Page 48 of Ruined Vows

“Well, that was a whole lot of excitement for one evening, I think,” she says demurely. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d like for my fiancé to escort me to my car. We’ve planned our gorgeous wedding, but the schedule is nonstop for the next eight weeks, you understand.”

Then she leans over, kisses Drew on the cheek, and says, “Come on, honey.”

She stands up, still holding his hands, and Drew moves almost robotically to follow her lead. He finally manages to smile, as if remembering only at the last minute, and waves to the table.

Kira folds her arm into his and they walk together out of the room. She looks as tall and elegant as a queen as she goes. Fucking stunning, in control of every eye in the room.

I follow her out, even as I hear the room burst out into chatter as the doors close behind us.

Drew immediately turns to Kira as soon as they reach the huge stone hallway; every bit of this mansion looks like something out of a museum.

“I’m so fucking sorry for that, babe. I told her it was nothing serious.”

Kira winces, and I want to punch his fucking teeth in. It’s a strain to stay against the wall and remain unobtrusive while they have whatever tête-à-tête a couple could have after that disaster.

“We agreed you could do whatever you want,” Kira whispers. “But did it have to be with Becca Summers? Jesus, Drew. What were you thinking?”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. She was just there, available and spreading her legs.”

Kira walks away from him, shaking her head. Drew strides after her, putting a hand on her arm to stop her.

Oh no, he doesn’t. Not on my watch.

I spring forward and grab his wrist on the pressure point of the radial nerve so that he lets go of her with a small cry of pain, looking at me with shock as if only now noticing my presence. “Who the fuck are you?”

I smile at him. “Her personal protection officer, remember? Hands off if you value life and limb.”

He shakes out his wrist.

“Not now,” Kira says, glaring at me as she steps in between me and her fuck of a fiancé. She looks back at Drew, then up and down the hallway. “And we shouldn’t be doing this here. Who knows who might be listening. Come on. Walk me to my Uber. I just called it.”

Drew nods begrudgingly and glances my way with a positively hateful look. I just keep grinning at him.

We all walk down the hallway.

“Where have you even been the last week? I tried stopping by twice.”

“I messaged you and told you I was crashing with a friend.”

“You didn’t say what friend.”

Kira waves a hand, clearly frustrated. “It doesn’t matter,” she hisses. “Look, what are we going to do about what just happened?”

“Nothing,” Drew says. “I’ll deal with my father’s disappointment, like usual, and life will go on.”

I’m several paces back, pretending like I’m not listening in, and I pause when Kira does. She takes Drew’s arm again, and I see the empathy and compassion in her eyes as she looks up at him.

“Oh god, Drew, I didn’t even think. I’m so sorry. Will it be bad?”

He just shrugs, looking down at her like they’re sharing some secret.

I don’t like it. Especially when she reaches out to rub his back, and he leans into the comforting touch. It looks like an old dynamic, and I really don’t like it.

“I missed you,” he whispers, reaching out a hand to caress the side of her face.

She smiles, but it’s a sad smile. “I know.”

I want to rip his arm off, and not just because he’s touching her face. He makes her sad. He’s not worthy of her. This whole place is wrong. The fiery woman who snaps back at me and bites my head off is subdued here.

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