Seaside Cowboy's Love at First Sight by Alexa Verde

Author:Alexa Verde [Verde, Alexa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Alexa Verde
Published: 2024-04-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

BARRETT SUPPRESSED a frown. He didn’t want to sit near Sofia, but he ended up there anyway. On the bright side, that gave him a view of Zoey across from him. The latter had come at a cost, sadly. Several times, he’d had to move his chair away from Sofia, who’d moved hers close to him, and he’d had to remove her hand from covering his again and again. Sofia couldn’t take no for an answer or didn’t want to. Barrett clenched his teeth so hard he might break a molar.

The auction had started soon enough. However, by then Sofia must’ve been extremely parched because she’d gulped down enough champagne flutes to fill a fountain.

Since he knew little about art and didn’t pretend to know, he didn’t bid and didn’t pay much attention to the paintings and sculptures being auctioned. Instead, he studied the people at his table and, most of all, Zoey.

She bid on several things though not many, didn’t win, and didn’t seem bothered. With the muted lighting caressing her, she appeared more in her element. Her cheeks pinked, and her vibrant hazel-brown eyes sparkled, which made him smile and, yes, saved his molars. People who were going to bid or had started bidding already took off their masks, as per the rules. He loved seeing her face in all its beauty, though the fact that others could also see her face now sent a shot of worry through him.

He’d enjoy the auction much more if Todd hadn’t whispered things to Zoey, things Barrett couldn’t hear. While Todd settled in with a bemused smile, Barrett was far from being bemused. Earth-to-moon kind of far. It didn’t help that when they’d danced Sofia had reiterated Todd’s long list of conquests. And told him that when Todd set his sights on someone, he didn’t give up.

Had Todd set his sights on Zoey? Barrett wouldn’t blame the man for being taken with her. Barrett was, far more than he wanted to admit. But he would blame himself if he allowed jealousy into his heart.

So if he looked at her often, if he was attuned to her movements and facial expressions, he was just doing his job. If he tensed at Todd getting too close to her for Barrett’s comfort, again Barrett was also just doing his job.

Sofia had said something else during the dance. The words echoed in his head even now—Todd doesn’t stay with anyone for long.

Barrett didn’t want Zoey to have her heart broken again. Even if it wasn’t with himself, he wanted her to be happy.

And alive.

So he zeroed in on their surroundings. A lot of people stared at their table, but that could be because the evening’s main attractions—and Barrett certainly didn’t mean himself—were here. He missed the silent, quiet beauty of the garden where he’d been alone with Zoey and that rabbit. That was just because Barrett could do his job better there, of course.

He snorted. Yeah right. No reason to lie to himself. Besides, the garden could’ve been an even more dangerous place for Zoey.

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