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Enough waiting.

Connor and Mary are gone.

The blonde lingers at the edge of the crowd, one slim hand wrapped around her drink. Alone and unnoticed by anyone but me.

It’s time to introduce myself.

I finish the remainder of my whiskey and set the glass down with a sharp clink, pushing off the railing and making my way through the crowd, never taking my eyes off her. It’s ridiculous to feel any kind of possession over a woman I’ve just seen. Perhaps the whiskey has muddled my thinking more than I realized.

No matter. I’m intrigued now, and I have a hunch she’s exactly what I’ve been searching for. And I currently have no prospects for my fake engagement. She’s likely the best option.

My eyes narrow as a man approaches her from behind, his hands gliding over her hips as he presses himself against her back.

I tense, raking my neck to get a better view while fighting through the crowd. Her lips move, likely telling him to back off, but he leans in closer, ignoring her protests.

Anger simmers beneath my skin as I walk faster. The man’s grip tightens, and she struggles against him, her cries lost in the deafening music. His hands grope her breast, and I roll up my sleeves.

This fucker.

I’m a few strides away as she stomps on his foot, breaking free of his grasp and stumbling forward. Without thinking, I reach out, catching her against my chest with one arm wrapped around her waist.

Up close, I witness the wild panic in her eyes, her chest heaving, and her body trembling. She doesn’t protest as I pull her against me, glaring at the scumbag over her head.

“There you are, love.” My voice is hushed as I brush my lips against the delicate shell of her ear. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

The man’s expression sours. With a muttered apology, he melts back into the crowd. Smart man, he doesn’t press his luck.

“Are you alright?” I turn to face the blonde fully, expecting her to pull away now that the threat has passed. But she doesn’t move, holding my gaze with those mesmerizing green eyes. There’s a challenge there, an unspoken question on her lips.

Oh, this one is going to be fun to play with.

Chapter 6

Alone on the edge of the dance floor, I watch the people.

Out of nowhere, a man approaches from behind me, his hands gripping my hips as he dances to the music. “No need for a lovely lady like you to stand alone here.”

Repulsion crawls over my skin as I stiffen. “Don’t touch me.”

“Come now, don’t be like that.” His breath smells like alcohol, and his fingers dig into my skin, pulling me flush against his body.

Disgusting.

“Let go of me!” I try to push him away, struggling to free myself, but his hold is too strong, and the loud music drowns out my voice.

No one notices, too caught up in their own world, and Mary is too far away.

The man chuckles, his breath hot against my neck. “Playing hard to get, are we? I like that.” One hand creeps up to cup my breast, and I see red, stomping down on his foot with all my might.

“Bitch.” His grip loosens enough for me to wrench away, stumbling forward.

A strong arm wraps around my waist, steadying me in an instant. I cling to it like a lifeline as it pulls me closer to a wall of muscles in a suit. Shielding me.

A male voice whispers into my ear, “There you are, love.” This time, it is everything but unpleasant or repulsive. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

With my chest heaving, my gaze shifts from the arm around my waist to a pair of stormy gray eyes peering out from behind a black mask.

My savior is tall and broad-shouldered, his firm jaw shadowed by stubble.

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