Every Little Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 2)

And then as if he felt my attention, his head jerked in my direction. His fierce gaze bore into mine, making me breathless.

“I don’t think so,” Cat said, her tone softening. “No man looks at a woman the way he’s looking at Bailey and invites another woman to a wedding.”

I tore my eyes from Vaughn’s magnetic stare.

“Speaking of invitations.” Iris swiftly changed the subject. “Didn’t Vanessa get one to the wedding?”

“Yes,” I bit out, still disturbed by Vaughn. “But I haven’t heard from her since I threw her out of the house. I know she’s staying at the Grand, though.” Annie at the grocery store had informed me.

“I can’t believe she can’t see Jack is playing her,” Dahlia said.

“Vanessa only sees what she wants to see.” I glanced back over at Vaughn and swiftly looked away when I discovered his attention was still on me.

Shifting my gaze to the dance floor my eyes caught on a pink dress I admired. A tall brunette I didn’t recognize wore it. She was as tall as the blonde talking to Vaughn and model-like, too. I looked at her partner as they swayed around a little and recognition slammed into me with the force of a car.

No.

No way.

How?

Not here.

Fuck.

I shoved back from the table in an instinctual reaction to be further from him.

“Bailey?” Emery said. “Are you okay?”

No, I am not okay. I got to my feet, my chair screeching across the floor and drawing attention.

The man with the brunette looked over and our eyes met. He gave me a small, arrogant smile, and then he frowned as I continued to stare at him.

Him.

The ghost from my past.

I spun around to leave, desperate for air.

“Bailey, I wanted to talk to you about the parade at the end of the summer.” Kell was in my face, blocking my exit. “I was thinking—sweetie, are you okay? You’re chalk white.”

“Excuse me, please.” I brushed past him, tripping over my stupid dress and cursing it.

“Oh, Bailey.” Sherrie stopped in my path. “I have family who want to visit in a few weeks from New Jersey. Any chance you might have a room available? On discount? Bailey? So rude!”

I heard her call after me as I marched away, my dress gripped tight in my hands.

“Excuse me!”

No!

My heart started hammering so fast it felt like it was climbing upward into my throat with each pound. Nausea rose up right there with it.

“Excuse me.” A strong hand curled around my bicep, pulling me gently to a stop.

I was swung around, face to face with my past.

He was still handsome. Still smooth and dapper. But there were lines around his eyes and mouth that didn’t used to be there, and a hardness behind the constant laughter in his expression that hadn’t been there when he was a young man, either.