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.

opened, Briony stepped in first, James following close

left the ballroom,

after him,

Barrie's

was staring at the closed

"She's with James now..."

side for over

slumping as if crushed by the weight of

seemed to drain

eyes at

They booked two separate rooms for the night-l

her a look sharp enough

just rolled her

you're not planning to haunt Briony from beyond

lips together, silent. His lack of response said

"You're worse than a ghost that just

I don't deserve her,"

said, voice hoarse, eyes

with

can't control myself." But

and

don't look!" Lorna 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 chat

drew a slow, steadying breath and