Page 19 of Prey Tell
My skin flushes as I grab a nearby canape. I’ve never had caviar, but as I process the salty, umami taste…dammit.Okay, that’s not bad. I grab another one before snatching a flute of champagne from a passing server. Might as well indulge, and really squeeze Chase for all he’s worth. Once I’m done chewing, I walk around and give everyone a nice smile, trying to hide how tipsy I am.
Tipsy, grateful, confused, angry… an emotionally lethal combination.
My eyes land on Chase, who is talking on the phone in one corner of the party. He’s scowling, the frown lines between his eyes deep and making him seem so authoritative.
Why? Why did you do all of this?
After rejecting me—
After making himself scarce—
Aftercompletelyignoring me at Thanksgiving last year—
And now he has the audacity to pay for this wonderful party?
No.
I’m not his lifelong charity case.
I’m not someone he can pity from afar, paying for my engagement party without me knowing about it.
He offered to pay for the wedding.
A new batch of anger fires through my nerves, making my nostrils flare and my skin burn with fury.
Because maybe it’s not the fact that he paid for all of this.
Maybe it’s because he so veryclearlydoesn’t want me, and never would. If he had any issues with me getting married, surely he would not have gone to such lengths to plan this gorgeous evening. I have no idea what the alternative is, and it’s not like I expect him to stop me from getting married and professing his love for me. He doesn’t think of me like that.
Or does he?
That little, persistent feeling that has followed me around for over a decade creeps up again. Why else would he do this? Why else would he care so much about his best friend’s sister? And if itwasall for show, how fucking dare he?
He deserves to know that he is really fucking confusing. He should know that he ought to back off from my life if he insists on disappearing from it because it isn’t fair to me.
My feet are moving before I can think.
At the movement, Chase looks up from his phone call, and his expression doesn’t change as he watches me cross the room of the most beautiful party there ever was, heading straight for him.
And I’m sure I look pissed as hell, too.
Good.
He needs to know that none of this is okay.
He wants out of my life?Fine.But he can’t pick and choose. It’s all or nothing, and quite frankly, if I have to tell him to get lost and to take all of his money with him, I will.
Just as I reach him, I see him end the call. His arm reaches out for mine, and he drags me away, looking angrier than I feel.
Oh, the fucking nerve.
CHAPTERFOUR
THE BET
Chase
“Don’t make a scene, Parker,” I growl, and her outraged expressionalmostmakes me want to smile. I nod my head as we pass surprised onlookers.I’m sure the last thing she wants is for her guests to wonder why she’s so angry at her engagement party, though a small thrill works through me when I think of how it wasmewho worked her up so much. I open the first door that I see—an office—and pull her inside before closing it. Once we’re inside, I let go of her arm and take a step back. “Now, are you going to tell me why you look like you’re about to go postal on me?”
