He leaned over and kissed Brooke on the head. Tucker smiled, and I could see he was genuinely happy for Brooke.
Because I was, again, feeling sorry for myself that I couldn’t have what Mo and Brooke had, I looked around the room. My heart stopped in my chest when I noticed three men walking into the large room. Simon Stark led the group that included Jay Wallace, Sinclair’s mayoral competition, and Rick.
“Rick,” I said on a gasp. What was he doing here?
27
Tucker
I enjoyed parties. But it was hard to be in the mood for this one. The only reason I was here was to help Holly schmooze with Meredith so she could get the library built. It was easy to pretend to be Holly’s husband, but it was agonizing at the same time because it wasn’t real. My goal was to find the line where we’d look real, but I could still keep the emotional distance needed to keep my heart from hoping and getting squashed even more.
When Holly said Rick’s name, and I turned to see Stark, Wallace and a third man walk in, all my attempts to keep an emotional distance withered away. Immediately, I felt protective of Holly.
I studied the man who’d left her at the altar. I’d seen him briefly at the door on Halloween, but now I could get a better view. He seemed average in every way. Like us, his eyes gawked as he took in the opulence of the house. The fact that he too felt out of place, and that he was walking in with Stark, made my hackles rise. Something was up and I didn’t have a good feeling about it.
My first instinct was to confront both Rick and Stark, but making a scene was not the answer. It would likely upset Meredith and in turn, it would mess up the library project. So I downed my wine in an attempt to rein in my temper.
Rick looked over, his gaze stopping on Holly. He smiled, and he didn’t seem surprised that she was here. In fact, it seemed like he’d been searching for her. Like he’d known she’d be here.
“Who’s that?” Brooke asked.
“That’s Rick Jefferson,” Mo said. “I thought he’d left town. What’s he doing with Stark and Wallace, I wonder.”
“That’s a good question,” I said. “Perhaps it’s part of his plan to win you back, my sweet. He’s sold his soul to the devil.” Inwardly, I chastised myself for being such a dick.
Brooke’s eyes widened at me as she clearly could tell my tone wasn’t kind toward Holly.
Holly looked up at me, her eyes pleading with me not to do something nutty.
I smiled and rubbed her back like a husband would. “Don’t worry. I’ll be mature.”
She looked down and I felt bad for poking at her. Now wasn’t the time. And I was a jerk for being angry that she didn’t love me.
An announcement was made that it was time for dinner, so we all made our way to the dining room that reminded me of that English show Brooke made me watch about the Crawley family set in the early twentieth century.
Little name card marked our seats. I helped Holly into hers and sat next to her. Rick and Stark appeared across from us and took a seat.
“Oh great,” Holly muttered.
Rick’s eyes narrowed at me.
I leaned closer to Holly and whispered. “Sort of suspicious don’t you think?” Then, because I was a jealous asshole, I kissed her. It was a quick kiss, but one that made no doubt that she was mine. Or at least, fake mine.
Casting a glance at Rick, he didn’t seem to care very much. His expression was impassive, nearly bored, which was really strange. I’d just kissed the woman he said he wanted to win back and he didn’t seem to give a fuck.
“Tucker, tell everyone the story you told me about the rodents and the pizza in Chicago,” Meredith called from the head of the table.
I put on a smile. “Is that really appropriate when we’re about to eat?”
She laughed. “Maybe you’re right.”
The dinner was a tense affair, with Holly more on edge with her ex there, and Stark watching Rick and Holly and me like he was waiting for something to happen. The whole thing made me nervous. Like something was brewing.
After dinner, we were herded back into the ballroom for more drinks and chatting. Holly wandered off to find a powder room.
I stood to the side and watched as the rich and powerful schmoozed.
“I know you’re new in town, so I’m thinking that your outburst the other week was because you don’t understand the delicate situation that you’re part of.”