“Whoa, whoa, whoa, I was just saying hi, no need to get testy.” Baldy’s hands lifted in mock surrender.
Jenna didn’t know what happened next, and she couldn’t see Deacon’s face, but the man walked back to his seat, hands still in the air as if he were being held at gunpoint, laughing, sort of, trying to make light of the whole thing.
When Deacon turned around and she saw the look in his eyes, then she understood. He looked like he was going to murder, kill, and maim. He was controlled, but that made it worse, his chest was rising and falling.
He asked, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She glanced around and noticed that people at the tables, at least half of which were filled with Hope Falls residents, had become aware of the exchange.
“Mikayla, can you grab?—”
Mikayla was already handing Jenna’s purse to her.
“It was so good meeting you.” Jenna gave Mikayla a hug, genuinely hoping she could keep in contact with her.
“I’ll Instagram you,” Mikayla said as she wrapped her in a quick embrace.
“Oh, good, okay.” Jenna was relieved they’d stay in touch as she turned and walked as quickly as her red bottoms would carry her to the first door she saw out of the ballroom. It was a side door, but she just needed to be away from the people.
She was embarrassed. She hated scenes. Her mom made scenes. She made scenes at her school when she’d show up drunk, or on the back of boyfriends’ motorcycles, or in Daisy Dukes and tube tops.
Jenna didnotmake scenes. Ever. She pushed through the doors and felt tears forming in her eyes. As soon as she realized she was at the end of a long, empty hall, she turned and saw another door, one that looked like it ledoutside, she pushed it and saw that it was just a cement slab and fence, maybe a smoking area.
“Shit.” She turned and stepped back inside and nearly face-planted into Deacon’s chest. Her hands flew up. “Ahh!” she gasped in start. She hadn’t even realized he followed her. "What are you doing? Go back in there.”
“No,” he answered calmly. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Go back. It’s your table.”
He looked at her like she was crazy. “I’m not going back. I don’t give a shit about that table.”
“Mikayla’s in there.”
“Mikayla can handle herself.”
“Oh, and you don’t thinkIcan?” she snapped defensively. “You think I needyouto protect me?”
“I didn’t say that.” He didn’t bite back. He responded calmly.
Her arms gestured wildly towards the door they’d exited from the ballroom. “So what was that about in there?”
“That was about a man who was my guest deciding it was okay to put his hands on the CEO of my company while trying to grab my date.”
“Oh.” Jenna hadn’t even realized that he’d touched Mikayla. But it made sense because she was in front of her.
Jenna looked down, ran her hands down her dress, and more to herself than anyone mumbled, “I shouldn’t have worn this.”
“Don’t fucking say that.” Deacon didn’t say that in a sweet way. He was no longer calm. In fact, he sounded…angry.
Jenna looked up.Yep, he looked angry.
“First of all, you look insanely beautiful. Secondly, what you are wearing is entirely appropriate for the event.And lastly, and most importantly, that man is responsible for his behavior. Ineverwant to hear you take responsibility for the bad behavior of a man again.”
Holy shit. That might be the hottest thing any man had ever said to her. Her inner walls were clenching with need. The beacon was back, and it was definitely calling his name.
Without saying another word, Deacon stepped past her and pushed the door that she’d just pushed and walked outside. She just stood there staring at him.
“Are you coming?” he asked.
