Page 41 of Emma's Element

“Well,” Jolene said, wrapping her arm around Emma’s waist. Emma sank into her friend’s embrace, grateful beyond measure for her support. Natalie, Annika, and Maddie stood nearby, each with a smile directed at her. Her heart felt near to bursting, her vision wavering as tears built. “That was exciting. And you thought tonight was going to be boring, Emma.”

She snorted out a laugh. “Not the kind of excitement I wanted.”

Jolene studied her for a moment, then nodded as if assured her friend was going to be fine. “Come on. Let’s hit the bar. I bet you could use a stiff drink after that.”

Emma laughed, but then her steps faltered. The scene had drawn a crowd and the warm feeling she’d had a moment ago froze inside her. She cast a glance to Marcus, who smiled at her. She’d been stunned by his words. But when she caught sight of several phones pointed in their direction, she dropped her gaze, unable to meet his eyes. She had never meant to attract more attention. But now, the scene with Jim and the ugliness with Ginny would be plastered across social media in no time. She wanted to leave and spend the rest of the night hiding in her room, but Jolene was pulling her into the ballroom.

Emma sat at the bar, berating herself for her impulsive actions as her friends conversed around her. She’d acted on instinct with Jim. A man she didn’t know was groping her, and she’d acted swiftly. Unfortunately, her clashes had drawn a crowd, which meant she’d inadvertently brought more attention to Marcus. Ashamed, she took a sip of her drink and winced. Whatever drink Jolene had ordered for her was strong.

Eventually, Marcus and the rest of the Nighthawks joined them. Emma had never been more thankful to have the Nighthawk family at her back. Their support as Ginny spewed those awful words at her had been surprising, and she was grateful. She’d been so afraid for her new friends to find those vicious stories about her, but she shouldn’t have been. She’d found a good group of people. A family. It was a good feeling, and it helped to erase the disgust that man’s touch and words had poured into her. And on her. She shivered at the memory.

Still, she couldn’t get his words out of her head. She’d heard many propositions over the last few months, but none had made her feel as dirty as his had done. Lost in her head as she replayed the scene, she didn’t notice she was trembling until Marcus took her drink out of her hand and linked his fingers with hers. The adrenaline dump was hitting her now that the drama had passed.

“I’m sorry that happened to you, Emma,” Marcus said.

Emma couldn’t help the snorted laugh that slipped out. “Which part?”

He chuckled. “Well, both parts, I guess. But mostly what Jim did to you.”

Emma shrugged. “Not the first time some idiot tried to proposition me. Probably won’t be the last time either.” Marcus frowned. She wasn’t about to clarify what she meant; he didn’t need to know everything that had happened to her since he’d left. She could protect him from at least that much.

Instead, she changed the subject. “So, that was him? The embezzler?” Marcus nodded. “I must admit I can’t picture you being friends with a man like that.”

“He wasn’t like that when I knew him. At least around me, he wasn’t.” His shoulders slumped. “I guess I missed a lot when it came to him.”

As Marcus placed an order for a drink, she glanced over his shoulder. Clusters of people peered in their direction, blatantly gossiping about them. Some of them were watching something on their phones together.Great. Emma knew exactly what they were watching. Someone had recorded her humiliating experience with the groper. Ugh. Could this night get any worse?

Emma tried glaring at the groups of gossipmongers. The women giggled harder, and the men openly ogled her with blatant sexual interest, making her fear her dress had exposed more than she had intended while wrestling with Jim. Disgusted with herself and the rest of humanity, she squeezed her eyes closed, willing her tears to stay away. She needed to be done with this night. Yearning for the oblivion only sleep could give her, she turned in her seat to tell Jolene she was going up to their room in the hotel.

She slid off the stool, but before she could take a step, Marcus touched her hand. “Wait.”

Emma sighed, unable to meet his eyes. “I’m really tired, Marcus. It’s been a long night.”

“I know.” He grasped her fingers. “I just need a moment. Please.” It was the almost desperate sound in the last word that had her finally meeting his gaze. The sincerity in his expression did her in. She nodded before he squeezed her hand and led her away from the crowd to a small, curtained alcove, giving them privacy.

Nervous flutters erupted in her belly. It’d been a long time since she’d been alone with Marcus. She wasn’t sure what he had to say to her, and she was unsure how to act.

“Are you okay after all that? That woman’s comments were pretty harsh.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just need time to myself to catch my breath.” She tried to let him off the hook; there was no reason he had to stay here with her. She’d already brought enough attention to Marcus. She needed him to leave so she could stop humiliating herself. And him.

“Nuh-uh. Not going to happen. I’m not leaving you alone like this.”

“That’s really not necessary. I’m sure you need to get back to the Governor or whoever you came here with tonight.” Oh, nutbowl, it never occurred to her he had brought a date.And what was it to you if he did?It had been nearly a year. Undoubtedly he’d dated others in that time. Just because she hadn’t didn’t mean he stayed celibate as well.

Marcus took her hand, his focus totally and completely on her. “There is no one.” She looked into his eyes, the longing evident. Want. Concern. All for her? “Dance with me,” he whispered as the music ofWhen You Say Nothing At Allfloated over to them.

“What? No! I don’t dance, remember?” She couldn’t dance with him. Not in front of this many people.

“You dance every time you fence,” he stated.

“That’s not dancing,” she insisted.

“Sure, it is; there are just a few slight differences. Instead of fighting against your opponent, in dance you work to match your opponent’s every move. Trust me, Emma.” God, how could she say no to that? And suddenly, she was in his arms right there in the secret alcove, and it was all she could do to keep her knees from melting.

Emma. She was here, in his arms. Trembling. He wished he could erase the last hour or so from her mind. What had that asshole Jim said or done to her? She had looked somewhat shell-shocked when he’d joined her at the bar. She was still too pale even now. That may be due to spotting her old friend. Or still feeling the effects of her confrontation with Jim.

Marcus glanced at the arm his ex-friend had had his hand on. The bruises that were beginning to develop enraged him. He should have insisted on a longer prison sentence for the man. He’d gone too easy on him, wanting to be done with the whole ugly affair. But now, he’d put his hands on Emma. Hurt her. Marcus wasn’t ready to let that slide. He made a note to call his private investigator to look into what Jim had been doing since he’d been released. He’d bet Juliet was not the first person he’d defrauded recently.

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