Page 30 of Nothing to Fear

“You have a responsibility to us married women to make the most of your singlehood. When was the last time you went out on a date?”

“Oh, God, I don’t even remember. I don’t even care.”

“There’s your problem. You need to get out there so the next time Jeremy calls, you can tell him where to get off. Better yet, your new guy should tell him where to get off.”

“Men are the last thing I want to deal with right now.”

Yvette hooked an arm around hers and drew her a few steps to the side. Darroch appeared over her shoulder, walking by with a tray of drinks.

“Got food on the way and set up a regular sugar drop off,” he declared to the group, sliding the tray onto the top of the screen. “Got to keep those energy levels high, this is a game of endurance.”

Yep, and for the next eight hours or so, she’d stay right there, with the group. No more wandering off, no chance he’d get her alone if she ignored him and stayed glued to Yvette. The joke may be on her, but she’d keep her defenses high. It wouldn’t last forever, couldn’t. The Breckenridges would get bored eventually. She hoped.

NINE

AVOIDING HIM WAS easier than she thought. She didn’t sit next to him and moved whenever he got too close. Dougie was a great buffer and a hilarious little guy. It also helped that with four Breckenridge brothers present, crowds gathered.

Not only did the Breckenridge teams mix and mingle, others, spectators and players, hung out with them. Some asked questions, told stories, jokes, gave pointers, and got them too. Perfect for her. More people diluted any requirement to be anywhere near him.

“Cabe!” Darroch shouted over those around their lane, getting his brother’s attention. “Ast!”

With both brothers following his nod, he grabbed Dougie, guiding him through bodies, toward the front of the building.

Being short and at a lower level, she couldn’t see whatever he’d noticed. Whispers didn’t take long to reveal the secret.

“She actually came,” Celeste said, hurrying away.

“Alice Breckenridge again,” Yvette said, choosing her ball. “Guess she’s here for the reveal. I never imagined seeing her in a place like this.”

Had they ever imagined seeing her anywhere? Alice Breckenridge was not supposed to socialize with the sales staff. That they’d drifted onto her radar was nothing more than pure, dumb luck.

They were only minutes away from the end of the tournament. Breckenridge winners couldn’t be decided in a monetary amount because it was impossible to know who’d spent the most. They could’ve worked on an honor system,though that wasn’t likely to succeed with Celeste and Maureen at the helm.

Yvette went to take her shot.

She, herself, had never been a bowling aficionado, but usually did okay. Easier said than done in practice when Darroch Breckenridge’s eyes seemed to follow her everywhere. She felt them again, on the back of her neck. It had to be her imagination. No way could—

“Mom, you remember Savanna.”

Whipping around, there they were, Darroch with his mom on his arm, right behind her.

“Yes, of course,” Alice said. “Have you enjoyed today?”

“Ha, I—yeah, uh, it’s been fun.” Thank God it was nearly over. Harder to just walk away from the guy when he brought the world’s most affable woman with him. “Thank you for coming to support us.”

“I had to be here for the announcement of the Breckenridge winner. It’s exciting. Have my boys conducted themselves appropriately?”

“Oh, I—” Her eyes rose to Darroch though his were decidedly cooler than usual. “Yes, they’re a credit to you, perfect gentlemen. Dougie is especially funny.”

The woman beamed. “He does like to please the crowd. I apologize if they’ve drawn exceptional interest to your station here. Unfortunately, it happens often.”

“No need to apologize,” she said. “They’ve dealt with it well and kept their focus. Would you excuse me?”

“Oh, yes, certainly.”

Skirting around them, she sped toward the restroom just for somewhere else to be. Yvette would finish her turn and then maybe they could get out of there. The timer showed less than two minutes until the end of play time. There’d be a speech orsomething from the charity, probably. Their scores would take seconds to print out from—

Someone grabbed her arm and redirected her through a nearby door.

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