скачать книгу бесплатно
GPG had been in the local news a lot lately. It was a large investment firm with deep pockets and a mission to develop every inch of Jackson Hole. Environmental concerns were simply obstacles to be overcome.
“GPG or no GPG, getting approval will be a problem.” Tripp appeared pleased at the prospect. “Any golf-course development will have to meet the environmentally sensitive guidelines the county implemented last year.”
“Golf.” Adrianna wrinkled her nose. “I’ve never understood the point of hitting a little white ball.”
Frank’s eyes widened. He opened his mouth, then clamped it shut without responding.
Kathy looked amused.
Tripp chuckled.
“Considering my father used to practically live on the golf course, a statement like that is tantamount to waving a red flag in front of a bull,” Tripp whispered in a tone loud enough for all of them to hear.
Warmth crept up Adrianna’s neck but she lifted her chin. “It’s just my opinion.”
“And mine.” Kathy shot Adrianna a wink.
Before much more could be said, an announcement sent them to their assigned seats for dinner.
Adrianna recognized two of the men and one of the women already at their table as being current board members. Although they were seniors, Adrianna wasn’t worried. Because of her parents being older, she’d always felt comfortable with that generation. She chatted easily throughout a delicious meal of chicken, asparagus and wild rice. The dessert she left untouched.
“Is something wrong with the cheesecake?” Tripp leaned close, the question meant for her ears only.
Adrianna lifted one shoulder in a slight shrug and tried to pretend his nearness didn’t affect her. “Simply too much food.”
“No wine. No dessert. You’re a cheap date,” Tripp teased.
Her heart twisted. If only this was a real date….
“What are you thinking?” Tripp asked.
“That I’m having a nice time tonight.”
“You sound surprised.”
“In a way I am,” she answered honestly. “For me, these events are normally just something to endure.”
He brushed a stray tendril of hair back from her cheek with one finger. “You’re having a good time tonight because you’re with me.”
Adrianna rolled her eyes while inwardly agreeing.
The band started up again and Adrianna found herself swaying with the music.
Tripp pushed back his chair.
When she stood and he took her hand, electricity shot up Adrianna’s arm.
“I love the songs they’re playing tonight—” she began, then stopped when Winn stepped in front of her.
The man smiled at Adrianna and ignored Tripp. “May I have the pleasure of this dance, Ms. Lee?”
Even though outwardly Winn appeared self-assured, something in his eyes told Adrianna he wasn’t as confident as he appeared. She knew all about faking confidence in social settings. The knowledge that they had that in common made her offer him an extra-warm smile.
“Actually, the lady isn’t available. She’s dancing every dance with me.” Tripp’s blue eyes were positively frosty.
“Let her go with him, son.” Jim Ferris seemed to appear out of nowhere. “There are several things I’ve been meaning to discuss with you. This will be a good opportunity for us to talk.”
Adrianna fought a surge of disappointment. But to be anything other than gracious about the change in plans would put Tripp—and Winn—in an awkward position.
“I’d love to dance with you.” Adrianna smiled at Winn, then shifted her gaze to Tripp. “The one after that is yours.”
Tripp leaned close and for one crazy second Adrianna thought he was going to kiss her. Instead he squeezed both her hands.
“The next and all the ones after that.” Tripp gazed into her eyes, his tone brooking no argument.
“Absolutely.” Adrianna felt as if she was floating. She wasn’t sure what had happened to Tripp’s normal hands-off behavior, but she was enjoying the change.
As Winn took her arm and led her to the dance floor, Adrianna felt Tripp’s eyes on her. Hiding a smile, she added a little sway to her hips.
Chapter Three
Tripp stood on the edge of the dance floor, schmoozing with a couple of donors, doing his best to ignore the music filling the ballroom. The romantic melody was almost as irritating as the cloying sweetness emanating from the large urn of fresh flowers positioned next to him.
He murmured words of agreement or occasionally nodded, enough to make the two men across from him believe they had his full attention. The truth was, conversing with them was merely a cover. It allowed Tripp to surreptitiously watch Adrianna while she danced with Winn.
The “important meeting” with Jim Ferris had taken just long enough for Winn to lead Adrianna to the dance floor. Tripp suspected the trustee’s urgent need to talk had been merely a ploy to aid his son in getting what he wanted. Now, seeing the smirk on Winn’s face as he held the brunette, Tripp was sure of it.
He wasn’t surprised. Adrianna was a beautiful woman with a killer body, sculpted screen-goddess features and incredible green eyes.
The lithesome beauty seemed unaware of her appeal. She always insisted she’d spent her childhood as somewhat of an ugly duckling and hadn’t begun to blossom until college.
But Tripp had noticed her latent beauty back in high school. He’d made the mistake of mentioning his observation to Gayle. She’d gone ballistic.
That had been the first of many fights they’d had stemming from her irrational jealousy.
Even now, the simple act of appreciating the way Adrianna’s dress emphasized her large breasts made him feel guilty. He lifted his gaze … and found her staring.
Not at Winn.
At him.
Tripp smiled back before refocusing his attention back on the donors.
Now, with his eyes elsewhere, he found himself thinking how much Adrianna’s friendship had meant to him. Her supportive texts and emails following his wife’s death had been a bright light during that dark period.
A comfortable closeness had developed over cyberspace. Even after the initial shock and grief had begun to subside, they’d continued to correspond, sharing thoughts and feelings they never would have shared in person.
It wasn’t until Tripp returned to Jackson Hole that things turned awkward. He and Adrianna shared many of the same friends. Friends who’d recently begun marrying at alarming rates and who seemed to think they’d make a perfect match.
Now that he was home, the closeness they’d built somehow felt wrong now. He could almost hear Gayle sneering and telling him, “See, I was right. You were attracted to her.” Which he knew wasn’t the truth back then, but definitely was true now.
When Tripp had told his friends he was too busy to date, some assumed he was still grieving the loss of his wife and unborn daughter. Actually, Tripp was ready to move on. The irony was, now that he was ready, the one woman he was interested in was the one he couldn’t bring himself to pursue. So he stuck with his original story that he didn’t have time.
It was mostly the truth.
With declining Medicare reimbursement and pressure from insurance companies to accept deeper discounts, Tripp had to bring his A-game to work every day. If that weren’t enough, his dad had been diagnosed with malignant melanoma.
See? Too busy.
Yet, he was grateful Adrianna had agreed to accompany him tonight. Especially because he and the beautiful brunette had achieved an understanding. They were simply friends with no expectations of more.
Tripp inhaled sharply as Winn slid his hand slowly up Adrianna’s back. He narrowed his gaze. Anger surged. He’d made it clear to Winn that Adrianna was his date for the evening.
Actually, he’d taken it a step further. He’d let Winn believe Adrianna was his girlfriend. But that was something he’d clear up later.
Once he pried Winn’s hands off Adrianna’s body.
The crowded dance floor could have explained why Winn held her so tightly, although Adrianna doubted that was the only reason. She guessed it had more to do with Tripp’s unyielding gaze fixed on them and Winn’s desire to jerk his chain.
She was certain Winn was aware of Tripp’s scrutiny. Her “Tripp radar” had kicked in almost immediately upon reaching the dance floor. She’d waited until she was facing the right direction before slanting a quick glance where she’d last seen Tripp. Just as she’d thought, he was staring. Their eyes met and one look from his baby blues was all it took to send her pulse into overdrive.
Telling herself that it was supremely tacky to stare at one man while dancing with another, Adrianna pulled her gaze back to Winn.
“Being a midwife, I’m guessing you could find work anywhere.” Halfway through the sentence his gaze dropped to her cleavage.
Adrianna waited, determined not to speak until he stopped conversing with her breasts.
Winn finally looked up. “With so many choices I’m surprised you ended up here.”
It wasn’t the first time she’d heard the ridiculous statement, but the sentiment always caught Adrianna off guard. As far as she was concerned, there wasn’t a better place to live than surrounded by the majestic Tetons.
She gave a throaty laugh. “What’s wrong with Jackson Hole?”
Winn’s lips lifted in a lazy smile. “Well, for starters, it’s a bit on the small side.”
“That’s part of its appeal.” Adrianna loved seeing the babies she’d delivered when she went to the grocery store or stopped for a latte at Hill of Beans. “Besides, I grew up here. This is home.”
A speculative look crossed Winn’s face as he guided her across the dance floor, his movements fluid but not showy. “So you and Tripp go way back.”
Actually, not as far back as Winn probably thought, but Adrianna wasn’t about to admit that Tripp hadn’t known she was alive back in high school. “We do.”
“My father told me Tripp was married once but his wife died.” The sympathy in Winn’s eyes appeared sincere. While he came on a little strong, Adrianna had the feeling that deep down Winn was a good guy. Too bad there was no spark.
“Gayle was a dear friend of mine.” A familiar ache wrapped itself around Adrianna’s heart. “A wonderful woman.”
“I didn’t realize you and she were friends.” Winn lifted a brow. “Doesn’t that make things awkward?”
“How do you mean?”
“Your friend was the one Tripp Randall chose to marry. Now she’s gone and he turns to you.” Winn’s gaze fixed on her, gauging her reaction. “You don’t deserve to be second best.”
Adrianna instantly realized Winn had misconstrued her and Tripp’s relationship. A little matter she could clear up with a few simple words. But it felt as though something more was going on here, something she couldn’t put her finger on, something just beyond her reach.
She lifted her chin and gazed at him through lowered lashes. “If you knew me better, you’d know I’m not second best to anyone.”
Winn’s eyes turned hot and dark.
“I find confidence very sexy,” he responded with a glittering smile. “I’m also a man who likes a challenge.”
Adrianna cocked her head. “A challenge?”
“The way I see it, unless a woman has a wedding ring on her finger, she’s available.” While he spoke Winn slid one hand up her back.
Adrianna experienced a strange ticklish aversion to his touch. She was seized with a sudden urge to squirm … or slap his hand away.
“How close are you and Tripp Randall?” Winn asked in a low tone, his breath hot against her ear. “Is there the slightest possibility that another man—”
“I believe this is my dance.”
Adrianna couldn’t believe it when Tripp gently disengaged her from Winn’s arms.
Strangely, Winn didn’t protest.
“Thank you for the dance.” Adrianna offered him a polite smile.
“It was a good beginning,” Winn said, a twinkle in his eye. “I look forward to seeing you again and getting even better acquainted.”
“What was that about?” Tripp took her in his arms. His shoulder was hard beneath her hand, his arms steady as they began to dance.
“What do you mean?”
“Are you going to go out with him?” he asked, eyeing her.
Something about his tone rubbed Adrianna the wrong way. As much as she’d dreamed of more, she’d finally, reluctantly accepted that she and Tripp were just friends. After all, he’d made it clear friendship was all he wanted from her. So why was he acting as if she’d done something wrong by simply allowing another man to flirt with her?
You can’t have it both ways, Tripp Randall.
“I may.” She lifted a shoulder in a slight shrug. “If he asks.”
Tripp’s blue eyes darkened to black and his lips pressed together. “I don’t trust him.”
“You don’t know him,” Adrianna said mildly.
“You don’t either,” he shot back.
“Isn’t that what dating is about … getting better acquainted?” Adrianna responded, instead of telling him that she had no interest in dating Winn Ferris.
“Doesn’t it bother you that even though Winn believes we’re dating, he continued to put some serious moves on you?” he murmured, twining a strand of her hair loosely around his fingers.
