Page 19 of Protected By the SEAL
“Fine.”
His grin flashes quick and satisfied, the kind that makes my stomach dip. He leads me toward the dance floor, weaving through tables of people who probably have no idea how close I am to coming apart.
We stop near the edge, under a canopy of string lights. The air smells like roses and champagne. The band slides intosomething slow and romantic, the kind of song that feels too intimate for a room full of people.
Kane turns toward me and holds out his hand again. “May I?”
I nod, because words are dangerous right now. His hand slides to my waist, firm but careful, the other lifting mine to his chest. His heart beats steadily under my palm, a contrast to the chaos inside me.
We start to sway. I try to focus on the rhythm, on the soft give of the floor beneath my heels, on the faint clink of glasses at nearby tables. Anything but the heat of his hand at my back or how close his mouth is to my hair.
“Relax,” he murmurs, his breath stirring the edge of my jaw. “It’s only a dance.”
“That’s not the problem.” The words slip out before I can stop them.
He tilts his head, catching my eyes with quiet certainty. “Then what is?”
“You know what it is.” My voice wavers, too thin, too honest.
He exhales, the sound brushing my cheek. “If you’re waiting for me to pull back, stop. I’m not going anywhere.”
The words hang between us, soft but solid, like something that might actually be true. My chest tightens. I look up, and for the first time all night, I really see him. The noise around us fades. I almost forget where we are.
Then the next song begins, and every muscle in my body goes rigid.
Kane feels it immediately. “What’s wrong?”
My throat closes. “That song.”
He studies me, concern replacing the easy calm in his features. “What about it?”
“It was mine and Victor’s.” I can barely hear my voice over the music.
He goes still. His jaw tightens, following my gaze toward the center of the dance floor.
Belinda is out there, swaying in her white dress, face glowing in the spotlight. Victor’s hands rest easily on her waist. When she catches me looking, her smile sharpens.
She knows exactly what she’s done.
My chest constricts. The room feels too bright, too loud, the laughter grating against my skin. Heat climbs up my neck, anger and humiliation tangled together. I can’t move, can’t breathe.
Kane’s hand presses gently on my back, grounding me. “We don’t have to stay here,” he murmurs.
Belinda tilts her head, the picture of concern. Her lips move as she whispers something to Victor, and he laughs softly, still swaying with her like this is all a coincidence.
I can’t look anymore. The humiliation curdles into fury. I hate myself for letting it sting this much after all these years. I hate that I’m not immune to Belinda’s bullshit and cruelty.
“I hate this,” I whisper.
“I know,” Kane says quietly. His voice has a new edge, protective and cold. “Come on.”
He doesn’t wait for me to argue. His arm slides around my waist, and he guides me through the crowd.
The night air hits me the second we step outside. Cool. Quiet. Clean. I drag in a breath that actually reaches my lungs. The music still carries faintly from the tent, that song echoing like a ghost across the vineyard.
Kane turns to face me. His hands come up, bracketing my face, thumbs sweeping under my eyes even though there are no tears, only the threat of them. “Breathe,” he says softly. “You’re okay.”
I nod once, swallowing hard. “She did that on purpose.”
