When he spotted Leah and Ellen, he set his shoulders back, tipped his chin, and smiled.
Carter hated him instantly. He sucked on his cigarette, then leaned forward, elbows on his knees now.
Ellen was clearly making introductions.
Leah glanced over her shoulder at Carter, but her attention was quickly demanded by the rich dude again.
Was it Benjamin or Duncan or some other jerk? Carter didn’t know. What he did know was that his blood was heating and it had nothing to do with the warm day. A familiar prickle went over his scalp, and his chest squeezed.
Leah standing so close to the guy Ellen was cooing over made Carter want to slam him to the ground. Mess up those expensive clothes of his.
But he wouldn’t. Not for now, anyway.
He drew so hard on his smoke, the end burned bright and crackled. He curled his toes in his boots. It felt like someone was standing on them.
Ellen was obviously making introductions. Rich guy reached for Leah’s hand, but instead of shaking, he drew it to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
Carter flicked his cigarette into the air, spinning it so it circled over itself before landing on the lawn. He stood. The rest of the crowd, the big house, the swanky pool, and the tennis court faded away as he strode toward them.
His Glock pressed against the hollow of his stiff spine.
Ellen threw her head back and laughed, a high-pitched witch’s cackle.
Carter kept his focus on Leah as she pulled her hand away.
“Hey, babe.” Carter drew up at her side and curled his arm around her small waist. He pulled her flush to his body. She was his. Today, at least. He dared anyone to think differently.
She looked up at him, a flash of surprise quickly replaced by relief.
Ellen’s smile dropped like a boulder falling into a puddle.
Carter looked from Ellen to the dude. “You finished?”
“No, actually,” Ellen snapped. “I was just introducing my stepdaughter to Duncan Brooks here.”
“Seems that’s done now,” Carter said.
“Hardly.” Duncan had the audacity to tip his chin and look down his nose at Carter. “So if you don’t mind.”
“Yeah, I mind.” He paused. “She’smydate.”
Duncan raised his eyebrows.
“You got an issue with that?” Carter asked.
Duncan was silent, which was sensible, but his jaw tensed in irritation.
“So, as I was saying to Leah,” Ellen said, flapping her hand between Duncan and Leah as if flapping Carter away. “You have a new RV, don’t you, Duncan? Perhaps you could show Leah it sometime.”
“Top of the range.” Duncan smiled at Leah, a nasty, smarmy smile that made Carter want to punch it right off of his face. “And sure, I’ll show you sometime, if you’re free.”
“She won’t be.” Carter hadn’t been able to stop the words coming out of his mouth.
“That’s hardly for you to say,” Ellen said, placing her hands on her hips.
“What isn’t for him to say?” Tim, Leah’s father, stepped up to join them.
“That Leah won’t go and see Duncan’s RV.” Ellen scowled.