“Does that mean you won’t ever visit your god-daughter at my place, for fear of running into Derringer?”
“No, but I’m trying to get beyond that.”
“Then I think this coming Saturday is the perfect way to start. I suggest you change your mind about coming to the Westmoreland Charity Ball. If you see Derringer, no big deal. Now is your time to show him once and for all that you’ve gotten over him and you’re moving on and won’t be hiding out to avoid him.”
Lucia nervously nibbled on her bottom lip. “And what if he’s there with Ashira?”
“And what if he is? It’s his loss. And if he wants her instead of you then more power to him. But if I were you, I would definitely let him see what he gave up. Um, I think you and I should go shopping.”
Lucia wasn’t convinced making an appearance at the charity ball this weekend would be the right thing to do.
“Just because you think one Westmoreland acted like an ass is no reason to ostracize yourself from the rest of us,” Chloe added.
Lucia knew what Chloe just said was true. Gemma had called her this morning and she had yet to call her back. So had Megan and Bailey earlier in the week. They had been friends long before she’d met Derringer. It wasn’t their fault that she had fallen head over heels in love with their brother, a man who would never settle down, fall in love and marry any woman. Except maybe Ashira one day when he got tired of playing the field.
She tossed her pen on the desk and met Chloe’s gaze. “Maybe you’re right. I can’t avoid the other Westmorelands just because my affair with Derringer went sour.”
A smile touched Chloe’s lips. “No, you can’t. So are we going shopping this weekend?”
Lucia chuckled. “Yes, and I know this is more about you than me, Chloe Burton Westmoreland. You’ll do anything, come up with any excuse, to shop.”
Chloe stood, smiling. “Hey, what can I say? A woman has to do what a woman has to do.”
Derringer glanced around. He was surrounded by Westmorelands and he couldn’t help but smile. Once a year all the Westmorelands—from the south and west—got together for a family reunion rotating between Atlanta, rural Montana and Denver. At other times they got together to support each other for various events. Earlier this year they had traveled to Austin to be with their cousins: Cole, Clint and Casey Westmoreland had honored their deceased uncle during the Sid Roberts Foundation annual charity ball. And usually every year there seemed to be a Westmoreland wedding. The last one had been Gemma’s a few months back.
And now all the Atlanta and Montana Westmorelands were gathered here in Denver with their wives for the Westmoreland Charity Ball. They had begun arriving a few days ago and were all accounted for as of noon today when Thorn and Tara had arrived. Thorn had come straight from Bikers’ Week in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
“Thanks for putting us up for the next couple of days, Derringer.”
He glanced around and smiled at his cousins, the twins—Storm and Chase. But then there were several sets of twins in the Atlanta Westmorelands’ group. Storm and Chase’s father had been a twin, and his cousins, Ian and Quade, were twins as well.
“Hey, no problem. If there’s anything you need, just let me know.” At that moment his cell phone went off and when he saw it was Chloe he smiled. “Excuse me while I take this.”
He went outside to sit on the porch. “Yes, Chloe?”
“You owe me big-time, Derringer, and I swear, if you screw up, I’m coming after you myself.”
He believed her. “Trust me, I’ve got everything planned. I’m just grateful you got Lucia to agree to come to the charity ball.”
“It wasn’t easy. Ashira and her girls are out spreading lies, claiming that when you left the cookout, you took her to Derringer’s Dungeon and got busy.”