Page 46 of Old Flame

I didn’t need to go in there to see what I already knew. She was the most stunning creature here. Every eye would be on her. It was her Cinderella moment, and I’d come to snatch it away from her because I couldn’t stand the thought of her belongingto anyone else. She was still too young, but fuck if I was going to let some dick have her.

I was moving home. If I lived there, I could make sure no one took her from me. I’d wait for her. Until she was old enough, I could wait. If it meant she’d be mine. In the meantime, we could be friends. Get to know each other. I wouldn’t have to wonder what she was doing or what she looked like when she woke up in the morning. I’d get to see it every day.

Mom might be an issue, but I would work out a story that she’d buy into. Besides, she loved Salem. She loved me. Why not be happy about the two of us being together one day? Once Salem was old enough—legal age—then Mom would be okay with us. I could work around it until then.

As much as I didn’t want Salem being here with another guy, I wanted her to be happy more. I wanted her to have all the fucking things. If this was one of them, she could have it. But I was going to see her having it and hopefully not have her see me. I’d be quick.

I would also be following them when they left here. The experience after the prom was not one I was willing to let her have. It might be hypocritical because, up until an hour ago, I’d had a girlfriend or something like that. I wasn’t sure I could really call Shana that. She’d been a fill-in. Someone to keep me from seeking out Salem and doing more of what we’d done in my truck. I thought about it every fucking day and jerked off to it in the shower.

Locking the door to my truck, I tucked my keys into my pocket and made my way toward the open doors of the barn. There wasn’t much in the way of security here.

When I had driven onto the property, a man was just inside the white fencing, and he asked me if he could help me. I told him I was here to pick up my sister at the McIntosh prom, and he’d not only waved me in, but pointed me in the right direction.

I strode into the building like I belonged, and no one questioned me. I hadn’t gotten a fucking tux, but I had put on a pair of black jeans and a white oxford that my mom had bought me to wear to my great-aunt’s funeral last spring. My shoulders had gotten broader and my biceps bigger because I was stretching the shirt that had been a perfect fit almost a year ago. The black combat boots on my feet were the best I could do. It wasn’t like I dressed up for shit—ever.

I moved through the people, not making eye contact with any of them, but scanning the room for the raven hair I dreamed about wrapping around my fist. Taking a spot in a corner, not wanting to stand out, I continued my search. It wasn’t until the music slowed and “Crash into Me” by Dave Matthews Band started that I saw her. In that pink dress against her perfect skin and her black hair pulled to the side in a cascade of curls, she was led out onto the dance floor by that kid star, Tyler fucking what’s-his-name.

Her back was to me, and all I could see was his smile as he stared down at her while his hand was entirely too close to her ass. I could hear my teeth grinding as I used every ounce of self-control I could cling to so that she could have this. He was talking to her, and I imagined landing my fist in the center of his face, then watching him crumple to the floor. Some other couple moved over toward them, and the two guys spoke. Then, as if the gods had pity on me or perhaps they liked to torture me—I wasn’t sure their angle with this move—he turned them until it was her profile I saw.

The photo had taken my breath away, but it had nothing on seeing her in person. It sucked the oxygen right out of my lungs, and they burned, along with the envious rage that coursed through me. I wanted to be holding her. I hated that his hands were on her. She wasn’t smiling.

I studied her closer. She didn’t appear to be having the time ofher life. There was a tight, forced look that wasn’t one I’d ever seen on her face before.

What had he done? Did she not want to be here?

Her head turned as if she had heard my unspoken questions from across the room, and when those cornflower-blue eyes drifted over the crowd, I waited, not sure if I should leave or let her find me. Who the fuck was I kidding? I wasn’t leaving. She didn’t look happy.

Like two magnets, our gazes locked, and her pretty eyes widened in surprise. There would never be anyone as fucking stunning as she was at this moment. How was every male in this place not completely focused on her, unable to look away?

There was a twinkle in her expression, and a slow smile—the real kind—lifted the corners of her glossy pink lips. I winked at her and watched as her cheeks pinkened. She blushed so easily, and I loved it. Taking a chance, I nodded my head toward the exit before heading that way. It could be I was wrong and she wanted to be here. But I had to find out first. Make sure she was okay.

I wanted her alone, away from another guy’s hands and his unfounded claim.

Just when I reached the door, I glanced back to see her talking to Tyler. She was still in his arms. I’d imagined her tearing herself free and running to me, but then that was my ego. Like my mother had said, she was still young. What she had thought she wanted with me months ago in my truck could have changed. Maybe she had feelings for the dick.

The evening air had yet to become stifling with the return of spring. It still held a touch of chill that I knew was coming to an end. I went over to the water fountain and crossed my arms over my chest while staring at the water. The chaos of thoughts in my head made me anxious. I didn’t want to be selfish with her. She deserved more than that. But, fuck, how did I step backand let her be with someone else? I wanted a cigarette, but if I lit one up out here, I was sure to be noticed. It wasn’t one of the chaperones or faculty I was worried about. It was my mom finding out. And if one of her coworkers saw me, they’d call her, and I’d have to explain this shit to her.

“Rome.”

Her soft voice wiped out all my other thoughts, and I turned around to see her standing there like a princess from a fairy tale, surrounded by all the twinkling lights.

She’d come out here. That meant something. At least, I wanted it to.

“You having a good time?” I asked her, attempting to sound casual. Instead of like a crazy stalker who had come to make sure she wasn’t letting that shit inside have her.

She lifted a bare shoulder. “I guess,” she replied.

“You guess?”

She licked her lips and glanced down at the ground or my boots—I wasn’t sure which—before lifting her eyes, then scrunching her nose adorably. “I should be. Right? Having a good time, I mean.” She picked up one of the satin layers of her dress and let it fall from her fingertips. “Your mom bought me this beautiful dress, and I’ve never worn anything like it. She spent so much time on my hair. This…it would all be a waste if I wasn’t enjoying myself?” She ended it as if she were asking a question rather than answering one.

I took a step toward her, letting my hands fall to my sides. “Nothing about seeing you dressed up like this is a waste. And Mom got to take her photos. That’s more than she got to do for my prom since I didn’t go.”

She bit her bottom lip and blushed. “Why didn’t you go to yours?” she asked.

I shrugged, continuing to move toward her. “There wasn’t anyone who looked like you to take, and I had no desire to spendmy money on a night like this.”

A small laugh fell from her lips. “I’m sure any girl would have wanted to go with you even if they had to ride on the back of your bike.”

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