Page 66 of Beck and Call

She shrugged one slim, bare shoulder. "Once I thought I was too young for you, but I guess I wasn't young enough it seems. You always did like your secrets."

Matilda turned to Evie. "He's pretty tight lipped about most things, isn't he? I mean he doesn't exactly broadcast where he goes every Friday night. Most women tend to object when their fiancé visits their high school sweetheart for hours every week. My guess is you don't know about it."

Evie went rigid under my arm, but otherwise there was no indication she was bothered by what she just heard. "Well, he has a good reason for visiting. I trust him. I don't have to know every detail to know he wouldn't hurt me in the way you're implying. Now, if you'll excuse us, we really should speak to more of our guests before they start leaving."

"What a vile bitch," she muttered under her breath. "How could you have dated a shrew like that?" she asked once we were far enough away.

"I went on a couple of arranged dates with her. I didn't date her."

I didn't miss saying she trusted me, even if she didn't know everything. It was what I should have given her. When we were far enough away she quickly rounded on me. "I'm assuming whatever she was referencing is about this person you let down that you've never wanted to talk to me about?"

I nodded. This was it, the moment I'd been fearing. How I handled this conversation could very well determine if I got to live my life loving Evie up close or from afar. The only thing I was certain of was I loved her, and I'd fucked up so many times in the months we'd known each other.

"My first question is why does that bitch get to know and I don't?"

I shook my head. "I have absolutely no clue how she knows anything. We actually don't go back very far at all. I mean, our parents are friends, and I guess I would run into her from time to time since I was a teenager, but I never spent much time with her. We went out a few times after I graduated from college, but as you can see, she's vile and I could barely make it through dinner. Dates my parents insisted on."

"I'm tired. Can you make my apologies? I need to go home and stop thinking so much for a little while," she said, and started to leave.

I grabbed her elbow, holding her in place. "I feel like you're not saying goodnight but goodbye."

"Beck, I'm tired. Just let it sit for tonight."

Colter stepped out of the ballroom. He seemed to quickly assess that things were breaking down. He tipped his chin toward his daughter, then motioned toward the door. After thirty years I knew what he was signaling me to do. I just hoped he knew what he was doing, because this was going to piss her off.

Gently, I hoisted her up. "I'll let you rest, but you aren't running away from me. We are going to go somewhere and work this out."

"It isn't running when you push me away over and over again." She squealed when I started moving quickly toward the door. "You aren't seriously kidnapping me, are you?"

Thinking about what Colter said, I told her, "Think of it as a hostile takeover."

Chapter Twenty-Three

Evie

"Put me down, you idiot!" I screamed when we cleared the building. I'm not sure why I waited until we were out of earshot of our party guests.

I also decided that my new father was dead to me. I saw him standing there, and he did nothing as Beckett swooped me off my feet and carried me away.

Beckett didn't seem to know what he was doing after we made it outside. At least I knew he hadn't premeditated my abduction. If there was one thing he desperately needed to do, it was to step away from the rigidly controlled version of himself. It wasn't who he really was, but he was terrified of what would happen if he let go. Apparently, letting go meant committing a felony.

I started to relax, thinking he'd put me down now that he realized it was foolish and impulsive. Certainly two things he avoided being at all costs. Then Colter pulled up in his SUV, and I realized he had no intention of letting me walk away from him.

My asshole father got out and ran around the car to open the door to the back seat. "Let's go before your parents come out."

"What the actual fuck is happening? Why are you helping him?" I demanded of Colter.

He climbed into the driver's seat and looked back at me. "I'm helping you. I'm still a bit mad at him myself, but I know he's a good man. I wasn't there for you growing up, but my grandchild's father is going to be. If he says or does anything to hurt you again, I'll help you bury him where no one will find his body."

I sat back and crossed my arms. It wasn't like I was in any danger. Well, not physical danger; my heart was a totally different story. "I'm going to hold you to that, daddy dearest."

He scowled at me in the rearview mirror. "I feel like I'm experiencing your teenage years all at once."

"Oh, this isn't me being a petulant teenager. This is a hundred percent hostile adult woman. It's what's to be expected when your father helps his best friend kidnap you."

Beckett tried hard not to laugh, but a low chuckle still escaped.

"You think that's funny?" Colter demanded. He, on the other hand, did not appear as amused as his friend.

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