anyway—I’m a fair-skinned redhead after all. My body wasn’t made to tan, only burn.”
“Awesome,” Maggie responded, relaxing back down into her chair. “If you go into the kitchen, there will be someone there to help you get the cocktails in order.”
“Be right back,” Cami called as she headed towards the house.
The mansion was surprisingly empty. Maggie had mentioned that most of the men were on the golf course a few miles away, talking business. Cami couldn’t help but wonder where the women were, then. Wherever they were, she was thankful for the quiet atmosphere.
The house wasn’t as deserted as she thought it was going to be, however. As she stepped into the corridor, she heard a couple arguing in a small alcove near the dining room.
“You’re drunk,” a soft feminine voice declared. “And I saw you grab that woman’s ass. You can’t deny it. I saw it with my own eyes.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” a man snapped back at her.
“You have a problem, Robert.”
“Shut up, Elsie!” The man was shouting now. He was slurring his words, obviously drunk even though it was only early afternoon. “It’s not like you’re one to talk, with the way you’ve been stuffing your face all weekend.”
“How dare you,” the woman responded. “You know that’s not true.”
“You say that,” the man sneered, “but you’re gaining weight by the minute. I think you’re the one with the problem here, not me.”
“How can you say that?” sobbed the woman. “You’re drunk at one in the afternoon. You’re sexually harassing the staff—in front of your wife.”
Cami moved slightly further into a small corridor, so that she could see into the alcove while remaining hidden. The woman in question wasn’t fat at all, simply curvaceous like Cami and Maggie were. She had long dark hair and large doe eyes, which were filled with tears. She was beautiful, if one could ignore the look of hurt and humiliation on her face. The man in question, substantially larger and taller than her, was leaning over her menacingly.
Cami watched in horror as he reached out and grabbed hold of the woman’s arm. She struggled to get away but he wouldn’t let her go. Instead, he leaned forward even more, until his face was almost pressed against hers.
“You do not get to talk to me like that, woman,” he growled.
Cami was just about to step out of the corridor and intervene, when another masculine voice rang through the hall.
“Let go of her right this moment, Robert!” Drew demanded as he stalked into the room from the kitchen. He didn’t seem to notice Cami, standing just down the hall.
The drunken man—Robert—turned towards Drew, glowering, but didn’t let go of the woman.
“Don’t you dare tell me how to talk to my wife?”
“I can and will tell you how to treat my sister. You better let go of her right now and walk away, or you will find yourself extremely sorry.”
Drew wasn’t as tall as Robert, but he still seemed intimidating as he got right up in the drunken man’s face. The two men glared at each other for a moment before Robert pushed the woman away and stomped off.
“You better pack your bags and call a car, Robert. I don’t want to see you again this weekend,” Drew called after him. “Or I cannot be held responsible for my actions.”
“Calm down, D,” the woman said, reaching out to grab Drew’s arm.
“Are you okay, Els?” he asked, studying the woman with concern in his eyes.
“No,” she admitted, looking down.
“What are you doing Elsie? Why are you still with him?” Drew asked quietly.
“It’s not always like this,” Elsie replied.
“It should never be like this,” Drew said emphatically. “I thought you said he quit drinking.”
“He did,” she said, tears still streaming down her face. “But then he started again.”
“How long?” Drew demanded.
“About a month, this time,” Elsie admitted.
Drew growled angrily, but he
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