The Tycoon's Defiant Southern Belle Page 0,25

them, wondering if anyone had seen what Angelo had just done.

Thankfully, no one was really paying much attention to them. Too many people were milling about on the deck so she breathed a bit easier, relieved that they had gotten away with the switch.

“How did you know?” she whispered, smiling when Deena turned back to them, but then was caught by another friend.

“How did I know that you don’t like grits or collard greens?” he asked, putting more vinegar on the greens before scooping some up onto his fork.

She waved to a couple that she knew from church, pretending that she’d already finished her meal and hadn’t just let Angelo abscond with the vile parts of her dinner. “Yes. What gave me away?”

He laughed softly. “It was the lack of any expression on your face that tipped me off. That and the way you ate the ham biscuits and the fried chicken, leaving behind those two items. Dead giveaway.”

She shifted uncomfortably on her portion of the bench, irritated that he had read her so easily. “I might have just been saving them for the end because I liked them so much and wanted to….”

“Give it up, Jade. You hate grits.”

She huffed a bit, not sure if she could lie her way through this argument. “Every southerner loves grits,” she stated emphatically.

He looked down at her face, that irritating amusement still there. “And you want so badly to be a southerner that you’re willing to eat a starch just to fit in?”

She crossed and uncrossed her legs, trying to find a suitable answer. “I try to be polite when things are served.”

He let her get away with that, only because several other people came over, wanting a word with him. Jade tried to stand up and walk away, but Angelo, irritating man that he was, put his arm around the back of the bench with his hand holding her in place. When she tried to get up anyway, his fingers slid into her hair, touching her skin. She shivered, almost closing her eyes with his touch but she couldn’t pull away. She loved the way his fingers touched her. It was almost as if her skin came alive, became electrified and each part of her wanted to shift in her chair so another area of her skin could feel his touch.

“Breathe, Jade,” he whispered softly into her ear.

She took a deep breath, unaware that she’d been holding it while he touched her. She felt self-conscious about his secret touch, but the conversations swirled around her with no one seeming to notice his hand on the back of her neck.

“Jade!” Deena called out to her. “Your mother just arrived and she’s looking for you.”

Jade trembled, her body not sure if she wanted to stay here more, secretly enjoying Angelo’s hands touching her once again after such a long absence, or go to her mother. It was a conflict and she couldn’t decide, which seemed ridiculous. She should be jumping up and running to her mother, or more specifically, running away from Angelo’s touch.

“Go to your mother,” he said softly, pulling his hand away.

As soon as his touch was gone, she could think more rationally. She stood up, took a deep breath, then reached down to take Angelo’s plate as well as hers to the kitchen where she suspected her mother would be, trying to help with either the cooking or cleaning.

“Momma!” Jade called out as soon as she stepped into the house. Sure enough, her mother was offering to bring out dessert but the hostess was laughing off the offer. At Jade’s call, her mother’s head spun around and Jade was instantly enveloped in a warm, effusive hug!

“Goodness, child. Where have you been?” Leslie asked, looking at her daughter with merry eyes. “Are you feeling okay? You look a little flushed. Has that gorgeous man been making you blush again?” she asked as she surveyed her daughter with a knowing look.

Jade shook her head, taking her mother’s arm and linking it with hers to guide her outside. “It’s just warm. I’m glad you’re here.”

“I know. It’s been almost a week since I’ve seen you. I’ve been wondering what’s been going on with your man and hoping you’ve gotten over your issues.”

Jade didn’t roll her eyes. “I spoke to you on the phone just yesterday, Momma. And you know nothing has changed.”

“Yes, but wait until you have kids,” her mother said, patting her daughter’s hand. “You’ll understand why I ask.” She shook her