Seduction, Westmoreland Style - Brenda Jackson [41]
He pulled back and not saying a single word he turned and headed for the door. And without looking back he left.
Chapter 9
“McKinnon, you’re back,” Morning Star Quinn said, surprised and smiling up at her oldest son. “We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow and thought you’d miss the party altogether.”
“I was able to wrap everything up a day earlier,” he said, glancing around. This wasn’t a small party. His mother and Abby had definitely done things up on a larger scale than he’d expected. But then he really shouldn’t have been surprised.
As he scanned the room he was looking for one person in particular—the honoree, the woman who’d been on his mind every day since he’d been gone. He smiled when his gaze was snagged by Stone Westmoreland. Evidently Stone had arrived in Montana while McKinnon had been away.
He nodded at Stone, then moved his gaze on. A group of invitees standing in a crowd parted briefly, allowing a better view and McKinnon’s body stiffened when he saw Casey hemmed in a corner by Rick Summers. She looked simply beautiful in a latté-colored skirt and matching blouse.
“McKinnon, would you like something to drink?”
His mother’s question momentarily pulled away his attention and he glanced down at her and forced a smile. “No, I’m fine. I think I’ll mingle.” Mingle hell, he thought, moving straight to the area where Casey and Summers were standing. Neither of them had noticed his arrival.
“McKinnon. I thought you weren’t returning until tomorrow,” Durango said, appearing out of nowhere and blocking his path.
“Not now, Rango,” McKinnon all but snarled. “The only thing I want to do is put my fist in Summers’ face.”
Durango lifted a brow. “Why would you want to do something like that?” he asked in a low tone.
“Because Rick Summers is a—”
“Bastard,” Durango said, finishing the sentence for him. “That’s nothing new. Come on, let’s grab a couple of beers and go somewhere and chill.”
McKinnon narrowed his gaze at Durango. “I don’t want to chill. I want to—”
“Smash Summers’ face in, I know, but you need to cool down and tell me why seeing Casey with him has gotten you all worked up. She’s my cousin so I have a valid reason to be interested in the proceedings—especially knowing the ass Summers is—but whether you’ve noticed or not, I’m not the only Westmoreland here tonight. Stone’s here. So are Corey, Clint and Cole.”
McKinnon glanced around. “Clint and Cole are here?”
“Yeah, but maybe they’re keeping an eye on the wrong man. Maybe they should be keeping an eye on you. The last time we talked you claimed you weren’t falling for Casey. If this isn’t falling, I’d like to know what it is when a man wants to smash another’s face just for talking to a woman who means nothing to him? Maybe instead of smashing up Summers’ face, you need to give what I just said some serious thought.”
Then Durango walked off.
Casey quickly concluded that she wouldn’t be able to hide her annoyance much longer if Rick Summers continued to deliberately hog her time. In less than twenty minutes she’d discovered the man was so full of himself it was a shame. He had an ego a mile long and at some point during his lifetime, some woman had convinced him he was every female’s ideal man.
She glanced around. Where were Clint and Cole when she needed them? She’d been hoping one of them would come and find some excuse to take her away, but so far that hadn’t happened.
She continued to glance around the room when her breath suddenly caught as her gaze locked with McKinnon’s. Adrenaline was mixing with surprise and making all kind of weird things happen to her body. She hadn’t expected him back until sometime tomorrow but seeing him now, standing across the room talking to one of her brothers while slowly raking his gaze over her, was only increasing her adrenaline level. It didn’t take much to recall the intimacy that had transpired