When she was almost to the kitchen door, Belle suddenly appeared in front of her. She was a fifth-carbon copy of her mother, from her blonde hair all the way down to her size-five shoes. Natalie gave Belle a curious look, then paled when she saw the couple coming up behind her.
“Marcus,” Natalie whispered.
She’d done her best to avoid any social situation where she might cross paths with her ex and his new wife. But here they were, directly—unavoidably—in front of her.
Marcus saw her and paused, then put a hand on the small of his wife’s back. “Hi, Natalie.”
A bright smile curved Belle’s lips. “You know Marcus, of course, but have you met Sandra? She’s expecting. Already! Isn’t it wonderful?”
Natalie smoothed a nonexistent wrinkle on her dress. “Congratulations.”
She couldn’t believe Belle was doing this. Belle had always enjoyed tormenting her, but this was taking things too far. It was one thing to be a malicious teaser, another to be downright cruel.
Sandra looked at Natalie with an uncertain smile, then at Belle, then returned her attention to Natalie. “Thank you. This is a lovely party. You must be very happy for your father.”
“Yes.” Natalie glanced at the vulgarly large diamond ring on Sandra’s finger and then to her slightly protruding stomach.
Loved, married…and now pregnant.
Jealousy should have been eating at her, but it wasn’t. Although she was sure that Belle had intended to embarrass and humiliate her, Natalie didn’t feel anything except relief that things hadn’t worked out between Marcus and her. Why had she feared facing him again so much? She couldn’t even remember what had been so dazzling about him.
“There you are, darling.”
Natalie felt Alex come up behind her. Before she could protest, he turned her around and planted a kiss on her cheek. Even though it was a casual peck, her senses came instantly alive. It was all she could do to keep her hands from reaching for his shoulders, her body craving another dose of the delicious heat from the morning. How could she have compared him to Marcus? Marcus paled against the intensity of Alex’s magnetism, like a match against a bonfire.
She settled for slipping an arm around him, sensing Belle’s gaze boring into the back of her head and feeling a small bit of satisfaction and gratitude, along with an equal measure of confusion. Alex had been angry hours ago, cold and remote just minutes before. Why was he helping her?
Alex turned to the trio before them, his hand burning a brand into her waist. “Sweetheart, who are these people?”
“This is Belle, my sister. And this is Marcus O’Dell and his wife Sandra.” Natalie cleared her throat. “Everyone, this is Alex Damon.”
Belle’s eyes widened a bit. “I thought you looked familiar. How did you two meet?”
“Work,” Alex said. His eyes were cold as they gazed at Belle, who seemed to draw back a little. He turned back to Natalie. “I’ve yet to be introduced to your father, darling. Would you mind?”
She drew him away from the group. Natalie still didn’t know what to think about Alex’s behavior, but anything was preferable to giving Belle time to come up with something new. Her hand in the crook of his arm, they went to the french doors in the living room that connected to a small wooden platform with steps to the backyard. Several men were gathered around a huge barbeque grill, from which gray columns of smoke rose. Most of them held beers, and Brian was laughing at something one of them said.
“Natalie.” Louise’s voice came from behind them. “Would you take this bottle of barbeque sauce to your father?”
Natalie was looking for an opportunity to ask Alex about his capricious behavior, but it didn’t look like she was going to get one. She sighed and squeezed his arm lightly. “Can you wait for just a minute?”
“No problem.”
She went back and into the kitchen. State-of-the-art stainless steel appliances shone like alien jewels beneath cherry cabinets. The counters groaned under the weight of enough cheese to permanently clog every guest’s arteries. Louise’s heels clicked on the hard tiles as she moved around. She handed Natalie a large glass bottle. “Here.”
Natalie took it and turned to leave, then stopped. “Did you know the O’Dells were coming?”
Louise concentrated on uncorking a bottle of Riesling. “Of course I knew. I made up the guest list.”
“Did you see how Belle made sure to introduce me to his new wife?”
“I noticed the group of you talking. Why?”
Natalie knew she shouldn’t pursue the subject. She would only get shot down and made to feel silly and small. In all her years, she could never remember winning an argument with Louise. But something about Alex’s earlier support emboldened her.
“It was stupid to stage that scene, don’t you think? It embarrassed them.”
“No,” Louise said, still working on the cork. “You embarrassed them. They have every right to be here.”