They were silent for a moment, and then nodded. Brent pointed a finger at me, blatantly telling me to stay put, neither saying anything because their gazes said enough. They didn’t move to join their group, though. I sighed inwardly. They were something else.
I schooled my features and nodded so they would leave and get their stupid meeting over with. Both touched my shoulder before following the crew away from our table. I watched them leave. It was really a lovely sight. My eyes travelled over their entire crew as they walked out the ballroom doors. They sure were an impressive group.
“What was that about?” Ally asked.
She had no clue that we were followed every day. Brent and Cole and I had decided not to tell her. She was a feisty woman, but she was also soft at heart. She didn’t have a whole lot of dark inside her. Telling her would have just worried and scared her.
So, I lied, stating, “They’re the overprotective and jealous sort.” I shrugged, and tapped into knowledge that Ally had. “You know how Brent can be.” When she nodded I added, “Cole’s just as bad.”
She rolled her eyes and filled her empty Champaign glass.
Sam was watching the dance floor, wistfully, and she asked Ally, “Are you drunk enough yet to get out there on the dance floor with me?”
Ally held up a finger and downed half her glass. She lowered it and her smile was a little tipsy. “Just about.” She finished off the glass in two gulps before burping delicately behind her hand.
I grinned.
Ally had anxiety about dancing with another woman in front of people. She always had. It stemmed back to her parents rejection of her life style. She wasn’t in the closet, but she wasn’t too many steps out of it either. It always took liquid courage for her to get out there in front of a group with someone of the same sex. She hadn’t changed on that account even all these years later. I was happy to see that Sam understood her apprehension and let her indulge a little before pushing too hard.
“Okay. Let’s go,” Ally said in a hurry, her own gaze both yearning and worried as she stood up and watched the dancing couples.
“Can you hold these for us?” Sam asked, grabbing Ally’s clutch and then held hers out to me also. She leaned in and whispered, “We may be awhile. Once I actually get her out there it’s hard to get her off.”
I smiled, knowing that was also true. Once Ally let her worries disappear, she was a force to be reckoned with on the dance floor. I took their teeny purses and dumped them in my bag-o-purse that was slung over my shoulder and waved Sam away so she could catch up with Ally, who was already halfway to the twirling pairs. Sam grinned and raced off, all English polish gone as she hurried after her lover. Ally turned and smiled at her with so much love that I knew that they were a great fit.
I watched from at our table, sipping my water. The party was livening up even more now that everyone had had plenty of time to imbibe in the free spirits. When people hear free, they often overdo it. It was predictable and a little comical to watch from my sober state.
I was studying Mr. Fresby’s assistant – guess he hadn’t fired her for leaving early on the days he wasn’t in the office, who was unashamedly hitting on a man I vaguely recognized as working in their marketing department when I felt the heat of another body behind me. I shifted in my seat, thinking the waiters hadcome to pick up our dishes. But quickly the heat intensified, and I stilled as peppermint breath wafted over my shoulder. It choked me so badly I wanted to scream.
“Have you missed me, pumpkin?” a man’s deep voice purred next to my ear.
I felt the blood drain from my face and my glass of water dropped from my hand to the carpet, splattering chilly water on my legs and rolling under the silver tablecloth. Time paused in a shadow of unwanted memories. My chest constricted and I couldn’t breathe. This couldn’t be happening. I wasn’t ready yet. I didn’t want to go.
Slowly, I placed my hands on the table and pushed up to stand on trembling feet. I gagged back the sobs and screams and vomit that wanted to escape, only by sheer force of will. Jerkily, I turned to verify who it was, in vain hope I was mistaken, keeping one hand on the table for support. It didn’t help much. My knees still buckled under me in terror at the sight of him.
Jonah Allen Boydson. My fiancée.
Chapter Nineteen
JONAH ALLEN Boydson’s bulky, steelarm slid around my waist, catching me and tucking me in close to him.
“Aw, you have missed me,” Jonah crooned, stroking my cheek with a large, strong hand.
I stared up at him in horror. To this sadistic and corrupt and lethal man that was so deluded and insane that he thought I would ever marry him. I pushed at his chest, even knowing it was useless. He never did anything without strategically thinking ten steps ahead of his opponent. If he was here, then I was doomed.
I had been from the moment that Daddy had struck a deal with the devil.
I couldn’t tear my eyes from him, lost in fear. Most would think he was exceptionally handsome. Short chestnut hair, military style haircut, grey eyes, sculpted lips, chiseled jaw, mid-thirties, a smidge over six feet tall, and muscle bound. The kind of guy you would see on the cover of a romance novel. But all I saw was brutal hatred existing in a molded body made for bringing pain. I had dubbed him “The Pain Bringer” when I had first met him a few months ago, in one of Daddy’s many misguided attempts at matchmaking the two of us together, and it fit him perfectly.
“Let me go,” I whispered hoarsely, still pressing against his chest and glancing around for anyone who could help me.
“Oh no, pumpkin,” he stated gently, but his eyes were steel bits of grey searing me. “And I would quit making a scene if I were you. After all, you wouldn’t want any harm to come to your precious boyfriends would you?”
I sucked in a harsh breath and stilled my movements.
He chuckled like the heartless animal that he was. “Oh, yes. I know all about them. You sure have disappointed me with your actions recently.” He paused, leering down at me with hatred and desire and loathing. “But, you are going to make it up to me tonight.”
I choked on a sob, shaking as his intent became very clear.
