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“Friends with Beau or with his new girl?” Bermuda asked.
“Both.”
“Hmm.” She arched her perfect eyebrows. “Sorry, what’s your name? I’m a little out of sorts.”
“Ike.”
“Nice to meet you. I’ve never seen you with Beau before.”
“Well, you know Beau.” He shrugged and searched for threats.
“Unfortunately.” The venom in her voice brought his gaze back to Bermuda. Then her blue eyes became penetrating. “How well do you know Beau?”
Ike couldn’t tell her he’d met the guy this morning. “How well does anyone really know Beau?” he countered with.
“Exactly.” She looked vindicated, and then she focused on Beau and Myra for a beat and her entire bearing seemed to droop. Focusing back on Ike was obviously an effort. “Do you know Birch Merrill?”
“Isn’t he married to the actress Allison Bradford?” He didn’t reveal that he knew Birch from Sutton and the military.
“Yes.” She looked Ike over more carefully. “I grew up with Birch and his sister, Divine Destiny.”
Ike had heard Birch had a famous family, but he’d never known the connection. Divine Destiny had been in prison for attempting to murder Allison Bradford four years ago. She was the woman Beau had supposedly cheated with a month ago, shortly after her early release. Quite a mess. It made sense why Birch hid the family ties.
“I thought I’d marry Birch.” Her voice was wistful, and she looked over at Beau. “Why did I have to fall for a disloyal, playboy jerk?”
Ike had no answer for that. She didn’t seem to expect one. He wished they’d reach Beau and Myra already, but maybe his idea was a jerk move to Bermuda.
“You remind me of Birch,” she said.
Ike swallowed. Oh shoot. She thought she’d marry Birch. She was ticked at Beau and at herself for falling in love with the player. Ike didn’t want to have to refuse the famous actress if she hit on him.
But she was cutting her gaze to Beau and Myra as they grew ever closer, and then she went rigid in his arms when Myra grinned and laughed at something Beau said. Myra squeezed his shoulder to add insult to injury for Bermuda—and okay, he could admit it, for him as well. Hot, ugly jealousy flared inside him, and Bermuda narrowed her eyes at the two of them and murmured, “Ugh.”
Ike knew exactly how she felt.
If only he knew if his next move was a good idea, or if he should’ve listened to his brother.
Helping out a fellow soldier. That was all he was doing.
He couldn’t remember anticipating the prospect of assisting a teammate so thoroughly.
Sorry, Aiden. Sorry, Bermuda. Sorry, Beau.
He only hoped he wouldn’t have to apologize to Myra.
Chapter
Ten
Myra had been trained by Charli how to waltz when she was initially hired. Charli claimed it was a skill she’d have to use. This was her first time waltzing while on a job. She enjoyed the challenge of dancing, smiling and responding to Beau, and keeping an eye on anyone within three feet as well as the whole scene. Ike was watching out for them as well. She noticed Ike’s eyes on her often. Was that part of the detail or something more?
Beau had red wine with dinner, but he didn’t seem drunk. As the dancing started, he was rigid and obviously bothered by something, but he kept regaling her with funny stories from high school on up. They both laughed a lot. If he wasn’t such a drinking and cheating punk, she could see Beau being a great friend.
“Everything all right?” she whispered when he stiffened even more and paused mid-story.
“What is he doing approaching her?”
“Who?”
