Roping the Cowboy Billionaire - Emmy Eugene Page 0,56

kissed her until she giggled and ducked her head, saying, “Blaine, we’re in public.”

He knew right where he was, and he laced his fingers through hers as he turned back to Alex. “I think you remember Tam, don’t you, Alex?”

Beside him, Tam sucked in a breath. “Alex,” she said.

Alex narrowed her eyes and moved to stand behind the first case. The glass and little bit of metal was all that separated them, and it definitely felt like a face-off to Blaine.

“Oh, the best friend,” Alex said, her eyes sliding down Tam’s body. Tam wore dirty jeans and a faded T-shirt that had seen some leather glue it its lifetime. “Nice to see you again.”

“We’re actually dating,” Blaine said. “We’re here to look at engagement rings, actually.” He wanted to tape his mouth shut so he wouldn’t say actually again. He’d almost sounded like he was bragging.

To his surprise, Alex burst out laughing. When neither Tam nor Blaine did, she quieted. “Oh, you weren’t kidding.”

“No,” Blaine said, frowning. “I’m not kidding.” Why would she think he was? Was the idea of him and Tam so laughable? Had she not seen him making out with her a moment ago?

Alex looked back and forth between Tam and Blaine. “I just don’t see it, I guess.” She bent her head to look in the case. “I’m not sure we have anything for you.”

“You mean you don’t have anything for us,” Blaine said, his fingers tightening on both hands. “Unless you have a mouse in your pocket.”

Alex rolled her eyes. “There are other jewelry stores in town, Blaine.”

“You don’t want my money?” he asked, shocked. The Alex he knew had cared about money a great deal.

Alex’s eyes widened for a moment, as if she’d just realized what she’d said. Her jaw clenched, and the stubbornness he knew so well manifested itself in her eyes next. “No,” she said. “I’d appreciate it if you left.”

Blaine really wished he’d had that rock when he’d entered the first time. He shook his head and smiled. “Good luck, Alex.”

“Good luck to you too, Blaine.” She glanced at Tam and looked like she’d smelled something bad. “Tam.”

Blaine didn’t take a breath until he was outside. His thoughts raced, and he paced away from the store, practically dragging Tam with him. “I don’t believe her.”

“What is she doing there?” Tam asked.

“She owns that place. Something must’ve happened with her family.” He needed to do a search. He should call his mom and ask her too, as she ran in all the same high society circles Alex did. Or had.

He reached the end of the sidewalk and realized he didn’t need to go that way. “I wonder what happened to put her in that lame shop. Did you see that case? It hardly had anything in it.” He didn’t mention her lackluster customer service from the first time he’d entered the store.

“Blaine,” Tam said, but he couldn’t hold still. She released his hand as he went back toward his truck. He collected his phone from the cab and called his mother.

“Blaine,” Tam said again, and he just lifted his hand to indicate he’d like her to wait a moment, please.

“Mom,” Blaine said the moment his mother answered. “What’s going on with Alexandra Alloy?”

“What do you mean?” Mom asked.

“She’s running a jewelry store on the west side of Dreamsville,” he said. “Next to Pirates of the Cari-chicken.”

“I’d heard there’d been some sort of falling out in the Alloy family,” Mom mused. “I don’t know the details, though.”

Some sort of falling out. That sounded like Alex to a T. She poisoned everything she touched. It just took some people longer than others to realize it.

“Why?” Mom asked. “Where are you?”

“At the jewelry store,” Blaine said without thinking.

“You’re at a jewelry store?”

“Uh.”

“Is Tam with you?”

He turned and looked at her. She wore displeasure in her eyes, and Blaine looked past her to Alex’s storefront. “Yes,” he said, his brain slowing down by the second. “I have to go.”

“Are you buying an engagement ring?” his mother shouted, but Blaine arced the phone away from his ear and hung up.

He stuffed his phone in his pocket and returned to Tam. “Chicken sandwich?”

She glared at him, and Blaine had an inkling as to why. He opened the door and waited for her to go inside. She did, but she didn’t look happy about it. Blaine cast another look in the direction of Alex’s shop and followed Tam.

They didn’t speak as they ordered, and Blaine picked up the tray