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“Dad,” Storm said.
The man turned to look our way again, his gaze going from Storm to briefly touch on me and Dovie before returning to his son. This was Barrett Kingston. I knew why he looked familiar now. I’d seen photos on the wall at his parents’ house when we went over there to swim. I hadn’t studied them, and I’d tried not to be nosy, but I wished now that I had so I would recognize his mother when I saw her.
Storm turned to me. “This is Briar Landry and Dovie,” he introduced us, then added, “Ladies, this is Barrett, my father.”
Barrett nodded his head in our direction with the hint of a smile. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
“You too,” I replied for both of us.
He looked over at Dovie. “Nailyah enjoyed visiting with you at Maeme’s the other night. We would love to have you over at the house whenever you’re available. It’s summer, and Nailyah would appreciate the company at the pool.”
Dovie’s smile grew, and she nodded, then signed, “Thank you.”
“She said thank you,” I told him.
His gaze softened, and he nodded. “Of course.”
Then, he turned his attention back to Storm. “There is an issue that Stellan needs you to go with Thatcher and King to handle after dinner. Check in with him soon,” he said in a tone that made me shiver. That issue wasn’t a pleasant one, I’d venture to guess.
Storm nodded, but his hand flinched at my side, and I wondered if he would ever tell me the things he had to do. Could I handle it if he did? The thought of him in dangerous situations caused panic to rise in my chest. A blonde server appeared to the left of Barrett with a tray of champagne flutes. I tried to focus on the here and now. Letting my thoughts go to places like that would ruin my night.
Barrett shook his head, but Storm reached out and took two, then handed one to me and Dovie. I took mine, but the way the blonde was looking at Storm wasn’t lost on me. She seemed familiar with him and as if she was trying to get his attention to be familiar again. I was not currently in the mood to overlook this. She’d caught me at a bad time.
Jealousy stirred inside me, and I glared at her until she realized I was the only one who had noticed her. She studied me for a moment, and I raised an eyebrow and tilted my head, hoping my threat was clear. Taking the hint, she moved on to the next group of people.
“Easy, tiger,” Storm whispered close to my ear.
I shifted my gaze to his. He was grinning as he looked down at me. Cocky bastard had seen the silent interaction and enjoyed it. Fine, I had staked my claim. It wasn’t like he had done that with me many times. Even before I was his. Let him revel in it.
I turned from his knowing look and checked to see how Dovie was reacting to the fact that she’d been handed alcohol. Her eyes were questioning as she looked at me.
“One glass is fine,” I assured her.
She beamed at me then and took a sip. Her scrunched nose made me laugh, and she licked her lips as her eyes danced with excitement.
“Ladies, enjoy yourselves,” Barrett said to us, then gave Storm a serious look before turning back to the group he’d been talking to when we approached.
I noticed Maeme across the room in a floor-length navy-blue chiffon dress. I’d like to go see her, but I figured I had to stay with Storm. We would eventually get there.
“You’re here!” Nailyah said cheerily as she hurried over to us. Her smile getting brighter as she took in Dovie. “That dress is gorg! You look fantastic,” she praised Dovie, then turned to me. “Can I steal her? I wanted to introduce her to some of my friends and family.”
I turned to look back at Dovie so I could get a read on if she wanted to leave my side or not. She smiled, nodding her head just a little.
“Yes, that would be lovely. Thank you, Nailyah,” I told her.
Nailyah was wearing a hot-pink satin slip dress with silver heels. She held out her hand to Dovie, and I noticed her nails matched her dress perfectly. Dovie reached out to take her hand, and Nailyah immediately started telling her about someone as they made their way off into the crowd.
“Your sister is really sweet, taking Dovie under her wing like she is,” I told Storm.
“She can be, yes. But she’s also a brat at times,” he replied with a small grin. “You ready to meet my mother?” he asked then.
The thought of that sent nervous butterflies off in my stomach, but I nodded. Meeting mothers was something I had never done. Not once. The men I had dated didn’t want their mothers knowing about me.
