Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Once they stepped out of the ballroom, James immediately let go of her hand.

He tugged off his bow tie with a dramatic sigh.

"God, I'll never get used to dressing up like this. That bow tie was strangling me, you know?"

Briony looked at him with a fond smile, the way one might look at a younger brother.

"You reacted pretty quickly back there."

She'd only claimed James was her boyfriend on a whim, mostly because Barrie's gaze had become far too predatory for comfort.

"That Barrie guy is trouble, you could tell right away!" James scoffed, "I noticed the way he was looking at you even when you were giving your speech! Guy's a total creep. What, does he think those glasses hide what he really is? Please."

He added, almost spitting the words, "Honestly, the whole Lockwood family gives me the creeps."

Briony nodded in agreement.

"I was just surprised he knows Joe," she said, her expression turning serious. "I need to find some time to ask Joe how they met."

"Definitely," James said. "And you should warn him—not to get involved with Barrie, business or otherwise."

Briony nodded again.

They walked toward the elevators together.

It was late, and they'd already booked rooms upstairs; they planned to stay the night and head back to Northborough in the morning.

the elevator doors opened, Briony stepped in first, James following close

the ballroom,

after him,

you? Barrie's still

the closed elevator, his whole posture

"She's with James now..."

at her side for over four years. Now

to fold in on himself, shoulders slumping as if crushed

pitiful, the way despair seemed to

rolled her eyes at the

booked two separate

her a look sharp enough

rolled

you're not planning to haunt Briony from beyond the

his lips together, silent. His lack of response said it

shook her head. "You're worse

I don't

said, voice hoarse, eyes

her with

can't control myself." But

and

tugged his arm. "I dropped a multimillion-dollar deal overseas to come back here, I'm not here to watch you pine. Come on, let's go have a little

drew a slow, steadying breath and