Page 319 of The First Taste
Felix doesn’t say a word, just looks at me with an assessing gaze that chills my blood. Tristen is quick to greet me, though.
“So, you are Talia. I’ve heard a lot about you, but I wasn’t entirely sure that you were real.” He grins. “It’s good to know that Dare hasn’t completely lost his mind yet.”
Dare gives him a sly grin. “Tristen and I went to high school and college together. We definitely got into our share of trouble.”
Tristen gives me a conspiratorial wink. “Don’t tell anybody. I prefer to leave them guessing.”
“Felix, how are things?” Dare asks.
The older man looks at Dare, raising an eyebrow. “Things are fine. If you have time today, I would like to steal a few minutes to talk about the site where we are supposed to start the drilling.”
Dare’s brows furrow. “That’s important. But I think tonight is going to be more about personal intrigue, sadly. Talia and I just got married yesterday and I need to rub it in my brother’s face. I already told him and Daisy and to say they were surprised is a delightful understatement.”
Felix purses his lips. “I need two minutes. Just step over here and let me fill you in quickly.”
Dare looks at me then shrugs. “We’ll be right here. I’ll be able to see you. Plus, Tristen can keep watch of you. He does a hell of a job washing my money so I am confident that he can guard you for two seconds and keep the jerks at bay.”
I squint at him but don’t say anything. Mostly, what comes to mind is that the biggest shark in the room seems to be his Uncle Felix. The guy gives me the worst feeling. But I nod and smile. The two men walk away, huddling and sharing secrets.
I give Tristen my brave smile and he rolls his eyes. “Men, am I right? Let me see the ring that Dare chose.”
I hold out my hand to him and he steps closer to me, taking my hand and admiring the huge emerald on my finger. “It’s nice. Actually, it’s gorgeous.”
“Dare didn’t pick this out though, I think.” His gaze flits up to me and he releases my hands. “Am I right?”
There is a sour taste in my mouth as I nod. “You are right. He didn’t pick it out.”
“Yeah, he has a habit of relying on his assistant to have good taste. Luckily, his assistant picks excellent furniture and clothing. Jewelry, too, by the looks of it.”
My face burns but I nod. I have no idea who this person is or how much he might know about my life, so I am very careful with my next words.
“So, you’ve known Dare for a long time?”
Tristen glances at me, his gaze weighing his answer.
“You don’t really want to know about that.”
“But I do!” I protest.
Tristen steps closer, moving close to my ear. “I know how you two met. I know the whole story. You don’t have to pretend with me.”
Surprised, I step back. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
He exhales a laugh. “I know the whole fake marriage gambit. And I also know that you’re…” he mouths the wordpregnantto me.
My cheeks stain with blood. I haven’t met this guy and I don’t know him from Adam but apparently, he knows all of my biggest secrets. When Dare and I leave this party, he’s going to get an earful from me. Why would he not have mentioned Tristen before?
“I didn’t know that Dare was so indiscreet,” I finally manage.
“Oh, I didn’t really mean it to come out like that. Dare is usually a black box. You tell him a secret and he never tells another living soul about it. But I just so happened to be around when the whole thing started up.”
I cross my arms, trying not to let my agitation show. “That’s nice,” I say. “It’s good that Dare has a friend, I mean.”
Tristen looks at me, his expression growing tense. But before he can say anything, someone clinks a knife against a wine glass at the far end of the room. I turn away from Tristen, glad that I have an excuse to pay attention to anything else.
Dare takes my hand, squeezing it as he looks toward the other end of the room as it clears around Remy Morgan and the butler, who stands with a wine glass and a piece of cutlery.
Remy is wearing an off-putting light green cardigan over a white Oxford and rumpled khakis. He leans on his cane and when he gets the attention he called for, he waves Clive away.
