Page 31 of Exposed

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The ballroom overflowed with music and chatter as Madison and her best man escort made their way into the reception. As they crossed the grand ballroom, instead of joining everyone at the head table, she floated over to her seat next to Paco, graced by a gown that luminously trailed her every move. The platinum lace was enhanced with rich, jet-black accents, radiating the elegance and energy of the evening. Swooping over, she was obviously on cloud nine, an odd contrast to Paco. He anxiously tapped his fingers on the table, thoroughly annoyed. “Oh, mihermana,” he projected suspiciously.

“Yes, brother dear?” she coyly responded.

“I might be okay with bringing you here because, as you said, the RSVP was already sent, and the seats were already assigned. And, I might even be okay with you not taking your proper seat at the head table to hang out with me. But I’m truly not okay with the two of us stuck all alone at a table for five.” He ripped one of the nameplates from the tablecloth. “Other than yours and mine, the nameplates only say VIP Guest—guests who seem intent on not showing. What exactly is going on?”

Madison just shrugged her shoulders as she brought a glass of bubbly to her lips. As she sipped, she spied the arrival of one of the VIPs. She waved him over. Paco turned to see who she was summoning. To his shock, it was an older, but still very daunting, Dan Taylor. His eyes widened, and he quickly downed his champagne to calm his sudden case of poorly concealed freak-out. He leaned over to Madison, rasping at her in clearly agitated tones. “You didn’t say your father was coming.”

“I didn’t? Oh. Well, he’s coming.” She replied, grabbing the bottle of Moet off the table to pour him another glass, then whisking over to give her dad a big hug as he stepped up. “Dad, I’m so glad you could make it.”

“Well, A.J. hooked me up with this monkey suit, and wearing it to mow the lawn or work on the car seemed a tad much.”

Paco had jumped to his feet upon Dan’s arrival, but then tried to blend into the background while sneaking a few steps back.

“Dad, I want you to meet someone very special.” Madison tugged Paco’s arm, yanking him back towards them. “Dad, this is Mr. Paco Robles. Paco, this is my dad, Dan Taylor.” Somehow, even without the uniform, Dan projected himself as the staunch gunnery sergeant of his glory days. Paco flashed back to his basic training and was sure at any moment he would be commanded to drop and give the man twenty.

Paco couldn’t contain his nervousness, which grew as Dan seemed to glare at him impatiently. As the DJ transitioned to a ballad, his patience suddenly expired. Taking the bull by the horns, he assertively demanded, “Let’s dance.” As Madison moved in to take her father’s elbow, Dan instead grabbed Paco, firmly whisking him to the ballroom floor. Paco desperately looked back to Madison, whose hand now covered her gaping mouth. Her other hand shot a thumbs up at him as she nodded.

In the center of the dance floor, Dan took the lead, and Paco suddenly felt every bit the wallflower selected to dance with the prom king. Or more precisely, the prom king’s father.

“Look, I’m sort of cut-to-the-chase kinda guy.” Paco’s expressive concern clued Dan in that he better cut to the chase fast. “I understand I owe you a debt.”

Paco’s shoulders dropped back, and he stood taller. “No, not at all, sir. You don’t owe me anything. I was just ...” he selected his words carefully, not knowing what Madison has shared. “I was just honoring a fellow servicemember.”

Dan pierced through Paco’s words. “Interesting.” He pondered, squinting at him and studying his demeanor. “The truth, but not exactly the whole truth.”

Paco felt caught in a white lie, and fumbled to explain. “Sir, I’m—”

“No sirs between us.” Dan glared back insulted. “No sir, or mister. You can call me Dan, but—.”

Dan paused for a moment and pulled something out of his blazer pocket. He put it in Paco’s hand. Paco stared at it in disbelief. It was the photo of him, Jack, and Alex—intact and encased in a small silver frame. Before he could ask how, Dan continued.

“—But, you can also call me dad.” Paco’s shock stopped their dancing cold. “Or if that’s too much, how about at least I call you son?” Dan broke the plane of space between them, swooping in for a hug. Paco still had no words, and hugged back very, very hard.

Madison cut in. “Hey, I’m sorry to barge in on the moment, but the other members of our party have arrived.” Madison quickly wiped a tear from Paco’s face and kissed him on the cheek, then pointed to the double-doored entrance, where Alex was leading an elegantly gowned Yasmin into the room.

“Yasmin!” Paco gasped as they approached. “What—”

Alex cut him off. “Don’t worry. I’ve got twelve guards posted throughout, all entrances are covered, and nobody knows she’s here. It’s been a while since you two caught up.” He handed her off to Paco, and they begin to talk in Yasmin’s native tongue as Paco lead her in a dance. Dan quietly made his way to the bar. Madison cuddled into Alex’s arms, the music sweeping them away as well.

Madison enjoyed pressing into Alex’s muscular body as they danced. Captivated by his ruggedly handsome features, her gazing was interrupted when a few voices broke through the background, asking, “Isn’t that Alex Drake?” Alex looked down at her tenderly. Although she insistently projected contentedness, the telltale expressions of her anxiety were slowly climbing, and manifesting on her delicately furrowing forehead. “Hey, how about we get some air?”

Bathed in relief, she replied, “I’d like that.” His arm at the small of her back, he led her to a side balcony. As soon as they walked out, the brisk evening air chilled her into shivering, and her hands flew to wrap her arms as the off-the-shoulder gown provided little coverage. Alex slipped a kiss on her bare shoulder before he draped his jacket around her, his warmth still trapped within.

“Better?” he asked.

“Mmm-hmm,” she smiled. His blazer was a swirl of cologne and his own scent, enticing her to wrap it closer. She savored every bit of his presence swaddled around her.

“I’ve got something for you,” he muttered in her ear from behind. She looked back, and he fixed his eyes to the large stone railing of the balcony. She turned and on it, saw a tiny, distinguished box beckoning to her with its alluring blue.

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