No, this was different. The way she held herself, almost as if she might shatter if she moved…!
“Selena,” he said softly, “tell me what happened, please?”
“I just have a few more things that I need to do to get ready,” she told him. And with that, she turned away and slipped into the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind her.
Reid stared at the door for a long moment, wanting to open it and demand that she talk to him, party be damned. He couldn’t lose her! Not now! Not when he’d finally realized how important she was to him. Hell, he was looking forward to having her on his arm tonight, to showing the world that he was her man. She was so incredibly beautiful and charming and…and vulnerable. He’d forgotten that part because she hid her vulnerabilities so well.
Her past. He still didn’t know what had happened in her past, but he knew that whatever was bothering her had to do with the issue from her past. The issue that had been so traumatic, that she’d tried to destroy herself with anorexia.
Damn! He wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her that he’d protect her from whatever was hurting her! He wanted to beat the crap out of whoever had hurt her feelings.
Turning away, he stormed out of the guest house, furious that she wouldn’t talk to him, but not giving up.
Looking around, he noticed that the cleaning crew was packing up. The catering crew had placed the tables around the pool, the event coordinator was directing the other vendors. Vases of flowers were carried around to the tables, the smell of ribs grilling permeated the air, and the bartenders were stocking the tubs that would hold iced beer. There would also be circulating cocktails, but those would be prepared in the kitchen.
Ignoring all of it, he walked into his house, prepared to get ready so that he would be outside to greet the guests. But he discovered Brant and Mack lounging on his couch, laughing about something.
“Why are you here so early?” he demanded, looking at both brothers who wore almost identical dark slacks and white shirts, open at the collar.
“To annoy you. Why else?” Brant claimed, then clinked his beer bottle against Mack’s as they chuckled.
“I will call Giselle and tell her that you guys are annoying me,” Reid warned. “She’ll fly out here with her entourage and drive both of you nuts trying to figure out what’s wrong.”
Obviously, the threat wasn’t dire enough because his brothers just laughed. Rolling his eyes, Reid walked up the stairs, ignoring them so that he could get ready for the damn party. He’d wanted this to be a big bash, something that could highlight all of the work Selena had done to prepare for this campaign. But now, he just wanted it to be over so that he could talk to Selena and find out what or who had hurt her feelings.
Twenty minutes later, he walked back down the stairs, showered and freshly shaved, ready to greet his guests. He’d chosen khaki slacks, but a white shirt like his brothers. What he was wearing didn’t matter though. He was eager to see Selena.
Stepping out onto his patio, he froze as she stepped out of the guest house. The flowered dress was light and airy, hugging her breasts with a deep V, giving him a view of her cleavage that made his mouth water. When his eyes traveled lower, he realized that her long, sexy legs were revealed with every step she took. The ruffles of her dress shifted, revealing the tanned length of those legs that had only this morning been wrapped around his waist.
This was going to be a long night, he told himself.
“Wow!”
Mack stepped out of the house behind Reid.
“Who is that?” he asked.
A soft chuckle came from Brant. Reid should say something, but he was too entranced by the gentle sway of her hips, the look in her eyes that announced to the world that she knew she looked stunning. The look that turned him on unlike anything he’d ever seen before. She was gorgeous and she knew it! What a turn on! A beautiful woman was one thing. But a woman with that kind of confidence? Damn!
“You’re going to introduce me, right?” Mack asked hopefully.
Brant shook his head and, out of the corner of his eye, Reid saw Brant put a hand out, stopping Mack from approaching Selena.
“That’s Reid’s woman,” Brant said softly.