Page 90 of Beyond the Blue Horizon
She confirmed it with a soft, “Hi, Piper, I’m Charleigh.”
She cast me a warm smile as she stepped forward and took me by the hands. “Raven told me all about you.”
I tried not to freak out. To remember this was the whole point—putting down roots. I exhaled some of the strain. “She told me all about you, too.”
Tenderness wafted around her, her blond hair curled in soft waves that brushed her shoulders. “I’m really glad you’re here. I think you’re going to like it. This town is so incredibly special.”
It felt as if she gave me the greatest encouragement in those few simple lines, my chest achy and heavy as I nodded at her.
“This is my fiancé, River, Raven’s older brother.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” I had to force it out around the ball in my throat.
“Nice to meet you, too.” Dark, dark eyes appraised. A shiver rolled through me.
Bodies suddenly shuffled around us, and everyone went silent below the music.
I turned around just as Kane came striding through the crowd with a giant grin on his face.
Childlike excitement billowed from him on waves.
He was clearly hauling Emery along behind him, though he kept directly in front of her to shield her view.
Then he swung her out to the side as everyone behind the rope shouted, “Surprise!”
Shock froze Emery to the spot. It was the kind of shock that took a couple moments to catch up to what was really happening, her eyes darting around in confusion before her expression flashed with dawning.
Then her hands flew to her face, and she barely peeked out at us through her fingers, shaking her head then crying, “You guys, I can’t believe this.”
“Did you really think we were going to let this momentous occasion pass by without celebrating you?” Raven touched her chest as if she were offended by the idea.
Emery laughed as she dropped her hands. “I should have known you were up to something.”
“I’m always up to something.” Raven grinned.
Kane slung an arm over Emery’s shoulders, and the man gazed down at his fiancée with so much adoration I felt the force of it twist through my guts.
“And you,” she accused as she leaned into his side.
Joy pranced all over her face.
“What about me?”
“You’re amazing, and I love you.”
“Well, Little Warrior, I think we already knew that, didn’t we?” The razzing was soft before he dipped down and kissed her hard.
When he stepped back, everyone else moved for her, giving her hugs and congratulations while I hung back.
Or maybe I was just being sucked into Theo’s orbit.
Drawn into the oblivion that he was. My pulse erratic and my breaths shallow as I felt him emerge from behind, his words so low as he murmured near my ear, “What are you doing here?”
It was a fusion of concern, confusion, and greed.
Chills skated down my spine in their wake, and I gathered myself enough so that I could turn toward him, trying to steady myself as he fully came into sight.
All that cruel beauty was amplified in the shadows of the club. The harsh, cut angles illuminated like blades beneath the bare, flashing light.
