Page 31 of A Deception of Massive Proportion

“Are you still working? Or do you want to blow this joint and have some real fun?” He grinned at her and took a step closer.

This wasn’t good. She knew Colby was a flirt, but right now she felt cornered with the trees behind her. Not cool at all. And she’d lost sight of Shadow as well. “I’m still working,” Riley blurted out, stumbling over her own feet as she tried to put distance between them.

“How long will you be working?”

“Probably all night.”

“Shadow makes you work all night?” He leered at her. “What in the world could he have you doingall night?”

She just shook her head. “Sorry. He’s probably looking for me right now…so…” She tried once again to see where he’d disappeared to but couldn’t find him in the crowd.

Colby stepped forward. “Oh, come on, sweetheart,” he said, his breath hot on her cheek. She backed up and bumped into a tree, making her drop her plate.

He put a hand on the rough bark beside her head. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”

Panic spiked her heartrate as she tried to worm her way around him, but he didn’t move. “Please get out of my way.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“I’m sure,” she said, her voice flat.

“Are you into masks, perhaps?” he whispered in her ear. “Because I can wear one too, if that’s what you like.”

Disgust churned in her. She tried to push him away, but he didn’t budge. “Go away.”

Shadow appeared, and he grabbed Colby’s arm, jerking him away from her. Even with his mask, she could see the death glare on his face. Relief flooded through her. She’d never been so glad to see anyone. Shadow’s security stood close by.

Colby came at Shadow, fists raised, but Shadow was faster, a punch landing on Colby’s jaw. Shadow’s security stepped in and yanked Colby back. He staggered, his hand wiping at a small cut on his mouth. “We were just talking. Geesh, what’s wrong with you?”

“Leave her alone,” Shadow said, his teeth clenched.

Colby let out a grunt, his gaze bouncing between Shadow and his security. Finally, he shoved his way past them and toward the party on the beach.

Shadow turned to her. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you?”

“I’m okay,” she said, her heart still thumping so hard she could hear it. She’d been scared, but in reality, Colby hadn’t touched her. At least, not yet. She was so glad Shadow had shown up when he had.

Shadow turned to make sure Colby was gone. “I’m sorry, I should have stayed with you.”

Riley put her hand on his arm. “It’s okay.”

“If I hadn’t seen him cornering you, I don’t know what would have happened. That jerk.”

She took in a deep breath and let it out. She didn’t want to think about what might have happened. “I’m fine. Let’s just go. I think I need to get out of here for a while.”

“You’re okay to walk on your foot?”

If she were being honest, she had forgotten about the injury. “Yeah. It’s fine now.”

“Okay.” He took her hand in his. She tried not to be disappointed when he didn’t first remove his glove. “Where should we go? Are you sure you’re all right?”

Riley laughed, trying to lighten the mood as they made their way up to the resort. “I’m fine. Honest. I don’t think Colby would have done anything. We were on the beach with half a billion people just yards away.”

“What he did was enough,” he said through clenched teeth. “If he had hurt you…”

“You would have torn him to pieces,” she finished for him.

“Yeah, I would have.”

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