Dating A Saint Read Online Free Page B

won’t want to miss Sydney being Alexa’s Man of Honor . He’s designing their outfits. I’m sure the wedding will be the fashion talk of the town for at least a week afterwards.”
    “You wearing one of Sydney’s suits?” Jim asked conversationally.
    “Nope,” Casey said flatly. “I’m wearing my uniform. It’s not officially sanctioned at my rank, but I don’t give a damn. It’s between me and Alexa. Nothing against Sydney’s suits though—they’re awesome, and I own two of them. But I’m going to let Kaiser model the SydneyB line at the wedding.”
    Jim nodded as he laughed, the grin never leaving his face. They both loved teasing Ben about his clothes. “I hate to miss what is sure to be the fashion show of the year, but I think I might have to decline for personal reasons—nothing to do with you or Alexa.”
    Casey stopped packing his equipment for a moment to glance at Jim. “If you’re worried about Lauren McCarthy, don’t. I think her interest in you has been resolved. She has a date for the wedding. You should be safe from her attentions.”
    “Lauren’s dating?” Jim repeated the words, not liking the way they vibrated off his tongue. “I hadn’t heard she was seeing anyone.”
    “Don’t think there is just one. She’s been working her way through quite a few guys from what I hear,” Casey said, turning away so Jim wouldn’t see the look of mischief he was never good at hiding. “Seems our little, quiet Lauren had an emotional blowup during dinner last week. I’m not sure what prompted it, but she starting swearing at Regina and giving Alexa the bird in front of everyone at Lucinda’s. After that happened, Lauren changed—suddenly started dating two or three guys. I think Alexa and Regina are getting a little worried about what Lauren might be doing with all those men.”
    Jim closed his eyes, took some deep breaths, and fisted his hands in his pockets to keep them constrained. His mood was moving toward violence, and he could feel the jealousy building. But this was what he had wanted Lauren to do, what he all but ordered her to do, wasn’t it? He’d told her to find someone else to date, and it looked like she was doing it at last.
    Damn it all to hell anyway.
    “Jim?” Casey asked, struggling not to smile at the murderous look on Jim’s face. “You okay?”
    “What? Oh, yeah. Just—just tired,” Jim said. “It’s been a hard couple of weeks. Kaiser’s wedding seems like an eternity ago, doesn’t it.”
    Casey snorted. “Tell that to Kaiser. He’s still all mushy over it. I can barely get him to stop talking about Regina. Well, listen—get some rest and think about coming to the wedding. Alexa and I both would really like you to be there,” Casey said sincerely.
    “Sure,” Jim said. “I’ll think about it.”
    But he probably wouldn’t. It was going to be hard to think about anything else except the fact Lauren was dating other men.
    *** *** ***
    The next day, Jim headed to the country club just to have a drink and relax. Or at least that was the story he told himself. When he asked and was told Lauren hadn’t been by in several days, Jim refused to panic.
    Not sick, he was told. She was just busy. Lauren was busy.
    Fine, Jim thought. That was fine. He was busy too.
    Besides, it was none of his business—absolutely not his concern if she was too busy dating to come by the club. What was it to him if Lauren was planning to let some other guy enjoy the sexual fire Jim had started burning in her and refused to put out? He’d passed up his chance with her, willingly and knowingly.
    “This is bullshit, Gallagher,” he said aloud, chastising himself as he headed back to his office.
    And it was just that, plain and simple. Jim admitted to himself that he had absolutely no right to feel possessive of Lauren McCarthy, but he still did. Was he supposed to stand by and let her keep looking for a guy to give her what she wanted from him? Eventually, Lauren was