome and charming as he was, he was only a friend. And thankfully he was someone who had nothing to do with the Blackstone dynasty and all its associated problems. But she wasn’t about to tell Jarrod any of that. “Danielle’s such a sweetie,” she added to show her non-jealousy.

      “That she is,” he agreed slowly, but she could hear in his voice that he was still looking at her, trying to get inside her head and figure her out.

      Pretending not to notice, Briana let her gaze wander around the room, forcing herself to concentrate on the other guests. Anything but concentrate on Jarrod Hammond…or let him concentrate on her.

      There were about sixty guests and most of the faces were strangers to her, but she did see Sonya Hammond talking to Garth Buick, an urbane and charming man who’d been Howard Blackstone’s company secretary. They were only a few feet away and Briana could hear them talking about going sailing together. Something about the way they looked at each other—or perhaps it was the way they were trying not to look at each other—made Briana wonder if there was something between the two of them. If so, they were a good match. In her late forties, Sonya had a tall, willowy elegance that complemented the trim and well-toned Garth, who was just a few years older.

      “Are you always so trusting?” Jarrod said, bringing her focus back on him.

      She’d grimaced. “Unfortunately, no.”

      His glance sharpened. “What happened to rob you of your trust?”

      Heavens, how was she going to get out of this one? She only had to look at that firm jaw to know he wasn’t a man to give up when he wanted something.

      “Nothing of interest,” she said airily, but her heart was pounding in her chest.

      “Oh, but I think there is,” he said, confirming her suspicions.

      “Let it go, Jarrod. It’s nothing important.” And to prove it, she scooped a canapé off a tray as a waiter passed by.

      “Let me be the judge of that.”

      “Ahh, but I thought you were a property lawyer, not a judge.”

      His lips began to twitch. “And you’re obstructing the course of justice, Briana.”

      “Or guilty of contempt,” she mocked, then popped the canapé into her mouth, feeling pleased with herself.

      He laughed out loud, taking her unawares. “I didn’t realize you had such a smart mouth.”

      Because she’d never let him know it before, that’s why, she mused, chewing the delicate morsel. She’d never let him get close enough.

      So why was she letting him get close now? More importantly, why was he trying to get close now, she wondered, watching as his gaze fell to her lips and darkened, as if he were thinking about kissing her. She quickly swallowed, then took another sip of champagne.

      Just then, the sound of a helicopter rent through the air as it came close and swooped the yacht. Far too close for Briana’s piece of mind.

      And obviously for Ric Perrini’s.

      “Damn the media!” Ric growled, striding across the middle deck to look out the side window of the cruiser right near Briana. “Can’t they leave us in peace for one day?”

      It broke the moment between her and Jarrod, for which she should have been grateful but wasn’t. Instead she kept remembering that gorgeous laugh of his. It sent shivers of desire down her spine.

      “I’m already on it,” Kim said, coming over to her new husband and slipping her arm inside his. “The captain should be on the phone right now to the water police. They’ll sort it out.”

      “They’d better,” Ric warned.

      “Anyway, we have more immediate problems. The photographer’s about to have chickens if we don’t let him take some pictures of us with our guests.” She smiled at Briana and Jarrod. “You two will have your photo taken with us, won’t you?”

      Briana’s fingers tightened around her glass. She knew it hadn’t been Kim’s intention, but even a small mention of her and Jarrod doing something together made her uncomfortable.

      “Perhaps later, Kim,” Jarrod said with a tight smile, then excused himself and headed to where an older couple stood looking out the back of the cruiser.

      There was a flash of disappointment in Kim’s eyes and Ric stiffened beside his wife, before she quickly gave his arm a squeeze. For all that Jarrod was here today, it was apparent Kim’s falling out with his brother was still an issue between the Hammonds and the Blackstones.

      For the Hammonds anyway.

      To cover the awkward moment, Briana pasted on her best smile for the new bride. “Hey, that’s all the more coverage for me then. You know how I love being in front of the camera.”

      Kim smiled with gratitude. “Thanks,” she murmured, just as the photographer appeared.

      Later, when everyone sat down to dinner, Sonya asked Briana how she managed to look so good in front of a camera when it was such hard work.

      “You don’t know the half of it,” Briana said, smiling across the table at the other woman.

      “I’d love to hear about it,” Sonya said, the warmth in her eyes belying her cool reserve.

      Briana obligingly chatted about some of the more obvious facets of modeling, yet she knew they’d all be surprised if she told them the truth. She’d fallen into modeling as a teenager but much preferred being behind the camera than in front of it.

      Perhaps one day after she’d made enough money to recoup the money Patrick had lost, she’d further her dream. Until then it really wasn’t such a hardship smiling for the camera or showcasing Blackstone jewelry. And it certainly wasn’t a hardship attending a Blackstone wedding like this one.

      Except for Jarrod.

      She groaned inwardly. Lately he was turning up everywhere she went. At the jewelry launch the other night she’d never felt so self-conscious being on show before, but seeing him there in the audience, feeling his eyes upon her, she felt as if she was showcasing herself, not the Blackstone jewelry.

      And now here he was at the wedding, sitting next to Vincent Blackstone, the late Howard Blackstone’s older brother, deep in conversation. From time to time, though, his eyes were on her.

      “You seem to be pretty cozy with Jarrod Hammond,” Jake murmured in her ear, startling her when she must have looked at Jarrod once too often.

      Trying to appear nonchalant, she glanced at Jake and saw a very male look in his eyes that reminded her too much of Jarrod. This guy hadn’t missed a thing going on around him. No doubt such ability was part of the reason he was now a rich and successful businessman.

      But at least he wasn’t the jealous type, she mused. “We’re distant in-laws, that’s all. Nothing special.”

      “Really?” he mocked in an arrogant СКАЧАТЬ