Love You Madly(10)

Regrets that hit her hardest whenever she was around Allie McBride. An old friend who had always easily gained adoration and attention from those around her. Treating Allie like shit hadn’t made Meredith feel any better about herself. Quite the contrary. But she hadn’t been able to stop herself.

“Do you know anything about this kid? Bryce?” Travis asked her as he stopped at a red light.

Shame flooded her. Of course she didn’t.

She kept her attention outside the window. “His family is very well respected in the community. His dad, Peter, is on a planning committee with me for the school’s big centennial gala that’s…Saturday night.” Only two days away. Amazing that something that she’d nearly been obsessed with the past few months now seemed so unimportant. “As to Bryce? I don’t know anything about him.”

She sounded pathetic even to her ears. Fortunately he didn’t say anything more.

The address brought them to a massive two-story house with an attached garage that spread across the whole corner of the block. Travis pulled up to the front curb and stared at the monstrosity, disdain evident from the sneer at the corner of his mouth. “What’d you say this guy does for a living?”

“Peter’s family is in the food service business,” she said and stepped out of the car.

She followed the walkway up to the house and was almost to the porch before she realized Travis wasn’t behind her. Instead, he’d strolled up the driveway, slowing to glance at the cars parked inside the garage.

She shook her head. Men. Always checking out the newest and latest model—of cars and women.#p#分页标题#e#

Satisfied, Travis met her at the front door and stood next to her. She pressed the doorbell and a loud pattern of bells sounded though the house. He snorted and shook his head as he muttered something under his breath.

“I get the distinct impression you don’t think much of people with money?”

He glanced at her. “I don’t have a problem with people with money. I have a problem with how some people spend their money. There’s a difference.”

Any response she could give him was cut off when the door opened to a portly older woman Meredith didn’t know but assumed was a maid. “Yes?” she asked.

Meredith quickly took the reins and mentioned her name and her connection with Peter, Bryce’s father, and the fact Bryce went to school with Darcy. “Is Bryce home? I’m looking for my daughter and was hoping he might know where she is.”

The woman gave a brief nod and asked them to wait in the foyer before quietly slipping down the hall.

“Wasteful.” This she distinctly heard Travis say as he looked around him.

Footsteps from the hall brought her attention to the slightly balding man coming their way. In long walking shorts and a Ralph Lauren polo, Peter Bauer was like a cutout of what the rich should look like. Her ex-husband had the exact same shirt.

In contrast, Travis was gauche in his worn jeans and plain black T-shirt that could have come from any discount rack at Walmart. But there was strength in not only his physique—particularly the strong biceps that seemed to flex even as he stood there—but the firmness of his jaw. His steely gaze. The way he looked at her like he knew her better than she knew herself.

Hell. Let’s be honest here. Recognize him for what he was and move on.

Travis was sex.

How had that happened?

“Meredith. What a surprise to see you.”

“Evening, Peter,” she said. “Hope I’m not causing any inconvenience just stopping in like this.” She gave quick introductions and waited patiently as the men made the general niceties and shook hands.

“Please, come in,” Peter said and motioned toward the adjoining room. “Roni is out shopping with Lissa, so I’m afraid it’s just me. Tell me what brings you here. Everything’s in order for the gala, I trust?”

Meredith restrained herself from rolling her eyes. Peter was on the committee, but it was more of a figurehead role. His only real involvement had been to show up for the publicity photos. She, however, was the chairwoman of the committee. If the event failed, it would all come back on her. Which was why she’d been obsessed with the planning for the past year. Some might compare her to a ruthless dictator of a small country. She considered herself efficient.

She sat on the beige chaise while Travis took up a position by the window. “No, everything is on schedule.” She paused, realizing that she hadn’t made any of the daily calls to the florists, the caterers, or the hotel to confirm everything was on target. She would have to hope that all the months of planning and outsourcing up to this point would pull it through. It was no longer her priority. “Actually, I was wondering if Bryce might be home. I need to speak to him.”