When he was a kid, he''d been a little troublemaker-snipping off the pigtails that little girl had worked so hard to grow. Mrs. Zimmerman had been furious, ready to give him a good scolding, but it was the girl herself who pleaded on his behalf. She''d insisted it didn''t matter; she was pretty enough that even losing her pigtails wouldn''t make a difference. She wasn''t upset at all.
She was such a sweet, clever little thing. He''d always spoiled her like a kid sister -until, sadly, she disappeared one day.
Vince''s enthusiasm for Jessica probably stemmed from the fact that her gentle nature reminded him of his own little sister.
Yates took a drag from his cigarette just as Timothy arrived. "Why aren''t you inside?"
Yates raised his hand, cigarette pinched between his fingers. "Didn''t you see I''m out here smoking? Want one?"
He pulled out his pack, shook one loose, and offered it to Timothy.
Timothy took it.
The night was seductive, the outdoor lights casting a dim glow. Two striking, distinguished men stood cloaked in pale blue smoke a sight for sore eyes. "You know, Timothy, I''ve noticed you seem to have a soft spot for gentle girls." Timothy blew out a stream of smoke, his sharp brows arching, voice cool. "Do I?" "When we were kids, you were pretty fond of Vince''s little sister. Remember when we yed house? You even dragged her over to divorce me. Forgotten that?"
"That was ages ago. Does it even count?"
Yates smirked. "Maybe not as kids. But what about Sheter on?"
She had been raised as a properdy in the Howard family, her personality mild and refined.
Still, Yates thought, that was all learned. Vince''s little sister-she''d been a natural from the start, soft through and through.
"There''s no point dwelling on the past."
Timothy''s eyes were cool, betraying little emotion.
"If the distant past doesn''t count, and the recent past doesn''t matter, then what about now?"
Timothy pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Yates didn''t press. "Your wife''s inside. I just bumped into your sister, by the way. Judging by her attitude..."
Yates paused, clicking his tongue. "Your wife''s not much of a talker. If someone bullies her, she doesn''t fight back. Looks pretty pitiful, honestly. I bet she''s had a rough time with your family, huh?”
"Don''t talk nonsense."
Yates walked over to the nearest trash can, tossed his cigarette, and came back to p Timothy on the shoulder. "The way a man treats his wife sets the tone for how everyone else does, Timothy. I''m not blind, you know. As your friend, let me give you a little advice-don''t go too far, or you''ll end up regretting it."
Timothy took a deep drag from his cigarette. "You talk like you''re some kind of authority on marriage."
Yates''s handsome face lit up with confidence. "I may not be married, but I haven''t exactly been living like a monk these past years."
After all, Yates had been in the film industry for a while, and if there was one thing that ce didn''tck, it was women. Girlfriends came and went.
"Timothy, Yates."
She and Kane arrived, interrupting the conversation.
The four of them headed inside together.
Just then, Timothy''s phone rang. He stepped aside to answer.
Yates, She, and Kane had just reached the entrance when Jessica came hurrying out, nearly bumping into them.
"Jessica?"
She''s surprise was genuine. She knew Timothy had never brought Jessica to any public events in all these years.
Seeing Jessica here tonight, dressed so beautifully-had Timothy given his permission? Was this his way of making their marriage public?
Jessica gave She and Kane a cold, sidelong nce. Her eyes lingered on Yates for a moment, and she nodded at him with a polite smile, as if in greeting, then walked swiftly past them and out the door.
"Tch." Kane snorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Yates, Mrs. Lawson sure is friendly with you. I just don''t get you and Vince sometimes. She''s known us for years, but the minute she shows up, you two fall over yourselves to take her side. Honestly, it''s ridiculous."