***
From the admiring stares she’d been getting from people since she entered the hall, and the reaction of Shane when she’d spoken to him outside, Tanesha knew she looked good. Her mother had dismissed the dinner dress she’d shown to her that afternoon and taken her shopping for a ‘killer dress’ as she’d called it. And what a dress it was. The stunning ivory mermaid, off-shoulder, backless evening gown featured a silver beaded bodice that helped shield Tanesha’s nipples as the dress didn’t have room for a bra.
It had a concealed thigh-high slit that provocatively revealed itself when Tanesha took a step. Though the style of the dress was downright seductive, the colour gave it an innocent elegance. On her feet was a pair of beautiful, red, six-inch-high, peep-toe platform heels, which had adorable silver jeweled accents ankle straps. With her matching red clutch, minimal jewelry, flawless makeup, and her long hair twisted into a classic chic bun atop her head, she looked absolutely exquisite.
“Thank you, Jay,” Tanesha said, allowing herself to be steered towards their table. She felt her cousin’s hand on the bare flesh of her back and groaned. “Why bother. As you said, he’s not even looking.”
“Oh, but he is,” Ajay said naughtily, turning Tanesha to face him. “Keep your eyes on me, my adorable Hour Glass.” He purred comically as his hand came up to cup Tanesha’s cheek. Ajay knew Tanesha would laugh at his hourglass comment and she didn’t disappoint. She burst into laughter just as she felt Ajay’s lips on her cheek. “How about we turn on the heat?” Ajay murmured against Tanesha’s cheek.
“Don’t you dare kiss me Ajay Vandyke or I swear to God…” Tanesha trailed off and the laughter instantly died off as her eye met the pained and furious ones of Ty. “Oh my God, he’s pissed.” She breathed, surprised at the pang of guilt and pain that slammed inside her.
“Good.” It was obvious that Ajay was trying very hard not to laugh. “As Auntie Dora said, if he didn’t want anyone’s hands on you, he should have alerted you that he’s still in the race. I bet it doesn’t feel good when you’re on the other end of the hurt tunnel.”
“You don’t understand. He doesn’t look just hurt. He’s furious.” Tanesha whispered urgently.
“In this particular instance, both emotions blend into one.” Ajay chuckled.
“Ajay, an angry Skull is not one you want to be in the same room with. Trust me.”
“Hey, relax. Everything is going perf…”
“Hello Ma’am.” The black hunky Navy Seal whose name Tanesha didn’t know interrupted what Ajay had been about to say. “I’m Jackson.” He said, extending his hand towards Tanesha.
“Hello Sir,” Tanesha smiled, taking the man’s hand. “Tanesha.”
“I know.” He turned suddenly hard eyes on Ajay, who was as tall as the soldier. “And you’re…”
Ajay gave an easy smile. “Ajay Vandyke, Jackson.”
“That’s Lt. Jackson. Listen, I don’t know who you are but it would be better for everyone here if you keep your hands off Ms. Ashton.” The threat in Jackson’s voice was so palpable Tanesha gasped.
“Now wait a…” Ajay started but Jackson was turning back to face Tanesha with a sweet smile.
“Enjoy your evening Ma’am.” With that, Jackson gave a slight nod and walked off.
Tanesha quickly looked back up to where she’d last seen Ty but he wasn’t there. And even as a softly laughing Ajay pulled out her chair for her to sit, her heart was pounding so hard. The initial thrill she’d had within for getting back at Ty was quickly dwindling. All Tanesha wanted to do was find Ty and assure him that there was nothing going on between her and Ajay. She would have laughed at herself at that moment if she wasn’t feeling so worried. To think she was actually ready to give up the plot just to see Ty’s face filled with anything but pain and fury.
“You okay, Tanny?” Her dad asked when they were eating. “You’re playing with your food.”
“I’m fine dad. Just not hungry.” She tried to give her father a smile but failed. All she’d been able to do was take sips of her wine, which by her level of tolerance, wasn’t a good thing.
Paul Ashton looked worriedly at his daughter. “Well, allow me to take these yummy-looking shrimps off your plate then.” Paul Ashton said, using his fork to pick a shrimp off Tanesha’s plate. “Jay, what are you waiting for? Dig in.” Paul said making his wife and Ajay laugh. “Hmm…just as I thought. Yummy.” The elderly man gave a deliberately humorous moan, shocking Tanesha into laughter.
Paul leaned in to kiss Tanesha on the cheek. “That’s more like it.” He murmured, laughing when Ajay too kissed Tanesha’s other cheek.
But of course whilst Paul had kissed his daughter with no ulterior motive, Ajay did it on purpose. He’d seen Ty looking their way and thought what better time to kiss Tanesha again than at a time when she was laughing and the obviously angry soldier was looking their way.
***
At his seat, Ty had to call on all the angels for strength and self-control. He was trying very hard not to move across the room to where that idiot sat touching Tanesha and squeezing the life out of him. Who the fuck was he anyway, Ty fumed. Probably whoever Tanesha had wanted to go clubbing with the other day. Yes, his boys had told him about that. And yes, he’d been furious that she would even want to go clubbing with any man apart from him. But he’d let it go because Tanesha had assumed he was dead at the time. This time around, she didn’t have any excuse as she knew he was very much alive and wanted her more than ever.
Was she trying to kill him? Was she doing that on purpose? Had she moved on? Had she been seeing the guy before she was kidnapped? If so, why hadn’t she told him on the Island? She’d virtually told him everything about herself but hadn’t mentioned anything about a boyfriend. But from the way the two were behaving…the way he kept touching her, kissing her, laughing with her…it was obvious they were very familiar with each other. Had that hot kiss that morning been a mere goodbye kiss?