Chapter Three
Darian stood with a group of his associates, keeping an eye out for Larkin. He hated the fact they were going through a rough patch and wanted to talk about it. He was just scared she’d bring up marriage again, so he was being a pussy and avoiding her, and he knew it was hurting her feelings. It had to stop because the last thing he ever wanted was to hurt his beautiful girl.
He had no idea how he would explain the fact he was terrified of marrying her because he couldn’t figure it out himself. What he felt wasn’t logical, but he couldn’t seem to stop fearing the worst if they got married.
Someone slapped him on the shoulder, making him turn. He smiled when he saw Noah, but then it fell when he caught the concern and anger in his expression. “What’s going on?”
Noah pulled him aside. “Patricia’s here.”
Darian’s brows snapped together. Who in the hell was she? “Patricia?”
“Your ex-wife,” Noah said.
His eyes widened. That was a person he thought he’d never see again after the annulment. “What is she doing here?”
“She works with one of the companies here tonight.”
“I didn’t even think she lived here,” Darian said.
“She doesn’t. I think she found out about the get-together and wanted to make trouble.”
Fuck. The thought of having to talk to the woman made him nauseous, but the fact he’d never told Larkin about her would surely cause problems.
“Here she comes. What do you want me to do?”
“There’s nothing you can do unless I run for the door. I’ll say hello and then walk off. I want to grab Larkin before she comes in.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“Oh, Darian. It’s been such a long time, darling.”
Darian turned to see Patricia and gritted his teeth. Her bright-red outfit stood out as the skimpiest one in the room. She’d always been that way. If the attention wasn’t on her, she let people know, usually by acting like a total bitch.
“Hello, Patricia. How are you?”
She laughed. “Don’t I get a hug, darling? It’s been so long since I’ve seen my husband.”
“We got an annulment, remember? That means we were never technically married.”
She waved her hand. “Oh, poo. In my mind, we’ll always be married.”
“Because your mind is fucked up,” Noah said.
Darian had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.
“How dare you?” Patricia said.
Noah snorted. “Oh, I dare. We all know you came here tonight for one reason, and that was to cause trouble. What, did your fifth—or is it sixth husband—finally kick you out?”
“Jerald is my fifth, and we are still happily married,” Patricia said.
“You won’t be when he finds out you’re trying to come on to an ex.”
“We’re just talking, Noah. Stop being such a prick.”
Noah laughed.
“Patricia, why don’t you go away? No one wants you here,” Darian said