Free Sarasota Bride by Talyn Scott Page B

face. “Take someone else.”
    His eyes dropped to her knees, his mouth wanted to brush behind them. “No, I’m afraid I need you on my arm. The world knows who you are now, Elizabeth, and I can’t attend with anyone else.”
    “Then go alone.”
    “You pointed out that you’ve had three days of freedom.” He ignored his buzzing phone. “The way I see it, you owe me time lost…and kisses. Lots and lots of kisses,” he taunted, watching her spine go rigid.
    “Nope,” she sounded strange then, her voice cracking. “I think you screwing me cancels out any kisses due.”
    “I disagree.” He trailed his fingertips over her exposed collarbone, sensing the pebbling of her skin in his wake. He glanced down and noticed she was wearing the diamond he’d bought her, though she’d flipped it around so no one would notice. He dropped his hand from her collarbone and spun it, his eyes boring into hers. “If you need it again, Elizabeth, you will come to me. I will not allow the picture-taking, tongue-wagging world to think Trey Easton is cuckolded by his darling fiancée.” He’d walked through enough hell without being laughed at.
    “Then I guess I’d better not need it.”
    She blazed a trail to an awaiting Noah, and Trey called after her, “Your attire will arrive at five, please be ready by seven.” Her shoulders bunched as she nodded her head, yet she kept walking.
    When Trey reached the elevators leading to his office, Drake caught up with him. “I had dinner with Libby last night.”

    An uncomfortable tightness seized Trey’s chest when they ascended. “She ate with you?”
    Drake adjusted his tie. “Well, you asked me to see to her needs.”
    He stepped out of the elevator when the doors parted. The tightening in chest eased, but an odd sort of panic settled in his gut, churning his coffee. “From now on, I’ll keep tighter reigns on the situation so you won’t have to.”
    They stayed quiet while passing their assistants’ desks, nodding morning greetings. When they reached Trey’s office door, Drake leaned in, whispering low, though their shared hallway was far removed from their assistants. “You know, Trey; after everything you did to Libby, I never expected her to take you on the balcony the other night, never .”
    Because Libby had changed. The timid teenager he’d once known had turned into a fierce woman unafraid of her sexuality. “Needs are needs. It was nothing more.”
    “Whatever you say.” He unbuttoned his coat and walked to his office.
    Dylan came barreling around the corner with Avery in tow. “I want to talk to you. Now.” He stormed through Trey’s doors, but he didn’t sit down. Instead, he paced like a caged tiger, his eyes set on Trey.
    Trey shut the door. “Why are you two here? I have everything under control.”
    “France?”
    “Dylan, not to worry, I’ve only delayed the trip for another week.” Trey found his chair, relieved to get the pressure off his back. “Go back to Payton.”
    “She’s riding with Noah and Libby to the firehouse.”
    That was a surprise. “She feels like working?”
    “She feels better, considering.” A muscle ticked in Avery’s jaw, his neck without bandages was healing. “We’re not here to discuss Payton.”

    Dylan leaned on Trey’s desk, his big hands spreading flat. “Apart from Gilda, I’ve never met a woman as loyal as Libby. I mean…anyone would admire her loyalty for her friends and her selflessness for her family.”
    Trey thought Elizabeth’s selflessness for her family was completely misplaced, but Dylan didn’t know what was going on since Drake and Trey had kept the sources of the insider trading quiet. “Yes, Elizabeth is a fighter.” So was Trey, yet he’d been in the corner for far too long, waiting for the bell to ring so he could jump out and give her father the final blow. Elizabeth could fight all she wanted to as long as she didn’t get in his way. “And?”
    Avery sat on the corner of