Dean turns rigid, his hold tightens and his heart thumps in my ear. Then his breath comes out in a low warning growl.
Pushing off his chest, I twist and sigh. “Carter?” Too tired to deal with him, I lean against Dean again and allow him,the poor injured man, to keep me standing. “What are you doing here, Carter? It’s rude to crash someone else’s wedding.”
“I need to talk to you for a moment.” His eyes flicker past me to Dean. “In private.”
“No, I don’t?—”
“I insist.” He closes the space between us and grabs my hand, yanking me away from Dean and stealing the breath from my lungs. Then he drags me across the dance floor.
I cast a desperate glance back in Dean’s direction, only to be caught up in his gritted jaw. His swollen frame. His anger, pointed not at me, but at the cop who thinks himself an exception to my rule.
Despite how goofy and arrogant I’ve always thought him to be, he’s better behaved than Carter is, staying put rather than pounding on a cop in the middle of Mel’s wedding.
Frustrated, I jerk Carter to a stop near the bar, a mere ten feet from where Elena flirts with her new friend, then I tear my hand from his and slam it to my hip. “What the hell are you doing, Carter?” I slap him away when he attempts to grab me a second time. “You weren’t invited tonight! You shouldn’t be here.”
“Ihadto talk to you.” He rushes back in, stopping only when his toes touch mine and his warm breath hits my chin. “I need to speak with you in private. It’s important, Anna.”
“No! I?—”
“It’s life or death,” he growls, wrapping his palm around my bicep and surprising me into silence. “You’re not safe with him, Anna.”
“With Dean?” Humorless laughter bubbles from deep in my chest. “Jesus, Carter. Just give it up already!”
“No, I really mean it.” He digs into his pocket and snatches out his phone, unlocking the device with a swipe of his thumb. He scrolls for a beat, searching for whatever it is he wants to show me, then he turns the phone and presents…
Narrowing my eyes, I inch closer and read.
Assault and battery.
Assault with a deadly weapon.
Stalking and intimidation.
Contravention of an ADVO.
Sexual assault.
Threats to kill or cause serious harm.
“He’s not safe, Anna.” He lowers his phone and searches my eyes. “He’s the worst of the worst. He’s already spent time behind bars, now he’s here, and he got you lying for him within the first hour.”
“He’s not…” I press a hand to my belly and glance over my shoulder at the man who stands amongst dancing couples. The powerful, charming fighter who wears a suit and makes a commitmentphobe considermore. “No.” I don’t believe it. Not for a single second. I shake my head and bring my focus back to Carter. “You’re mistaken.”
“I’m not mistaken!” he snarls, his voice a whispered roar. “Whatever happened, however he came into your life, he set it up to happen that way. He targeted you, Anna. He wormed his way into your home and convinced you to lie for him.”
“No, I?—”
“He tricked you!” He shakes my arm, jerking my head and rattling my teeth. “This isn’t you. This woman you’ve become is not the intelligent, ball-busting, courtroom-commanding siren I know.”
“I haven’t become anyone!” I tear free from his grip and growl. “I’m me, Carter. I’m Anna Maxwell, and I’m exactly who I’ve always been.”
Except now I have a Christmas tree in my living room. A beautiful memory from the center of town last night. A man in my bed. A small shift in my heart. And a door that wasn’t open before, now cracked just enough to allow a sliver of light through.
“I-I haven’t changed,” I lie. “And I especially haven’t changed because of him.”Double lie.
“I’ll email you the file.” He taps his phone screen, furiously jamming his thumb against the delicate glass. “Read it. See what I see.” Hitting send, he drops his hands and meets my eyes. “This isn’t about you and me, Anna. It’s not apick mething, or anI’m mad because yousworeyou weren’t bringing a date to the wedding.” He leans closer, the pores on the bridge of his nose close enough for me to study. “I’m trying to keep you safe, and I’m especially trying to do it discreetly, because I know this day means a lot to your friend.” He inches back, his eyes burning into mine. “Just say the word and I’ll have him removed.”
“No, I?—”
