Page 62 of Ruthless Love

“You too, Alan.”

I cross my arms tightly over my chest while Austin plants his hands on his hips with an annoyed glance at the counter. After pulling in a controlled breath, he lets it out through his nose.

“So, you do have your phone. And you seem reasonably okay ... at least enough to answer any one of my dozens of calls and texts. You want to tell me what’s going on?”

Thankfully, I’m saved by the bell as my phone rings. At the same time, Austin’s goes off too.

While I busy myself answering mine, I can’t help the angry look I throw his way, trying to get a glimpse at his. Margot’s sister, Jaclyn, speaks so fast, I’m not sure I’ve heard it right.

Before she can say it again, Austin disconnects his call and says, “Coop’s about to propose to Margot. We have to leave. Now.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

EVIE

No matter how much I protested, Austin was determined to get in my car with me whether I liked it or not. And truthfully, even though it’s too late now, I’m still undecided on the matter.

But the ride is mostly quiet. After he hurled a single question my way and I refused to answer, we’ve been in a silent stalemate for the entirety of the two-mile drive that feels like it’s taking forever.

Do I want to tell you what’s going on?Really? No. I want to twist your balls into that precious Prusik head knot and kick them to your freaking throat.

Fuming, I keep my eyes on the road, practically clipping the side mirror off a parked car when I slip into an open parking space at the Long Multinational headquarters.

Stone-faced, Austin says nothing, but holds the door to the building open for me, forcing me to brush by the solid heat of his body. Tears well up as I rush inside, pulling away from the power of his hand that makes a move for my arm.

Watching Coop’s proposal floors me, and my emotions reach an epic high before crashing to the floor. Margot’s love language must be having its buttons pushed, because there she is, pushing them right back as the world around them vanishes, and every reporter and photographer captures each romantic kiss.

My sloppy sobs keep in time with Jean’s, and as far as the world knows, my outrageous display of emotions is for the happy couple. And to a small extent, it is. But Austin’s gentle hand on my shoulder sends waves of disappointment and sadness—and regret—through me until the shadows of all three smother any remnant of joy left in my heart.

There’s a small uproar as Coop announces a waiting jet, and Margot guesses they’re heading to Vegas. Turns out, we’re heading to Vegas. All of us.

The heart that shattered into a million pieces moments ago races with the anxious discomfort of being in a jet for an hour with the man whose hand is still gripping my shoulder.

Flustered, I tear myself from the warmth of his hold and maneuver through the crowd, finding Jaclyn and Richard. Desperate, I plead with them.

“I know you two will take a separate jet, and you’ll probably be fucking the whole flight to Sin City. But if I promise to stay locked in the bathroom with my earbuds in, can I please ride with you?”

Richard glances behind me, and I stop short of explaining. With the heat of Austin’s body against my back, I stiffen and resort to pleading with my eyes.

“Evie,” Austin says, his voice low in my ear. “Can I have a word?”

“Actually ...” Richard steps in, sweeping me between himself and Jaclyn. “We were just about to steal Evie to join us for the ride. And we really must go.”

Without a word of explanation, Richard and Jaclyn pull me away.

Cheeky as always, Jaclyn says to me, “And keep the volume on those earbuds on high.”

To avoid the temptation of looking back, I rest my head on her shoulder, wrapping my hands lightly around both of their waists as we walk away.

“Anything for you two,” I say, grateful for the alternative to being trapped between my heart and a hard place.

Chapter Thirty-Six

EVIE

Nooo!

When the pretty pink and champagne-colored bouquet of peonies flies at me at the wedding reception, I react out of sheer panic. With the reflexes of an obstinate wildcat, I hot-potato that sucker right at Jaclyn, who delightedly catches it before Richard dips her into a swoon-worthy kiss. One that ties my tummy in knots and feels like a million rubber-band snaps to the heart.

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