Chapter 15
“So. Brynn, don’t you have your husband now?” Kylie poked, piling it on “What’s wrong–your guy too strapped to treat you to the Caviar Crown! Poor thing”
She clicked her tongue twice, her face all fake sympathy.
Kylie gave Dominic’s back another look, pegging him as the last–second fill–in from Brynn’s wedding.
She snorted. Hot bad, empty wallet, she thought, smirking to herself.
“Don’t mind her,” Brynn whispered, leaning in close to Dominic. “She’s a bratty little monch–won’t hurt you, but clings like
gum on your sole.”
Dominic bit back a laugh, dipping his head with a grin.
Since he’d tilted toward Brynn to hear her, Kylie caught a peek of his side profile–and stopped cold.
Her eyes glued to him, and her cocky look slipped.
The dude was drop–dead gorgeous. She couldn’t look away.
Hands down, the finest guy she’d ever laid eyes on
Kylie stood there, jaw slack, her earlier dig about him being a back–only hottie falling apart in her head. She’d bet the face wouldn’t live up to the build–big mistake.
And it wasn’t just his looks. The way he carried himself, that soft glow in his eyes when they slid to Brynn, the little warm curve of his mouth–it slammed into her.
If he looked at her like that, smiled at her like that… Kylie’s brain took off, and a blush crept up her cheeks.
Brynn clocked it all, fighting the urge to roll her eyes into orbit. A sour knot twisted in her stomach.
This was her man. Brynn’s jaw clenched.
She stepped up, planting herself right between Kylie and Dominic, and hit her with a stare that could cut glass. “Hey, how about you stop drooling over someone else’s husband Desperate much?”
Her voice was sharp, teeth practically gnashing as she spoke.
“What, never seen a dude before? Keep gawking and your eyes’ll fall out,” Brynn snapped, frost dripping from every word.
Kylie jolted out of her daze, blinking hard as embarrassment crashed in. She yanked her eyes away.
But the jealousy? That hit like a freight train, Damn it, she thought, jaw tight.
This is Brynn’s husband? Kylie shot her a glare, resentment bubbling up.
She’d figured Brynn was toast after Chase bailed–no decent guy would touch that disaster.
A dumped bride from a total fiasco? Any solid, high–end dude would bolt.
Kylie had reckoned if anyone took her, it’d be some rough, broke loser. She pursed her lips at the idea.
So how the hell did she score this guy–tall, hot, and oozing charm? Kylie’s eyes flicked to Dominic, her scowl digging in.
“He’s hotter than Chase… she muttered through clenched teeth, her mood tanking fast.
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Chapter 15
And that easy, laid–back vibe? Her glare turned pure poison.
Kylie’s glare at Brynn turned straight–up vicious, her words getting uglier by the second.
She scoffed. “Hmph, just a hot face with no cash to back it up. What’s the point of looking good if he’s dirt poor?”
Brynn let it roll off her like nothing, flashing a sweet smile as she looped her arm through Dominic’s.
BO‘%
She tilted her head, batting her lashes all innocent. “Aw, thanks for calling my husband a hottie. You’re not jealous, are you? You’re looking kind of green over there.”
“You bit- Kylie choked on her own spit, shooting daggers but drawing a blank.
“Whoops, did I strike a chord?” Brynn’s grin stretched wider, her voice light as air. “My bad, I forgot–someone’s fiancé is a total dud. Kylie, hon, don’t take it personal–I’m not talking about you or anything”
Dishing Kylie’s own trash talk back at her felt like a cold drink on a hot day. Brynn’s lips twitched, smug as can be.
Kylie, though, was unraveling. Her fists clenched tight, shaking at her sides.
She’d thought nabbing Chase would score her a VIP pass into the Johnson family–big dreams and all that.
But the Johnsons‘ folks wouldn’t even glance her way.
To them, she was a cheap climber, not worth their time.
And Randy? For the Everett family’s profit, he’d sold her off to some rich, gross old man without blinking.
Just thinking about that guy’s mug made Kylie want to puke. Her face twisted up quick
“Brynn, you little witch, she snarled, teeth gritted.
Pissed as hell, Kylie lunged, hand cocked to slap Brynn right across the face.
But before Brynn could even move, Dominic stepped up, grabbing Kylie’s wrist mid–swing and tossing her back like she was a rag doll.
“All” Kylie crashed onto the pavement, scraping her knee bad. She yelped, flinching from the sting.
Dominic towered over her, his stare cold as ice. “You want to touch my wife? Sorry, lady–my family doesn’t roll with that ‘never hit a woman‘ rule.”
He cracked his wrist, looking ready to swing if she so much as twitched.
Kylie scrambled back, panic flashing in her eyes as she stumbled to her feet, a total wreck.
“W-what’s with the big tough act? Playing the loyal husband? You’re just some broke loser! You think you fit in a place like this? Get real,” she spat, backing off a few steps.
She kept running her mouth, staying just out of reach, her eyes jumping around nervous.
Brynn’s fuse blew–Kylie wouldn’t drop the “broke” jab. Cash or not, nobody got to talk smack abe her guy like that.
But before she could step in and shut her down, the Caviar Crown’s manager strutted out with a crew behind him, heading straight for Dominic.
“Mr. Johnson, your private room’s ready. You can head in whenever you want,” the manager said, dipping his head a little, all polite and proper.
Chapter 15
Dominic gave a quick nod. “Cool,” he said, smooth as ever.
Brynn’s jaw hit the floor. She stood there, gawking at Dominic, to
She wasn’t alone. Kylie looked like she’d been whacked with a trout–shocked and steaming her eyes popping out.
As Dominic grabbed Brynn’s hand to lead her in. Kylie snapped out of it and charged forward, cutting them off
She spun on the manager, voice screeching. “What’s your problem“”
“I have to book weeks ahead to get in here–why do they get to stroll right in?” she yelled, borderline unhinged
Then it clicked. She’d caught the “Mr. Johnson” part. Her eyes narrowed as it sankin
“Mr. Johnson had to be Chase, right?” She smirked to herself
“You’ve got the wrong guy!” Kylie jabbed a finger at her chest. “He’s no Mr. Johnson I’m the one with a reservation here!
Watching Kylie throw her full–blown fit, the restaurant manager’s brow ticked up just a hair.
“And you are…?” he asked, keeping his tone steady and calm.
“Chase set this up as a surprise for me, didn’t he? I’m his fiancée, Kylie said, sticking her chin out with a cocky little flourish
She slid a smug, sideways look at Brynn, her lips twisting up.
She’d snag Chase one way or another, so calling herself his fiancée? Totally fine in her book
She grinned to herself, feeling on top of the world.
“Chase?” The manager flashed a polite smile and shook his head. “Sorry, don’t know any Chase. I only know this Mr. Johnson.”
With that, he turned to Dominic and Brynn, motioning them inside with a smooth, respectful nod, like it was all second
nature.
Kylie’s jaw dropped. “N–no way. You’re screwing this up. Him? Some broke nobody? How could he- “Ma’am, please don’t bother our VIPs, the manager said, his voice cool and clipped, shutting her down
As he guided Dominic and Brynn through the entrance, he gave a quick flick of his hand.
A staffer picked up the cue and stepped in, planting himself in front of Kylie like a brick wall.
“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re not letting me in?” Kylie gawked at him, her voice jumping higher, totally thrown
“Do you even know who I am to block me? Your boss is buddies with the Johnson family from Eaglemont, right? My fiancé, Chase–he’s a Johnson too!” she barked, anger boiling over
The staffer didn’t blink, keeping that fake smile locked in place. He waved over a security guard, who stepped up and nudged Kylie back, gentle but firm.
“Sorry, ma’am, you can’t come in,” he said, voice flat as a board.
Kylie flipped out. She whipped out her phone, jabbing at Chase’s number with one hand while letting loose a flood of swears
at the staffer with the other.
“You just wait,” she growled, practically shaking with fury. T’m calling Chase right now–he’ll fix this?”
