Page 96 of Somebody to Save
It made me nervous to watch Beckett leave, but I knew he could take care of himself. And he had a lot of backup if he needed it.
Stepping off the dance floor, I glanced down at my phone. I pressed the lock button, but nothing happened. I tried again and again, only to find the same result.
It was dead. Of course it was.
Peering around the ballroom, I tried to find Caroline with no luck. Following the perimeter of the room, I veered around people and looked for my boss. I gave up when I got to the bar.
“Hi, I’m so sorry, but my phone died, and I really need a charger. Do you have one back there?”
The guy couldn’t have been much older than me, with shaggy blond hair and a sweet smile.
“Oh, yeah. Let me see, I’ll plug it in.”
I handed it over and watched him fish the charger out from behind the liquor bottles.
“Want a drink while you wait for it to charge up?”
Planting my elbows on the bar, I ran my eyes over the liquor bottles but came up blank. “Yes, but I’m not sure what. Can you just make me something fruity and slightly sweet? Preferably with tequila?”
“Not a problem.”
He made quick work of mixing the drink, which was exactly what I wanted. It was subtly sweet with pineapple and maybe strawberry? I thanked him and turned back to the crowd.
Yes, I was a guest at the party, but I couldn’t turn off the party planning and organizing part of my brain. The dance floor was more crowded than I imagined, and very few people had left after dinner, which was a great sign. It was still packed to the brim.
The band quieted for a moment, finishing one song and starting the next, and it was just enough time for the commotion out in the hallway to filter into the room. My interest piqued, I grabbed my drink and strode between the tables to the door.
I peeked to the right, then left, and found them huddled in a group toward the entrance of the hotel. It was still difficult to hear them over the crowd and band, but it was obvious Bill was yelling. He was dressed in a suit, like he was planning on attending the party, and security was positioned around him. The louder Bill yelled, the crazier his gestures became, and the closer security got. But Beckett was a formidable force in front of him and waved them off.
With his dad on one side and his brother on the other, Beckett appeared unfazed by the man’s scene. His hands in his pockets, his face was expressionless.
I squeezed the glass in my hands and watched with rapt, nervous attention.
Suddenly, Bill reared his right arm back and swung at Beckett. I gasped and lurched forward like I was going to do something about it, but Beckett was prepared. He caught Bill’s hand and spun him around until Bill’s chest was shoved against the wall behind him.
I’d never seen Beckett so irate. Well, maybe except when Owen confronted me.
I was too far away to see much else, because security swarmed and suddenly cops were there. When they all parted,Bill was pulled away in handcuffs, still yelling at Beckett, who was straightening his suit.
They didn’t wait for Bill to be taken outside before they all three turned and walked back toward the party. Beckett stopped in front of me as his dad and brother stepped back inside.
“All good?”
He nodded and dropped his hand to my hip, squeezing once. Outside, he didn’t appear flustered, but I could see in his eyes that the run-in had affected him at least a little bit.
“There are a few clients I need to talk with. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m perfect. Go do what you need to.”
He kissed me quickly and found himself immediately swept up into another conversation like nothing had happened.
Finding a table near the bar still empty, I set my drink down and continue people-watching and watching my man in his natural habitat. He was naturally engaging and attentive. Just based on his body language and those around him, I could tell everyone felt at ease and open when they spoke.
And he was all mine.
I don’t know how long it was that I stood there, sipping my drink and passing the time by making up backstories about each person who caught my attention. But eventually, my glass was empty, and it had to have been enough time for my phone to be at least slightly charged.
Making my way back to the bar, it was much more crowded than before, and I had to wait for the blond bartender to finish up. Finally, he saw me waving and jogged to the opposite end where I stood, retrieving my phone on his way.
