Page 131 of Foreplay on Words

She smirked as she leaned down toward me.

“If you’re not here to support the book, why are you wasting my time?” I growled.

“You’re going to realize how much time you’ve wasted soon enough,” she laughed, but it sounded forced.

“Quit with the cryptic bullshit,” I snapped as I straightened my back and looked directly into her dead eyes.

“My name is Simone Woods.” She put one hand on her hip and looked down at me like she was something to be respected. I knew exactly who this bitch was, and she was evil trash.

“I think it’s time you left,” I told her as I glanced toward the hotel security in the corner.

“Oh, I got what I came here for,” she said as she pulled a small recorder from the pocket of her dress.

Nathan quickly grabbed her wrist and flipped the small device down into his other hand. She looked at him with mild panic, but he simply shrugged as he pocketed the device and gave her a challenging look.

“I don’t know what you think you’ve accomplished tonight, but you need to leave before Evan realizes you’re here,” I told her quickly.

“Protecting your precious pet?”

“I don’t need to protect him, he’s a grown man, but I’m not subjecting him to your little mind games,” I scoffed as I narrowed my eyes at her. He still hadn’t told me everything about their past, but she clearly manipulated him and destroyed his self-esteem.

“You’re a little late. I think we’ve been spotted.” She laughed as she looked toward one of the doors entering the ballroom.

“Nathan, can you make sure security escorts her out?” I asked as I watched the door close with a shell-shocked Evan standing on the other side of it.

“I’d be happy to,” he responded flatly as he nodded toward a security guard who had stepped closer to where we were standing. He’d obviously sensed we’d encountered someone here to cause trouble.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll leave. I only wanted to see the tramp who managed to get Evan to grow a pair.”

I didn’t even think about my actions until I was left shaking my hand after my fist landed squarely in the center of her perfectly made-up face.

“Ahh! I think you broke it,” Simone shrieked as she held onto her nose, a trickle of blood spilling down her lips.

A small crowd had turned to look toward us, Simone held securely by one of the security guards while another looked at my hand.

Held firmly by her upper arm, Simone was escorted out a side door while Isobel talked to the DJ. Not everyone in the room had seen my fisticuffs routine, and apparently, loud music was her method of distraction.

“Holy shit, Chase! I knew taking you to kickboxing was a good idea,” Kristine cheered as she stepped close to my side. The security guard returned my hand but advised me to put some ice on it to prevent swelling.

“I’ve never hit anyone before.” I blinked over at her, still a little in shock.

“Well, you got the job done with that one,” she told me with comically wide eyes. I scanned the room, hoping to see Evan return—I knew I needed to find him. Kristine was talking, but I didn’t really hear what she was saying.

Looking back toward the exit several minutes later, I saw a disappointed Sam walking toward us.

“Where’s Evan?” I asked as he stepped up next to Kristine and me.

“Um...” Sam scratched at the back of his neck nervously.

“Shit, Spamela, I gave you one job,” Kristine sighed.

“I tried, but he’s fast,” he looked over at her and then turned his wary eyes to me.

“Who’s fast?” My heart beat erratically in my chest as I looked between them.

“Evan. He took off in a cab.”

“What do you mean he took off in a cab?” My voice was a little bit frantic at this point. Evan saw me talking to his bitchy ex, and now he was gone. I couldn’t even imagine what was running through his head.

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