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.

stepped in

the ballroom, the elevator

rushed after him,

is wrong with you? Barrie's still here. Get a

the closed elevator,

"She's with James now..."

at her side for over four years. Now she's

seemed to fold in on himself, shoulders slumping as if crushed by

despair seemed to

rolled her eyes

booked two separate rooms

look sharp enough to

rolled her

Briony from beyond the

lips together, silent. His lack

her head. "You're worse than a ghost that just won't

know I don't deserve her,"

said, voice hoarse, eyes

with another

can't control myself." But

and

multimillion-dollar deal overseas to come back here, I'm not here to

a slow, steadying breath and straightened