Read Online All of Me (All of Me #1) by Tamsyn Bester, Bailey Townsley - Free Book Online
Authors: Tamsyn Bester, Bailey Townsley
Ads: Link
did.
I greet all the familiar faces, paying no attention to the prying eyes of the women, and make my way towards Lacy’s parents. She isn’t here yet, not that it comes as a surprise. She never could be on time.
Her father, Jonathan, sees me and gives me an outstretched hand. He’s the only one who still greets me politely, without some kind of animosity. I always had the feeling he was the only one who had no issues with me dating his daughter.
“Mr. Forbes, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” I shake his hand as he regards me. He looks older than the last time I saw him, his hair grayer and his eyes tired. It’s obvious the years haven’t been good to him.
I can’t help but wonder if losing Lacy was as hard for him as it was for me. He adores his daughter, and I know the only reason he didn’t stop her from leaving two years ago is because of his wife.
“Jason, I’m glad you could make it. I was worried you wouldn’t receive the invite.”
Getting the invite was more than a surprise, but even so, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to pass up an opportunity to see Lacy, invite or not.
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” I reply, giving him a meaningful look. He knows how I feel about his daughter, and given what he knows, I hope he understands that I have every intention of making her mine again.
A few minutes pass, and then he adds, “I have something I need to discuss with you. Come find me when you have a moment, and we’ll talk in my study.”
I’m about to agree when his wife, Ruth, steps up to his side.
“Mr. Tate,” she greets. Her voice reeks of disdain. “I don’t remember inviting you.” Ruth Forbes has always been a cold woman, heartless even. She expressed her disapproval of my relationship with Lacy from the beginning. Not that Lacy cared. She enjoyed doing anything and everything to piss her mother off. It makes me smile to remember.
Her eyes are hard, cold, and calculating, and a lesser man would cower away. I’m not one of those men.
“Ruth.” Jonathan admonishes his wife, much to her chagrin.
“It’s fine,” I tell him, not at all deterred. “Your husband was kind enough to invite me, not that an invitation would have kept me from you daughter.”
Ruth’s nostrils flare, giving way to the fire burning in her eyes. She may look prim and proper, thanks to her family’s pedigree, but beneath the surface is a raging bitch. And I’m being generous.
“You’d better stay away -”
“That’s enough.” Jonathan almost growls, and I see his face redden. I can’t help the look of surprise on my face because it’s the first time I’ve seen him stand up to his wife.
“What’s going on here?”
We all turn to find Lacy’s sister, Rebecca, staring at us.
“Nothing, dear,” Jonathan says. “Your mother was just welcoming Mr. Tate. You remember him don’t you?”
Rebecca looks between the three of us with skepticism, and then sticks out her hand. “Of course,” her eyes narrow, “How could I forget? It’s nice to see you again. Where’s your wife?”
I clear my throat, and right my tie. “Ex-wife,” I reply, shooting a look at Jonathon. Rebecca’s eyebrows draw up, her mouth making an “oh”.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she says. It sounds genuine, like she really is sorry, but only because it means I can now get her sister back. Seems the only person in my corner right now is their father.
“Well,” Jonathon sighs, “it’s about time the birthday girl showed up. I was beginning to think she wasn’t going to come.”
I turn my head, and spot Lacy at the front door with her friend, Cassandra. Seeing her takes my breath away, and I have to stop myself from rubbing the ache in my chest.
She looks… exquisite.
Her red lace dress molds itself to her lean body, showing off the curves I know are there. The dress is a one-sleeved dress, covering one arm, and exposing the other. Her long brown hair is curled, and clipped to the side, coming over
I greet all the familiar faces, paying no attention to the prying eyes of the women, and make my way towards Lacy’s parents. She isn’t here yet, not that it comes as a surprise. She never could be on time.
Her father, Jonathan, sees me and gives me an outstretched hand. He’s the only one who still greets me politely, without some kind of animosity. I always had the feeling he was the only one who had no issues with me dating his daughter.
“Mr. Forbes, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” I shake his hand as he regards me. He looks older than the last time I saw him, his hair grayer and his eyes tired. It’s obvious the years haven’t been good to him.
I can’t help but wonder if losing Lacy was as hard for him as it was for me. He adores his daughter, and I know the only reason he didn’t stop her from leaving two years ago is because of his wife.
“Jason, I’m glad you could make it. I was worried you wouldn’t receive the invite.”
Getting the invite was more than a surprise, but even so, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to pass up an opportunity to see Lacy, invite or not.
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” I reply, giving him a meaningful look. He knows how I feel about his daughter, and given what he knows, I hope he understands that I have every intention of making her mine again.
A few minutes pass, and then he adds, “I have something I need to discuss with you. Come find me when you have a moment, and we’ll talk in my study.”
I’m about to agree when his wife, Ruth, steps up to his side.
“Mr. Tate,” she greets. Her voice reeks of disdain. “I don’t remember inviting you.” Ruth Forbes has always been a cold woman, heartless even. She expressed her disapproval of my relationship with Lacy from the beginning. Not that Lacy cared. She enjoyed doing anything and everything to piss her mother off. It makes me smile to remember.
Her eyes are hard, cold, and calculating, and a lesser man would cower away. I’m not one of those men.
“Ruth.” Jonathan admonishes his wife, much to her chagrin.
“It’s fine,” I tell him, not at all deterred. “Your husband was kind enough to invite me, not that an invitation would have kept me from you daughter.”
Ruth’s nostrils flare, giving way to the fire burning in her eyes. She may look prim and proper, thanks to her family’s pedigree, but beneath the surface is a raging bitch. And I’m being generous.
“You’d better stay away -”
“That’s enough.” Jonathan almost growls, and I see his face redden. I can’t help the look of surprise on my face because it’s the first time I’ve seen him stand up to his wife.
“What’s going on here?”
We all turn to find Lacy’s sister, Rebecca, staring at us.
“Nothing, dear,” Jonathan says. “Your mother was just welcoming Mr. Tate. You remember him don’t you?”
Rebecca looks between the three of us with skepticism, and then sticks out her hand. “Of course,” her eyes narrow, “How could I forget? It’s nice to see you again. Where’s your wife?”
I clear my throat, and right my tie. “Ex-wife,” I reply, shooting a look at Jonathon. Rebecca’s eyebrows draw up, her mouth making an “oh”.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she says. It sounds genuine, like she really is sorry, but only because it means I can now get her sister back. Seems the only person in my corner right now is their father.
“Well,” Jonathon sighs, “it’s about time the birthday girl showed up. I was beginning to think she wasn’t going to come.”
I turn my head, and spot Lacy at the front door with her friend, Cassandra. Seeing her takes my breath away, and I have to stop myself from rubbing the ache in my chest.
She looks… exquisite.
Her red lace dress molds itself to her lean body, showing off the curves I know are there. The dress is a one-sleeved dress, covering one arm, and exposing the other. Her long brown hair is curled, and clipped to the side, coming over
Similar Books
