With Connor on her arm, Angelina made mingling look effortless. Neither had come from money nor even gone looking for it, but Connor’s sister, Viviana, had married into the Barrington family and that meant events like this were now part of their lives. Which doesn’t mean it needs to be part of mine. I’m already happy with my life. “Although it would have been fun to have a fairy godfather.”
Chapter Three
“Bradford,” Clay called out as he approached with his wife.
I should have left when I had the chance. Bradford straightened to his full height. He didn’t say anything because silence often spoke louder than words.
Most men found Bradford intimidating, sadly Clay wasn’t one of them. “Could I have a moment of your time?”
“No.”
Clay smiled at Lexi. “He’s funny, isn’t he?”
Lexi gave Bradford a long look, then gripped her husband’s arm. “This is a bad idea.”
After giving her hand a reassuring pat, Clay said, “Every new idea is doubted at first but then they work out and are considered genius.”
Bradford shook his head. “I could list countless times ideas took a much darker path.”
Clay clapped a hand on Bradford’s arm. “Then you’ll just have to trust me.”
Leaning in, Bradford growled, “Don’t fucking touch me.” He straightened and frowned.
Lexi looked from him to her husband and back. “Do you want me to call Clay off?”
“You do realize I can hear you?” Clay asked with amused sarcasm.
“No, I can handle this.” Bradford looked Clay in the eye. “What do you want, Clay?”
Clay waved a hand in the air. “You’re right. This is a conversation we should have alone.” He smiled down at his wife. “Lexi, do you mind giving us a few minutes?”
She bit her bottom lip. “Clay—”
“It’ll be fine,” Clay assured her.
“Are you sure?”
“I am. Now let me work my magic.”
She nodded then went up onto her tiptoes to give him a kiss. When she stepped back she looked at Bradford and said, “Clay only gets involved when he cares.”
Bradford waited until she walked beyond hearing distance before he said, “No, Clay.”
“You don’t even know what I’m about to say.”
“I don’t have to. Whatever it is, I’m not interested.”
“But you are. You can lie to everyone else, possibly even yourself, but a fairy godfather knows all.”
“I can’t kill you, but I want to.”
Clay threw back his head and laughed. “I get that a lot.”
Bradford rubbed a hand over his temple. “There are a hundred other people in this room. Some of them may even want to speak to you. You should seek them out.”
“So, you’re just going to sit back and watch Joanna hook up with Dylan?”
Bradford’s eyes narrowed but he didn’t respond. His hands clenched at his sides.
Clay continued, “I got the impression you were interested in her, but I’ve been wrong before. Wait, no, I haven’t. My track record is solid. You’re totally into her. What’s the problem?”
“This conversation is over.”
“Do you have someone already? Someone you haven’t told us about? A marriage you meant to dissolve but haven’t?”
I’m not fucking doing this. Bradford could have walked away then, but that would have handed a win to Clay. Instead he folded his arms across his chest and stared forward, dismissing him.
It should have worked. Clay was relentless though. “If it’s not that, what is it? She’s sweet, smart, liked by everyone. Sure, her taste in men seems a little shallow, but the Suttons are beefy eye candy. You can’t fault her for not noticing you when they’re around. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you—”
“Get the fuck away from me.”
“You have to admit you’re a little rough around the edges. Women are understanding though. Let her see your softer side. You do have one, don’t you?”
Bradford growled deep in his throat.
Clay nodded. “We can work on that later. For now, follow my lead. I already have a few ideas.”
With his self-control stretched to near the breaking point, Bradford took a deep breath and reminded himself that he had survived much worse. There was the time in South America when he’d been arrested by police who were on a drug cartel’s payroll. He’d maintained his silence even through their brutal methods to get him to say who he was working with. He’d been a bloody mess by the time Ian had rescued him, but he’d given up nothing beyond his first name. Clay is an annoyance, a fly buzzing around my head.
Difficult to ignore, but of no importance.
“Bradford!” an older woman exclaimed as she approached. Sophie Barrington was dressed tastefully as always, understated but classic. She wore wealth well. When she stopped in front of him she took both of his hands in hers, a move that always made him feel cornered. Still, he didn’t pull away from her. He had yet to see her say a bad word about anyone. Violence was a necessary response against evil, but it had no place next to such a gentle soul. “Thank you for coming.”
He ducked his head in acknowledgement of her appreciation.
She released his hands and turned to Clay. “Are you starting trouble with Bradford?”
Clay bent to kiss Sophie on the cheek. “Me? At one of your events? Never.”
She smiled but wagged a finger at him. “Clay Landon look me in the eye and tell me you’re not up to something.”
After shrugging one shoulder, Clay said, “I’m always up to something—but so are you and I love you more for it.”
Sophie arched an eyebrow then returned her attention to Bradford. “Have you seen Joanna tonight? Doesn’t she look darling in that gown?”
“I hadn’t noticed,” Bradford said.
Clay scoffed. “Sure, we’ll go with that.”
“She’s single,” Sophie added with a smile.
Let me clarify this for those who are confused. “I’m not in the market for a relationship.”
Sophie sighed. “I heard she’s sweet on Dylan, but I don’t see them as a good match. She’s too nice for him. She needs someone who would treasure her, protect her. Someone who wouldn’t see her soft heart as a weakness.”
With his chest puffing with pride, Clay said, “Great minds think alike, Sophie. I was just offering to help Bradford win her heart.”
Bradford swore beneath his breath.
Sophie made a tsk sound. “Well, that explains Bradford’s pained expression. Clay, this is a situation that requires more subtlety than that. Let me handle this.”
“There is no situation,” Bradford said.
“Sophie,” Clay said with a smooth smile, “are you doubting my abilities? My success rate is one hundred percent.”
“Excuse me. I have to—” Bradford didn’t finish the sentence because what he had to do was extricate himself from the conversation. He turned on his heel and took a step away.
“Bradford,” Sophie said quickly.