Page 17 of Clinch'd

It’s my own fault for letting him feel me up at the table full of people but I can’t help the pulse of disappointment because I didn’t want it to end there. Which makes me completely insane, and Cooper diabolical. Shit. I’m so out of my league.

We eat quietly after that as the emcee invites guests up to the lectern to tell their stories.

Many are tales of misspent youth turned around because of the charity in which we all are here. I listen attentively, while I move the food around on my plate. There’s nothing wrong with the entree but after Cooper’s antics and now the presentation, my appetite is all but gone.

“When I was fourteen, I ran away from my fifth foster home. And no, although I had my fair share of skeevy experiences over the years, that’s not why I ran away. I left with nothing but the clothes on my back because this time the couple that took me in terrified me. Not because the husband wanted to feel me up after wifey went to bed. Not because the wife wanted me to be her personal maid. Not because they abused me or didn’t carewhether I came home every night. No, I left because theynoticedme. They asked me about school. They expected me to attend. They gave me a room with a bed and a brand-new cover with tiny purple flowers.

“And I was terrified, because after years of nothing but sheer hell these two people cared. Can you imagine? I couldn’t and I left. In the middle of the night while they slept. I walked the streets and whored myself out because this, this I knew. And for years, I thought it was what I deserve…”

With my head bowed, I hide my trembling fingers under the table and hold back the tears. It’s like she’s talking to me, and I can’t get the image of my own lost life out of my head.

I was that girl. I ran when I could’ve stayed. And only when I was truly free, an adult, could I look back and see.

This was my life, and even though I didn’t act out my pain as Lorri did and still does, I’ve buried it beneath a sense of duty, where she lives it in each stupid choice she makes.

We’re both a product of the events that broke our family apart and I’ve spent years trying to put them back together, but we will never have that feeling again and maybe I need to focus on where we are now.

I’m broken from my reverie by applause, noting that Beast finally appeared, now sitting next to his friend who I suspect is his manager.

He meets my gaze and his eyes flick to Cooper. Heeding the message, I silently sigh and look away, into Cooper's eyes as he glances between Beast and me curiously.

Shit. Sucking in a breath, I hold it until he turns away, but his intuitive stare makes me question our ruse.

What if he finds out about my lies? What then? I need to fucking focus before I ruin everything.

After the speeches, everyone breaks away and I push back my chair, escaping to the nearest restroom before locking myself in a stall.

With a soft sigh, I lean against the fancy ass wood and close my eyes.

The past is barreling down on me and no matter how hard I push it away it wants to sink its cruel claws in my skin and stay. But I don’t have time for memory lane, nor the shadows that creep into my vision because I’m here to seduce a total womanizer. Ha!

What a cluster. I can’t decide if it’s easier or harder being attracted to my mark. Mark!

Chuckling helplessly under my breath, I pull myself together before doing my business and washing my hands.

My gray eyes are haunted but I have a gentle flush high on my cheeks, and I don’t recognize the woman staring back at me.

Who am I?

Leaning forward, I stare at my reflection seeing my features in a new light for the first time.

The scared teenager who couldn’t see past the horror? Or the survivor who’s at this very moment entertaining thoughts of sex to protect her sister?

The door opens behind me, breaking me from my thoughts and flustered, I turn away, shaking my head. Tonight is not the night to rehash old shit. I’ve got a lifetime ahead of me for that.

After turning back to the ballroom with a grim smile, I push it all away which isn’t hard to do because I’m not two steps in when I’m grabbed from behind and pulled into an adjacent room.

Panic rolls down my spine and I’m about to go kung fu, sort of when I’m released abruptly and look up to find Suit standing before me with his icy pale eyes.

His silent partner, and my abductor passes behind me and with a caution born of instinct, I step away with a shiver.

This causes Suit’s mouth to curve in an amused smile which frankly scares the shit out of me, but I cross my arms to hide my trembling limbs. This guy is a shark and I’m chum in the water. I’m pretty sure, the bloodier the chum the harder he feeds. Fuck me.

“Enjoy your dinner?” he asks, raising his brow.

“Truthfully,” I mutter, “no.”

He chuckles and I shudder because humor doesn’t look good on him. Actually, the weird twist to his mouth is positively serial killer like.

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