Page 134 of A Vicious Love

Weston walked beside me as we moved through the crowded terrace, his hand touched the small of my back briefly when someone stepped into my path.

We had almost reached the pavilion entrance when the air behind me changed. I felt it before I saw him.

Weston’s hand slipped away from my back.

I turned.

Jamison was walking toward us. He moved through the guests without needing to ask anyone to step aside. People simply did.

Jamison stopped in front of Weston.

“Move.”

Weston’s brows lifted slightly. “Excuse me?”

“I want a minute with my fiancée.”

The word landed heavily.

My fiancée.

After everything he had just said, it made me feel like a title he remembered only when another man stood too close.

Weston did not move immediately. His gaze slid to me. That made Jamison’s expression darken.

“I said move,” Jamison snapped.

“Sienna can decide whether she wants a minute.”

Jamison’s jaw flexed. For one frightening second, I thought he might hit him.

Then his gaze returned to me.

I saw the effort in it. The way he dragged himself back from the edge of violence and forced his voice into something almost controlled

“Sienna,” he said again. “Please.”

The attention of strangers were on us. I couldn’t afford any more attention on their relationship.

Both men looked at me. I hated being the place their tempers met. For no reason. Why was Jamison upset after pushing me to spend time with his cousin.

“It’s okay,” I said, though it wasn’t. “I’ll speak to him.”

Weston studied my face for a moment. Then he nodded once.

We moved to the side of the terrace, near a line of potted citrus trees and white curtains moving in the harbour breeze. It was not private enough for scandal, but private enough for words.

Jamison stopped near the rail. He still held a whiskey glass, though it looked forgotten in his tattooed hand.

His mouth hardened.

I folded my hands around my purse and looked up at him.

“Yes?”

Jamison stared at me as if I had slapped him with it. For a few seconds, he said nothing.

The silence stretched until I had to look away. Jamison dragged a hand through his hair. He looked furious with himself.