Page 31 of Mate For Hire (For Hire 3)

As she neared the main hall, the sound of music drifted on the air. Dread washed over her. Smiling and laughing felt like a bit much. How were they celebrating at a time like this?

She walked inside the building and found most of the shifters crammed inside. Some danced and seemed to be having a great old time. Others appeared to be forcing it. The upbeat music and bright streamers someone had hung from the rafters covered up their broken hearts.

At the head of several tables, Lachelle spotted her sister, sitting beside Declan

. Bannon was perched on his daddy’s lap and hugged his neck so tight Lachelle wondered how he could breathe. Declan and Janessa’s heads were together, and they stared into each other’s eyes. Even from the doorway, Lachelle felt their love. Her heart broke anew.

A glass shattered. Lachelle scanned the room to see where it came from and found Gerard watching her. The pieces of his glass sat at his feet, and he didn’t notice. Kelly gave his arm a playful smack and snapped her fingers to one of the women.

“Clean this up before someone gets hurt,” Kelly ordered.

The woman rushed to do her bidding. Already acting the part of queen, Lachelle noted. At first she was going to try to control the pain in her heart for Gerard’s sanity, but she decided to let it beat on. His emotional state wasn’t her responsibility anymore. Hers was. Besides, why should he feel anything for her now that he had Kelly?

“Would you like to dance, miss?”

Lachelle started in surprise at the offer and at the man standing before her. Tall and gorgeous, he did nothing at all for her. Seeing one dragon shifter was seeing them all—if it wasn’t Gerard.

She started to turn the guy down and changed her mind. “Sure.”

His cool touch at her waist and the other at her hand didn’t stir desire. They moved well together. Someone must have taught him how to dance. “You’re a good dancer,” she said. “What’s your name?”

Her mind wandered before she heard his answer.

“I used to love going to the clubs every chance I got.”

He nodded, smiling. “Me too. I liked living in the city with the humans. I wish I still could.”

His sentiments surprised her. “You could.”

“Not right now.” He glanced over at Kelly and Gerard. “But I might go back some day.”

“I hear you.”

While they danced, Gerard’s gaze never shifted away from her. The frown of displeasure at finding her in another man’s arms settled on his handsome face. Kelly tried to distract him, but he didn’t appear to notice her. Lachelle let the fact soothe her a bit.

Janessa appeared beside her. “I want to talk to you.”

Lachelle stopped dancing. “I’m so sorry, Nessa. I should have come right over to you when I got here.”

“Don’t worry about it. Come on.” Janessa took her hand and pulled her outside. They walked as far as the light allowed, and Janessa stopped to face her. “Lachelle, I love you so much, and I’m so glad to have you here.”

“Of course. You know I have your back.” Lachelle hugged her.

“But you should go.”

“Huh? Why are you talking like Kelly?”

“Please, I don’t care what that woman says! This is about your heart. I’m going to be fine. I promise you I will. But you need time. You’re not going to get that here. Kelly is just going to keep throwing her relationship with Gerard in your face. And Gerard…”

“He’ll keep staring at me like I’m the steak dinner he’s missing out on.”

Janessa laughed. “I wouldn’t have put it like that.”

For a few moments, neither of them spoke.

“I’m scared to be alone here without Declan, but they honestly seem to accept me as one of them now. My servants—God, I feel embarrassed saying that—have always been nice. They’re even more protective and sweet now that Declan and I did that bonding thing. It’s real.”

“I know. I felt it.”

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