She wanted him and it wouldn’t be long before he would have her—despite her aversion to wealthy tycoons.
The thought brought him harsh satisfaction. His revenge against the man who used and discarded people like trash was close at hand. However, unlike Baron Randall, once Angelo had Tara, he wasn’t sure he’d let her go.
And that might be the best revenge of all.
“How many pictures do you need for your scrapbook?” Tara demanded of Danette as the woman’s annoying boyfriend snapped yet another shot.
Angelo didn’t like Ray’s preoccupation with Tara, either, and was on the verge of making his displeasure known in a very basic way.
Danette shrugged her slim shoulders. “You can never have too many. And you’ve got to admit, even without makeup, you’re awfully photogenic.”
About that, Angelo had to agree.
But Tara grimaced. “I think I’m going to rue the day you took up your new scrapbook hobby.”
“Hey, we aren’t all so focused on work that we don’t have outside interests.”
“I have outside interests.”
“Name one.”
“I volunteer at the Boys and Girls club once a week.”
That hadn’t been in her file, Angelo took a mental note.
Danette snorted delicately. “Right, but you’re doing almost the same thing at the club as you do at Primo Tech.”
“Hardly.”
“You manage staff resources. How is that different?”
“The staff is made up of volunteers.”
Even Angelo could tell Tara was stretching the truth and it made him smile. For a woman dedicated to work-life effectiveness, she was lousy at practicing what she preached. “So, you volunteer at the Boys and Girls club, but you don’t connect with the kids?” he asked.
She turned to face him, her expression mirroring her surprise and some embarrassment. “I didn’t realize you were there.”
He handed her a cranberry spritzer over ice. “Your drink, as promised.”
He’d been taking care of her in small ways like this one since they arrived at the barbecue and she didn’t seem to know how to take it. Apparently other men in her life had not pampered her. However, he was intelligent enough to know that pampering and seduction went hand in hand.
She smiled, her rich chocolate eyes warm. “Thank you.”
The snick of another picture came from her left and she jerked her head around. “Do you mind?”
Ray had the sense to look abashed. “Sorry. Photography is a fairly new hobby for me.”
Tara sighed expressively. “You and Danette and your hobbies. Give it a rest, would you?”
“Sure.”
Angelo gave the man a steely look that had sent more than one boardroom discussion going in the direction he wanted it to. “I wouldn’t mind getting copies of some of the photos. Would that be possible?”
“You want pictures of the barbecue?” Tara asked, her voice pitched high in surprise.
“Not really, but there are one or two guests I wouldn’t mind having a photo of.” He gave Tara a significant look.
“If you want a picture of me, I’ve got an entire portfolio full I’m not using anymore.” She said it like a joke, but he didn’t smile.
“I’d love to see them. Maybe you can get the portfolio out when we get back to your place.”
Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.
“If you can get her to show it to you, you’ll be getting further than most of us. For a former top model, she sure is shy,” Ray said, sounding put out.
Danette smacked him in the arm, her eyes filled with teasing laughter. “Hey, you are supposed be interested in seeing my baby photos, not my best friend’s modeling shots.”
Ray grinned and shrugged.
Angelo frowned at him and the grin swiftly disappeared.
“Are you going to swim?” Danette asked Angelo, going for a swift change of subject, apparently realizing he wasn’t as amused by her boyfriend’s interest in Tara as she was.
The prospect of seeing Tara in a swimsuit sent his libido into overdrive. He met her wary brown gaze as he answered Danette. “I’d like to.”
“Good.” She grinned at Tara. “How about you?”
“I don’t think I will this time.”
“Oh, come on.” Danette waved her hand in front of her face like a fan. “It’s hot and I know you brought your suit.”
“If you don’t want to swim, we won’t,” he said making it clear he considered them a couple at this party and had no intention of participating in activities that didn’t include them both.
If anything, her expression turned more wary. “You don’t have to refrain from swimming because I am.”