He released a sigh. “Andrea, would you please excuse me for a moment. I need to have a word with Megan.”
“I’ll come with you.” She gripped his arm tighter.
“I’ll just be a moment. Why don’t you get us something to drink at the bar?”
She frowned. “But I don’t know anyone else here.”
“That’s easily remedied.” He led her across the room to where Megan and Jackson held court among a circle of other partygoers. “Jackson, if you don’t mind, I need to steal your fiancé away for a moment. In the meantime, would you be so kind as to take Andrea to the bar.”
Being the affable young man he was, Jackson smiled. “Sure, Ethan.” He turned to Megan and placed a kiss against her temple. “I’ll be back.
Andrea pursed her lips when Jackson motioned her to follow him but thankfully she didn’t protest.
“Can I speak with you for a minute, Megan?”
“Fine. We can go to the kitchen.” She sounded a bit put out by his request but he knew the reason why and hoped he could put her mind at ease.
Once they were away from everyone else she crossed her arms and tapped her foot against the linoleum clearly waiting for him to speak first.
“I can tell you’re annoyed with me.”
“Ya think? I can’t imagine what was running through your mind when you brought that woman here. You knew Riley was coming. Or did you do it to rub it in her face?”
“Have you ever known me to stoop to such childish tactics?”
Megan shrugged. “When it comes to Riley, I’m not so sure. I already feel like a big jerk for not telling her you’d be here.”
Ethan narrowed his eyes. “Are you saying the only reason she came tonight was because she thought I wouldn’t be here? Maybe I’m not the game player here.”
Red splotches brightened her cheeks. “You were out of town, and you said you might not make it.”
“I said, I’d be cutting it close, but I’d make it a priority to be here.”
“Okay, maybe I fibbed a little bit, but I thought enough time had passed and you two could at least stand to be in the same room together. It was only when I told you she’d be here tonight is when you said you’d come. I thought…”
“That when we saw each other we’d fall into each other’s arms? This isn’t some sappy movie, Megan.”
“I know. It’s just, the way things ended between you, I’d always hoped…well, it doesn’t matter because I’ve screwed up and I’ve probably ruined things with Riley. We only reconnected a few months ago and only because of that chance meeting at a charity event we both attended. I know she was reluctant to renew our friendship because you’re my brother, but she was my friend first and I feel partially responsible for what happened between you and her. I was trying to make things right.” A tear slid down her cheek. “Dammit, now my makeup is probably ruined.
Ethan couldn’t be mad at his kid sister if he tried. He’d been her protector since the moment he glanced into her crib and spied a cute blonde-haired blue-eyed cherub smiling at him. She may have had her annoying moments but her heart was in the right place. “Come here.” He pulled her inside his arms and held her close. “You’re not responsible for me or Riley. We messed things up on our own.”
“But if only I had—”
“You have to stop blaming yourself for that. It was no one’s fault. I’m sure Riley doesn’t blame you either.” Ethan kissed the top of her head.
“Thank you. I’ve been a bit emotional lately. I’m not sure why.”
“I’ve heard planning weddings can do that to a person.”
Megan pulled away from him and carefully dabbed away her tears. “You’re still not off the hook you know. Are you serious about the woman you’ve brought here tonight?”
Ethan groaned. “She’s just a friend. To be quite honest, I’d forgotten that I promised to take her to the opera when I returned to town. She wanted to go tonight but I told her I had to attend your engagement party. Andrea said she’d love to attend it with me. There was no way I could have told her no without coming off as a major asshole.”
Megan rolled her eyes. “Well wasn’t it a bit rude of her to invite herself here?”
He sighed. “You’re right of course, but I assure you, my relationship with Andrea is strictly platonic.”
“I did mention Riley would be here. You didn’t by any chance bring your friend, here to make her jealous did you?”
When put like that, it sounded awful but for his part he’d never led Andrea on. He’d hadn’t so much as kissed her. If she hoped for more, then he’d be clearer about where they stood. Truth be told, he was growing a bit wary of how the brunette seemed to casually ingratiate herself into his life. “I’ll say it again, we’re just friends.”