His rifle lowered.
Then—he turned.
Looked straight at her.
Bea froze.
Green eyes held her there. Like a trigger he hadn’t pulled yet. For ten of the longest seconds of her life.
Bea didn’t hear the murmurs ripple through the lawn. Didn’t register Isabel’s whispered commentary.
Her focus was on staying completely still. Movement would only make it worse. Would give him something to track. Rafael Griffin was a hunter, and she wasn’t about to play prey.
Then, without a word, he handed off the weapon and walked away.
Georgina let out a low breath. “What. Was that?”
“You think his parents missed that?” Naomi whispered.
Isabel’s tone was sharper. “You think Gage’s parents did?”
“They’re waiting to see what Gage does next,” Georgie murmured.
Bea’s blood was roaring in her ears.Everyonewas watching now.
She looked toward the far end of the course. Gage was already moving. The crowd didn’t part. He made them. That kind of control didn’t wait for space. It took it.
His jaw was set, his walk surgical. Like the entire world had narrowed to this one task: reaching her.
When he did, the air cracked.
He reached for her hand. She gave it. No wavering. He leaned in, lips brushing just beneath her ear, a place only he knew, and her knees nearly gave. “Let’s go.”
It wasn’t for show. It wasn’t for them. It was for her. He was steadying the floor beneath her feet.
She went.
RAFAEL
Rafael didn’t stop walking until the crowd dissolved behind him. Until the sounds softened, blurred by distance.
He moved with purpose, not haste. Men like him didn’t run from what they started.
He’d seen her face yesterday. Walked into the cellar. Known immediately it was Catherine who’d made her look that way.
He still had no right to fix it. But he could remind her, and anyone watching, that he gave a damn.
A shadow broke off from the trees.
Laurent. Hands in his pockets, smeared in mud. “Well,” he drawled. “That was subtle.”
Rafael said nothing.
Laurent studied him. “Five bullseyes and a direct hit on the girl.Bien joué.”
Still, no response.
Laurent glanced back toward the field, where Gage had already collected Bea.
