Chapter 19
NINETEEN
Derek thought if Reese got any closer to him, they were going to be sharing DNA. While part of him was arrogantly pleased that Dawn was seeing him with a gorgeous woman like Reese on his arm, the other, more rational half, just wanted to get the hell out of there.
“Reese’s cousin is in the wedding,” he said, and hoped he could just leave it at that.
No such luck.
“The bride’s side?” Dawn asked.
“Yes.”
“I thought so.” Dawn laughed, a repelling and shrill sound that made him wonder how she could have changed so much in the last eight years. This was not the woman he had fallen in love with.
When Reese looked at her blankly, Dawn added, “You have that Jersey look to you.”
Oh, shit. Knight squeezed Reese’s elbow, praying she wouldn’t cause a scene.
To her credit, she merely spoke in a neutral voice. “Yes, I’m Reese Hampton. And you are?”
Dawn patted him on the arm again, like he was a pet she’d once had a fondness for.
He felt his anger start to build and searched the room for an escape.
They were still trapped in the reception line, but at least Dawn’s current husband looked like he was suffering equally, if that wince was any indication.
“I’m Derek’s first wife, Dawn Lansing. This is my husband, Bill.”
The wording further annoyed Derek. She was his ex-wife, not his first wife, since he’d never gone on to take a second wife.
“Have I met you before, Reese? Aren’t you one of Claire’s friends?”
Now that was really uncalled for. He wasn’t sure if the barb was meant to indicate he was old, or that Reese was young, but either way he didn’t like it. Christ, he was thirty-six, not even halfway through a normal life span. He was not old. Maybe Dawn was just jealous because Reese was gorgeous.
“No, she’s not one of my little sister’s friends. She’s a journalist. If you’ll excuse us...” he tried to hint, but Dawn cut him off.
“Have you been dating long? Is it serious?”
Bill roused himself from his squirming long enough to say, “Dawn, dear, that’s a little personal. Why don’t we head in? The line’s cleared a bit.”
Dawn wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was Reese. Derek recognized the challenge gleaming from Dawn’s eyes and it would have scared the shit out of him, except that Reese’s face had already accomplished that.
Reese looked like she was smiling, a wide-open perky beauty pageant smile. But her eyes glowed like one of Satan’s assistants. Derek was considering taking a step back when she spoke.
“I don’t mind you asking about our relationship. But the truth is, I’m actually in it for the great sex.”
He about choked on his own tongue.
Oh, my God. Where was a camera when he needed one?
Dawn was slack jawed and ogling, while Bill had let fly with a loud snort of laughter. Derek had to bite his lip not to laugh, himself.
This was great. A hot woman bragging about his sexual prowess to his ex-wife.
Reese just continued to smile.
Finally, after a good thirty seconds of showdown silence, Dawn let out a forced chuckle. “How cute. And appropriate. Just what Derek’s always wanted. Zero responsibility and a young play thing. I’m surprised it took him this long to figure it out.”
Hold it. His amusement evaporated. That wasn’t a damn bit funny. Derek clenched his fists and willed himself to calm down. He had never shirked responsibility, his whole damn life was wrapped up in the responsibilities of his career.
So he hadn’t wanted to start a family. Maybe the timing hadn’t been right. Maybe he’d wanted a family, just not with Dawn.
And he didn’t like the cracks about Reese being nothing but a sexual diversion.
Even if it were true.
Something ugly was about to come out of his mouth. He was going to insult his pregnant ex-wife. Reese’s cool hand slid into his and squeezed, steadying him.
Dawn said, “Well, we’re going to see if there are any waiters running around this place. I’m just dying of thirst, and I have to keep this little baby happy, you know.” Dawn ran her hand along her stomach.
Reese glanced down at the slightly rounded belly. “When are you due? In a week or two?”
Just when he thought it couldn’t get any more uncomfortable. Derek coughed into his hand and considered turning his gun on himself to get out of this encounter.
Color leached from Dawn’s face. “Not until Christmas Eve, as a matter of fact.”
Which by his calculations was about twelve weeks away.
“Oh.” Reese took another long pointed glance at Dawn’s stomach, her eyebrows raised.
Dawn suddenly turned on her heel and left, leaving Bill to trail after her obediently. Derek almost felt sorry for the poor guy, predicting that Dawn would take out her distress on Bill. He’d felt that cool breeze quite a few times in their marriage.
Derek looked down at Reese, who was sporting an unholy grin, and frowned. “You knew she was only six months pregnant. I told you that.”
Secretly he thought it was borderline hilarious, but he didn’t really think he should encourage her. God only knew what she’d do if she thought she had his permission to be brassy.