Thorn's Challenge - Brenda Jackson [51]
“Yes, well, me and a couple of the guys from town decided to come check things out,” he said after nervously clearing his throat.
Tara nodded. She couldn’t help but be openly amused by his nervousness. “And how is Danielle?”
Derrick cleared his throat again. “She’s fine. She’s expecting. Our baby is due to be born in a few weeks.”
Surprisingly, that bit of news didn’t have the effect on her it would have had a year ago. She found herself genuinely smiling. “Congratulations. I’m glad the two of you are happy and have decided to add to your family and wish you both the best.”
Derrick nodded and then asked. “What about you, Tara? Are you happy?”
Tara opened her mouth to answer, but instead a deep male voice sounded from the shadows behind where Derrick stood.
“Yes, she’s happy.”
When the person came into view, Tara’s heart began beating fast. She held her breath as Thorn moved around Derrick and came straight to her, leaned down and placed an open-mouthed kiss on her lips, publicly declaring before Derrick, his brothers and anyone who saw him, that Tara was his.
After releasing her mouth Thorn straightened to his full height and turned back to Derrick. He glared at the man. “I make it my business to see that she’s happy.”
Tara wanted to scream out “Since when?” but decided to go along with whatever game Thorn was playing. Besides, what he’d done had effectively squashed any notion Derrick might have that there was a chance she was still pining away for him. She was grateful for that. According to her parents, the rumor still floating around Bunnell was that she hadn’t been home because she hadn’t gotten over Derrick.
Derrick met Thorn’s stare. “I’m glad to know that.” He then blinked as recognition hit. “Hey, aren’t you Thorn Westmoreland?”
“Last I heard.” Thorn crossed his arms over his chest and studied the man who’d had the nerve to betray and humiliate Tara on her wedding day. As far as Thorn was concerned, this man’s loss was certainly his gain.
A look of adoration appeared in Derrick’s eyes and a smile tipped the corners of his mouth. “Wow. Your bikes are the bomb.”
Usually Thorn was appreciative of anyone who admired his work, but not this man. “Thanks. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to dance with my lady. The race is in two days and I want to spend as much time with her as I can before then.”
“Oh, sure, man,” Derrick said awkwardly. He then met Tara’s gaze again. “Take care, Tara, and I’ll tell your family that I saw you.”
Tara shrugged. “There’s really no need since I plan to visit them tomorrow. There’s no reason to be this close and not visit.”
Derrick nodded. “Yeah, right. I’ll be seeing you.” He then moved on.
“Glad you could find the time to grace us with your presence tonight, Thorn,” Dare said sarcastically to his brother when he and Shelly sat down at the table after dancing. He then glanced across the room at Derrick’s retreating back after seeing his brothers’ glares. “Who was that?”
Thorn met his brother’s gaze. “Some fool who didn’t know a good thing when he had it.”
Without waiting for Dare, or anyone else for that matter, to make another comment, Thorn reached out and gave Tara’s hand a gentle tug and brought her to her feet. “Dance with me.”
Whatever words Tara wanted to say died in her throat the moment Thorn touched her. She offered no resistance when he led her to the dance floor where a slow number had just started. An uncomfortable glance over her shoulder verified that Derrick was sitting at a table with his friends, staring at her and Thorn. She quickly glanced around the crowded room. It seemed everyone was staring, especially the Westmoreland brothers. But they were doing more than just staring; they were all grinning from ear to ear. Why?
“Okay, what’s going on with your brothers?” she asked Thorn