Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“I’m going to find Colby,” she says, already turning away. “You two have fun.”
And just like that, we’re left to our own devices. I’m far too aware of his hand on my body as he guides me through the crowd.
“Are you actually leading me to the dance floor, McNichols?” I ask as he turns me toward him. “Well, color me surprised.”
He shrugs as one hand settles at the small of my back. “I figured it would be a good photo op.”
There’s no reason his response should sting. We’re here for optics and appearances. Still, the disappointment welling inside me is more than I’m prepared for.
I force a smile. “Right.”
The music is slow enough that we sway more than dance as the heat of his palm burns through the thin fabric straight down to my flesh. Under the ballroom lights, his black eye looks even darker than before, and the sight twists my insides every time I glance at it.
Knox is hurt because of me.
Or at least because of the situation.
“Should I be surprised you’re this smooth on your feet?” I ask, wanting to distract myself from those thoughts.
A crooked smile tugs at his mouth. “Nah. It’s just another thing I’m good at.”
I laugh softly. “At least you’re not cocky.”
“Nope. Never that.”
I catch sight of his father leading his mother onto the dance floor. It’s sweet how easily they move together.
“Did you know they’d be here?”
His expression softens as he glances in their direction. “Nope, total surprise. But it’s nice to see them.”
“It is.” I force my attention back to him. “I’ve always liked your family.”
“They like you too.”
My pulse flutters again. “I assume they were surprised to find us together?”
“That would be an understatement.” After a beat he adds, “Although, I filled them in on what’s going on, so no worries on that front.”
“Good,” I say, keeping my smile firmly intact. “I let Britt know too. Now everyone’s on the same page.”
The words sound tidy.
Neat.
Reasonable.
A lie in their own way, because maybe everyone understands the explanation, but emotionally, Knox and I are nowhere close to being on the same page. Not when he says that I’m his girl and looks at me with something in his eyes I can’t quite name, only to toss out words like photo op as if none of it means anything at all.
His gaze dips to my mouth, and the shift in the air is brief, but I still feel it everywhere.
His teeth catch on his lower lip before his eyes lift again, and the memory of the kiss slams back into me with humiliating force. The red carpet. The cameras. The way his mouth slanted over mine had felt anything but fake.
“Yeah,” he says quietly. “Same page.”
When his arm tightens, pulling me closer, I rest my head against his chest. The moment I do, my muscles loosen. His body is warm and solid beneath the crisp lines of his tux. His heartbeat is a steady thrum under my ear. The scent of him wraps around me as we move together. It’s slow and close enough that it would be intimate even without everything else humming between us.
This shouldn’t feel as good as it does.
Or as natural.
And it definitely shouldn’t make me want to forget this is temporary. For one fleeting moment as I’m held against him, I almost do.
Movement at the edge of the dance floor catches my eye. I blink as a familiar profile with a medium build and dark hair melts away. My heart slams against my ribs as I scan the crowd. Guests shift and laughter rings out as servers weave between tables. I search the room again, but the face I thought I saw is nowhere to be seen.
Was he ever there?
Or is Dakota so far inside my head that every dark-haired man in a crowded room is enough to send me spiraling?
I hate that I can’t tell the difference.
“What’s wrong?” Knox asks.
I look up and find him frowning, his attention fastened to me.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “For just a second, I thought I saw Dakota.”
His posture immediately changes, going on high alert, as his gaze sweeps the room. “Where?”
I nod toward the edge of the dance floor. “Over there, I think, but it’s possible I imagined it. Maybe my mind’s playing tricks on me.”
He doesn’t laugh or dismiss my concerns. That alone makes me feel better.
“We should go,” he says.
“What? We just got here.”
“I know.” His arm remains wrapped around me. “But I’m not about to take any chances with your safety.”
The certainty in his voice cuts through all my doubts.
“Your ex isn’t thinking clearly,” he continues. “And what he proved this morning is that he’s dangerous.”
A photographer calls out Knox’s name, probably hoping for one more picture, but he ignores him completely. Another guest smiles like she might stop us, but one glance at Knox’s face is enough to make her step aside.