I looked at him, and he was staring across the room. Ty followed his gaze and tensed.
This couldn’t be good.
“I’m sorry, beautiful. I’ll explain later. I promise.” Ty’s eyebrows pushed together, and his lips turned down. I did not like this look on him. What could possibly make him be this annoyed?
Ty’s hand snaked around my waist, and he pulled me against his side.
“Ty!” a shrill voice sounded. I looked up and saw a blonde woman making her way over to us. “Baby, I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve missed you so much.”
Scott stood in front of us to halt her approach, but she only sidestepped him and tried to wrap herself around Ty. Was this woman for real? She ripped Ty from me and shimmied herself between the two of us with her back to me.
Oh, hell no.
Before I could say anything, Ty extracted himself from her grasp. “Kathy, it’s nice to see you. I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Grace.” Ty wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close.
The woman, Kathy, straightened her top, visibly pushing her breasts up and out. “Oh. And how long has this been going on?” She pointed between the two of us.
“Long enough,” Ty said.
“We’ll see about that,” Kathy said before flipping her hair over her shoulder and walking away.
I let out a long breath. “Well, that was fun.”
“Sorry about that. I literally went on one date with her, and I haven’t been able to get rid of her for the last two years.” Ty gave me a sheepish look.
“Wow. Um, okay. Creepy, but I can see where she’s coming from.” I lifted a shoulder.
“What?” Ty and Scott both said at the same time.
“I mean, who would want to give this up? I know I don’t.” I ran a finger down his chest and hooked it into his belt loop. I pulled him forward and planted a kiss on his lips.
He looked at me and smirked. If they needed me to deter this Kathy woman from Ty, then I would be more than happy to put on a show. I giggled as I turned and followed the hostess to our table, leaving Ty standing frozen. I looked over my shoulder and saw Scott laughing and shoving Ty forward to follow.
I sat beside Ty in the booth and made sure to lay my affection for him on thick. They had seated us at a table that was in full view of Kathy. It felt wrong not to give Scott any attention, but I couldn’t risk it with her looking at us the entire time. I excused myself after we finished dinner to head to the bathroom. I knew immediately I was being followed and had honestly expected it.
“You know he isn’t the boyfriend type. He will leave you once he gets what he wants.”
Well, alright then. Diving right on in. Fine.
“You mean like he did with you?” I cocked my head at her. Bitches like her didn’t scare me. I pitied them.
“No. He loves me. He just won’t admit it yet. I told him he could go and have some fun. He’ll be back once he’s ready.”
“Then, I expect you will grow old waiting. Ty’s mine and I’m not going anywhere. So, stay away from my man or next time we’ll be having more than words.” I plastered on a huge smile.
She scoffed and stalked out of the bathroom.
Even if I wasn’t going to be with Ty forever, there was no way I was going to leave him to fend for himself. I knew Scott had his back. That’s why my pretend boyfriend changed on a dime. Scott was helping shield Ty. But he could only do so much.
I left the bathroom and made my way to the table. I could see they both were trying hard not to laugh.
“What happened in there?” Ty asked, tipping his chin toward the ladies room.
“Nothing. Why?”
“Oh, the look on Kathy’s face when she came out was priceless,” Scott said.
“We might have had a few words.”
“Not pretty words by the looks of it. She looked like she wanted to rip someone’s head off.” Ty caught my gaze.
“That’s because I told her some very nice things about what I’d do if she didn’t leave you alone.”
Ty growled and pulled me to him. “Beautiful, you are so fucking sexy when you’re jealous.”
“I protect what’s mine, and right now, you’re mine.” I kissed him on the nose. “Now, dance with me.” I pulled him to the dance floor as the country music boomed from the speakers.
Scott joined us for a few dances, and I loved it when they passed me back and forth during one of the two-steps. We laughed and even some of the other people around us joined in. Everyone was being passed around, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had this much fun.