Free Another Woman's Man by Shelly Ellis Page A

your warnings. No one has to protect my own father from me—including his lawyer slash bodyguard!”
    Xavier nodded. “I guess I’ll have to take your word on that.” He abruptly turned and continued to walk down the hallway.
    She followed him, but for a fleeting moment she contemplated going back to the foyer, getting her coat, and going home. She didn’t need a warning or a lecture from Xavier. And to think, she had been finding herself attracted to his anal-retentive, sanctimonious ass. But she reminded herself that she had told her father she would come to dinner tonight, and she was already here. Plus, she didn’t want to give Xavier the satisfaction of hightailing it out of there. He’d only think his suspicions about her were right. She might as well see this through.
    A few seconds later, she and Xavier stepped through a doorway and into a cavernous dining room.
    â€œPumpkin!” a woman suddenly cried, startling Dawn. “I wondered when you’d finally show up! I was worried about you!”
    The woman, who looked to be in her mid to late twenties, then bounded in her stilettos across the room toward Xavier. She closely resembled the girl in the foyer portrait, so Dawn guessed she was Constance.
    Constance leapt into Xavier’s arms and planted a warm kiss on his lips. She draped her arms around his neck and grinned. “You bad boy!” Constance cooed, gazing into Xavier’s eyes. “Where were you? Why didn’t you call to say you’d be late?”
    Xavier slowly tugged Constance’s arms from around his neck.
    â€œSometimes I have to work late, baby,” Xavier said softly to Constance. “You know that.”
    â€œI told her that you were probably busy and time got away from you, Xavier,” Dawn’s father called from across the room with a laugh. He grabbed his cane as he slowly rose from his chair at the head of the dining table. He walked toward them. “But you know how your fiancée is.”
    Fiancée? So that explained why Xavier was so protective of the Allen family.
    Dawn had rightly guessed that Xavier was already taken, but she had no idea he’d be taken by her half sister. She hadn’t recalled during their “date” at the tea shop her father saying anything about the two getting married.
    â€œBut you cut him off. Remember?” a voice in her head reminded her. “Every time he tried to talk about the wedding, you’d change the subject.”
    That was true. She had tired of hearing about darling Constance’s nuptials. But sharing the name of the groom seemed like an important detail that her father shouldn’t have left out.
    â€œSo you two are engaged?” Dawn said, feigning a smile. “Congratulations!”
    Constance turned toward Dawn, finally acknowledging her presence. She leaned her head against Xavier’s shoulder. “Yes, we are! We’re getting married in early May!” Constance showed off her princess-cut diamond ring, extending a hand toward Dawn. “It’s a custom design. Three carats!”
    â€œWell, it’s . . . it’s lovely,” Dawn murmured, glancing at the engagement band.
    â€œI’m Constance!” the woman said. “You must be Dawn.”
    â€œYes, I am.” Dawn shook Constance’s hand awkwardly since the younger woman kept her fingers dangled like Dawn should curtsy and kiss her ring instead. “It’s great to meet you. Herb has told me so much about—”
    â€œWe were wondering if you had gotten lost,” a woman said, breaking into the conversation.
    She was sitting to the right side of the head of the table with a glass of red wine in her hand.
    â€œDawn, let me introduce my wife, Raquel,” her father said, gesturing toward the woman.
    But her father didn’t have to make introductions. Dawn knew instantly that she was Raquel. The auburn hair in the family portrait was a lot