"Duncan, be nice. Maya is wearing a dress. I picked it out."
"Thank you, dear sister, because I swear this night isn't going to be easy. That dress from Christmas Eve was bad enough, but this one is over the top sexy. For all your information, I'm not jealous, I'm territorial. I'm protecting what's mine," he growls at me and walks over to put my cape on, then bends down and kisses me.
"I swear, Maya, they'll die, so warn anyone that looks at you."
"Yes, darling." I giggle.
When we arrive, Jonathon takes one look at me and rolls his eyes, he then looks at Ana, and I can see the anger in his eyes. He grabs her arm and drags her off. I can't hear what he's saying but she's nodding and it looks like apologizing. For the rest of the evening he keeps her in the back, except for the one time I see James dance with her. Duncan couldn't get her to dance and he has barely left my side. BothLawrence and Stephan have tried to cut in or ask for a dance, but Duncan sent them packing. Uncle Marcus asks me to dance and as we're gliding across the floor, he pushes me away and into Lawrence's arms. I immediately step back from them both.
"Marcus, what're you doing? I will not dance with Lawrence," I say and stand in place. I look around for Duncan. Marcus is becoming a problem for me. Lawrence is just a pain.
"Yes, you will. He wants to apologize and try to win you back." Marcus then proceeds to walk off.
"I'm not dancing with you, Lawrence."
"Yes, you will, Maya. You don't want to cause a scene," he sneers at me. People already have to dance around us and are giving us a wide berth.
"Want to make a bet. I don't care, and I'll make a scene. Step away from me now." He reaches for me and I grab his hand and twist it behind his back. "I told you to step away. Don't touch me or I'll break this arm." I push him away as I feel Duncan come up behind me.
"Oi, you little wanker, you better get the bloody hell away from my girl. Don't make me say it again." Lawrence walks off and Duncan pulls me into his arms as we finish the dance.
I feel like I'm being watched. The prickle of unease has been happening all night but are more so now. As Duncan and I glide around the dance floor, I look out on everyone to see if anyone stands out. I don't recognize anyone until a lone person at the back of the ballroom, hidden in the shadows, catches my eye. I turn my head to look at him as we glide away to the other side of the dance floor, and he's gone. My unease continues.
At midnight, I kiss Duncan and pray he's in my life next yeartoo. He smiles after our kiss and looks me in the eye. Maybe he's thinking the same. I know I need to protect him though.
"Baby, I want to take you home and show you what this dress has done to me all night," he whispers in my ear.
"Okay, let me say goodbye to James and Ana."
"Jonathon dragged Ana out of here while you and Lawrence were arguing. That was what took me so long to get to you. Father is over there." He points across the room.
"He took her out before midnight?"
"He said she wasn't feeling well. She looked pale, but she always does when she's around him." We walk over to James and I kiss him good night.
Marcus is sitting with him and I just nod to him. I don't trust him anymore. Something has changed between us and he isn't the same man I thought he was. Maybe he's never been the man I thought. I want to think that over more, but I also only want to think of the man who's holding me to him.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
MAYA
New Year's Day we had dinner with Joshua and spent the rest of the day making love. I think we've christened all of the surfaces of his flat now. We don't talk about the attacks or my stalkers. We don't even discuss Derek and Greg, who've only texted me off and on. We're supposed to have dinner with James on Thursday.
Duncan had to go into the office today to talk to Joshua about his next assignment, so I'm at the flat by myself getting my stuff organized and dreading the next couple of days. I decide to show Duncan I can cook and am making a Bolognese sauce with angel hair pasta. I have garlic bread in the oven and my sauce is just about ready.
The doorbell rings and I look into the camera as I palm my gun, checking the security feed. There’s a deliveryman on the other side.
"Can I help you?" I use the intercom.
"I've a delivery for Ms. Maya Aaron."
"How did you get up here?"
"I was told to come through. Do you want the delivery or not? I need a signature."
"Just a moment." Something doesn't feel right. The doorman would have stopped him, and something in the deliveryman’s voice sounds off and bothers me. I debate what to do and know what I must do.
"I will not sign. Put them down or leave."
