Page 17 of Mister Rival

Spotting me, he gives me an almost triumphant smile. What the fuck is he smiling for? And why is he and that pariah heading my way?

I glug down the rest of champagne number two faster than the first glass, and try not to panic.

Steel yourself, Alison Jane Archer. You’ve got this. You left him, remember? Because he’s a cheating, lying piece of good for nothing, scum?—

“Alison,” he drawls right about the same time my skin crawls.

“Gareth,” I can barely get the words out. “I wasn’t expecting to see you and…” My eyes cast over the buxom brunette on his arm, not to mention the large, flashy diamond she’s sporting.Did he propose to his mistress?“Forgive me, I’ve completely forgotten your name, unless you’d like me to call youhome wrecker.”

Alina’s eyes go wide, her nostrils flaring as her lips part but no sound comes out. My ex brought his fucking mistress to the reunion. This is the first time we’ve come face to face without Clementine with me, so I guess I’m free to call her whatever I want.

“Now, now, Alison, there’s no need for name callin?—”

“There you are, honey.” Firm, strong hands grip around my waist and my body goes rigid. Is it terrible that I have a 99% chance of knowing the owner of that cologne, and the deep, drawl of this man’s voice anywhere?

I turn, and as predicted, Tristan — dressed as promised in a black tuxedo, he even wore the tie — is smiling down at me. And he looks fucking delicious. His hair is slicked back. He’s shaved most of the scruff off his face. And then there’s the blue eyes, sparkling like diamonds as the soft curve of his lips draws my eyes to them. He looks like an old Hollywood movie star. My knees feel like they could buckle, and that is very, very dangerous. One eyebrow piques as I stare back at him, then his eyes go slightly rounder.Keep up, Ali!

“Sweetie!” I swing my arms around his neck. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

“Well, now you’ve found me.” His hands slide farther around me, one palm pressing against the small of my back.

I don’t know if it’s the relief that I’ve got someone to cling to in front of two of the most despicable people on the planet, or that fucking Tom Ford cologne that hits me right between the legs, but before I know what’s happening, I’m pressing my lips against his.Holy fuck, what am I doing?The angel on my shoulder whispers.Enjoy it, you’re going straight to Hell anyway.The devil on the other side snickers.

Oh, fuck it. Lucas — recovering from what I can only assume is utter shock — finally kicks into gear and kisses me back. I intend to pull away, really I do, but who’d have known that Tristan Lucas’s lips would be so soft? That his mouth is fucking glorious just like that rest of him, and when his other hand slides up my arm to hold the back of my head, I’m toast.Holy shit,is that his tongue?

Still reeling, I take a breath, trying to tamper down the blood boiling in my veins at how searing his touch is. His kiss becomes brutal, like we’ve been long lost lovers starved of each other, or kept apart because of war or some other tragedy. By the time I have the good sense to pull away, my breathing is just as ragged as his. I laugh nervously. Well, it’s a giggle, let’s be frank; I just guzzled two glasses of bubbles. I haven’t giggled since I was a fucking fifteen-year-old cheerleader, and that’s what I feel like right now.A teenager.

Then Gareth clears his throat. Oops. Lucas and I pull apart. I’m breathy, wanting more and not caring that we have an audience of our old classmates gawking. I’m pleased to see that Tristan is no better, and I’ve finally knocked that annoying smirk off his face.

“Sorry.” I wave a hand at Gareth. “We’re like a couple of teenagers who can’t keep their hands off one another,” I whisper behind the back of my hand at the two of them. “I’m sure you know what that’s like since you’re engaged to one.”

“I’m twenty-four!” bitch-face spits back at me. I can’t say I blame her. I’ve had what she’s having, and looking at the gorgeous man beside me who’s now wearing my lipstick, I could almost feel sorry for her knowing what she’s got to put up with. And in the bedroom? Ugh, pass me a bucket.

“You’re datingTristan Lucas?” Gareth sounds like he just sucked down a quart of rat poison. Pity he didn’t. His voice nauseates me now, like everything about him, and it leaves me wondering how I didn’t see all these annoying traits about him until now. I wasn’t a perfect wife by any means. I had my flaws; heck, I’m a lot. But I would never, ever cheat on anybody. How he lives with himself and faces our daughter after what he did, I’ll never know.

Tristan punches him playfully on the shoulder. “I wouldn’t exactly call it dating, if you get my drift.” He winks conspiringly, and I want to burst out laughing.

Oh, this is a very good plan.

The one thing Gareth could never stand was Tristan. He always thought we had something going on, which we never did, of course. I left town practically on a float parade with the high school quarterback, but that still didn’t satisfy Gareth. Nothing ever did.

“I don’t believe we’ve met?” Tristan turns his charms onto Alina, yet he doesn’t hold out his hand to shake hers. Good, because I swear this chick has the kiss of death.

Well, we all know she likes older guys.

She immediately perks up, standing taller, sticking her chest out. “I’m Alina?—”

“She was the one fucking my husband,” I clarify, just so he’s aware. “His secretary, it’s kinda cliche, but that’s LA for you. Men always think the grass is green on the other side.”

“Oh.” Tristan’s face changes, then he turns to me. “The homewrecker?”

I nod.

“Don’t cause a scene,” Gareth says through gritted teeth. “Not tonight.”

I narrow my eyes. “Didn’t you come here just to gloat, knowing I wasn’t coming with a date?” I roll my eyes dramatically. “You planned on rubbing it in my face, but didn’t count on the fact that I’ve got a hot stud of my own, and let me tell you,” I glance at Alina, dropping my voice, “woman to woman? He goes for fucking hours.”

Okay, they don’t need to know the truth, but it’s fun to shove it in their faces for once.

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