Or the way she was so familiar with him.

“I tried to introduce myself earlier,” she said, holding out her hand, “but he swept you away so quickly.”

She gazed at me with a twinkle in her eye.

I nodded once and took her hand. “Easton Bradbury.”

“Tessa McAuliffe.”

“Yes, I know,” I responded, turning away to hand Christian the can of tennis balls before facing her again. “From the morning show, right?”

She grinned, squinting her eyes playfully. “Not a fan?”

“Oh, no,” I shot out. “I’m sure I would like it well enough, but pop culture isn’t really my thing.”

She nodded, and I let my eyes fall down her body for a moment. She looked like everything I wished I was.

Her red dress stood out against the other female guests’ beiges and pinks, and she walked with grace in her tan heels. Her hair was neatly coiffed in an up-do, with locks of rich blond hair falling around her face. Her makeup was soft, and her posture was confident.

My dress seemed childish now, and the dark blue heels I’d rushed out to get to match the splatter of flowers on the dress were cheap compared to hers. It wasn’t that I didn’t have the money for designer things. I’d made a small fortune playing tennis and even modeling in ads for clothes and tennis shoes. I simply had no interest in spending my money on things I considered impractical.

Until now.

She was a woman, and I felt like a girl next to her, with my hair hanging in loose curls instead of up, looking sophisticated. I should’ve done something with it.

What does Tyler prefer? Does he think she’s prettier? More presentable? I —

And then I cleared my throat, stopping myself.

Ridiculous. How the hell did I get filled up with all of these insecurities all of a sudden? All that mattered was me. How I felt comfortable and what I liked.

And Tyler certainly seemed to like something about me.

“And what do you do?” she asked, interrupting my thoughts.

I took a deep breath, stepping over to the side to slip back into my heels. “I teach at Braddock Autenberry.”

“Where Christian goes to school?” she inquired. “What do you teach?”

My toes ached as I pushed them back into the tight-fitting shoes. “American and World History,” I replied.

And then I stopped to look at her. “Are you here in support of Mr. Marek’s campaign?” I asked, ready to find out exactly what she was about.

“Mr. Marek?” she joked. “Doesn’t he allow you to call him Tyler?”

I straightened my shoulders, glancing at Christian to see him running to collect all of the balls he’d hit.

“He’s the parent of a student,” I clarified. “I wouldn’t be so familiar.”

“Not even when you two are alone?”

I held her eyes even though my pulse raced in my chest.

Was she really that perceptive?

Or had Tyler confided in her?

No, he wouldn’t do that. It would be a betrayal to confide in another woman about his relationship with me.

She let out a small laugh. “It’s not hard to figure out, Easton,” she gloated. “I know most of the guests at this party, and none of them are teachers at Braddock Autenberry.”

I heard Christian’s footsteps off to the side as he ran back over to this side of the court. She must’ve seen him, because she inched closer.

“And judging by the way he scans the party from time to time, in search of you, I’d say he’s very territorial,” she pointed out, looking over her shoulder to the party.

I followed her gaze, seeing Tyler around a group of men, and as if on cue, he twisted his head and locked eyes with me at once, already knowing exactly where I was. Then his eyes narrowed, and his jaw tightened, making it clear he didn’t like Tessa and me talking.

She turned back around, looking smug. “He’s been doing it all day, you know?”

No. I hadn’t known. And while I liked knowing I was on his mind, she might not have been the only one to notice. My brother, now Tessa – how long before others knew there was something going on between us?

Hell, Mason Blackwell probably recognized me from the Quarter the other night, too. My job, Christian, and Tyler’s campaign… there was too much risk.

She smirked and turned around, walking away, obviously successful in doing whatever it was that she’d set out to do. Maybe she wanted me out of the way, maybe she intended to out us, or maybe she was just having fun, but one thing was clear: She wasn’t on my side. She enjoyed making me squirm.

I quickly glanced back over to where Tyler had been and noticed him gone.

“Shit,” I mumbled under my breath.

I looked over at Christian. I loved seeing how hard he was working. I wished I could stay on the court longer with him, but it was time to get out of here.

And never be anywhere in public with Tyler again.

After saying goodbye to Christian, I traipsed across the lawn and stepped back onto the walkway. I entered the house and searched out Tyler, starting with his den.

Peeking inside, I saw no one, but when I heard voices coming from the next room, I quietly pushed open the door and saw Tyler with three other men around a pool table.

An older man in a slate-gray suit hit Tyler on the back as he bent over the pool table to take a shot. “There’s not enough money in the world to buy you charm, Marek,” he stated, letting out a laugh.

Tyler shook his head and took the shot, slamming the six into the side pocket. His brother, whom I’d already met, leaned on his pool cue, while another man, a few years older, puffed on a cigar off to the side, all of them smiling and looking relaxed.

I straightened my back. “Mr. Marek, I’m sorry to interrupt.” I opened the door fully and took a step inside. “My brother and I are heading out, and I wanted to thank you for the invite.”

He stood upright, and I didn’t miss the way his eyes drifted down my body.

The cigar guy let out a laugh. “Can I invite her to my next party?” he asked. “She’s a pretty little thing. And pretty entertaining, too,” he added, and I realized he must’ve been in the group of men outside.

And then Jay smiled. “Yeah, I’ve never heard anyone speak to Blackwell that way.”

“You see?” Tyler turned to me, looking playful. “You can’t go. Your charms are in demand.”

“They’re not charms,” I shot back. “It’s called an education. And I can’t stay, unfortunately. I have plans this evening, so again, thank you for having me.”

I turned to leave, making it only a few steps before a hand hooked the inside of my elbow and spun me back around.

“Wha—” But my protest was cut off.

Tyler’s mouth covered mine, his hands holding my waist and pressing my body to his.

I squirmed, pushing against his chest even as the taste of him sent tingles down my thighs.

What the hell?

I grabbed his bottom lip between my teeth and bit, feeling him jerk back and break the kiss. But he didn’t let me go.

“Gentlemen” – he spoke to them but looked at me – “would you excuse us, please?”

I heard some amused, low voices as they walked past us, out the door, but I was too embarrassed to look. My face felt flushed, and I wanted to hit him.

They closed the door behind them, and I didn’t wait a second longer.

I slammed his chest, finally getting him to step away. “How dare you demean me like that in front of others!”

“You liked it,” he retorted, turning around to replace the cue on the rack.

“They could tell someone!”

“The one in the tan suit is sleeping with his kids’ nanny. The other one has his secretary keeping track of his mistresses, and the other one was my brother,” he replied. “Most of us are gentlemen – outside of the bedroom anyway,” he added, “and we don’t share each other’s secrets. You wanted me to claim you. So I did.”

I hadn’t wanted him to claim me.

Okay, maybe I had hoped he would’ve said or done something when Blackwell made an advance, but I didn’t want to be treated like his personal piece of ass in front of a group of men.