Page 62

Declan
2018
I give Tess a head-start,making myself count out a few minutes before I follow behind her. When I make it back to the main gallery, I find her almost immediately. She’s standing near the bar, talking to Chase, Cari’s art friend. He’s admiring her tattoos. Takes her arm and turns it to study the ink work. Brushes his thumb against the hummingbird, just below her collarbone.
There’s nothing inappropriate about what he’s doing. Nothing sexual about the way he’s touching her. He’s an artist. Tess is covered in art. Of course he’s going to want to look at it. Touch it.
Shit.
Where the fuck is Ryan?
He’s supposed to be with her.
Seriously, asshole? You were about to drop him on his fucking head less than an hour ago because he ordered her a drink.
Right.
I need to leave. Now, before I do or say something that’ll embarrass my family or land me in jail.
I’ll just find Cari and congratulate her on her opening. Shake Patrick’s hand and tell them both I’ll see them in the morning.
Then I’ll go home and drink all the Jameson.
All of it.
Spotting Cari and Patrick talking with Miranda, I start making my way over to them to say my good-byes.
“Oh my god, I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” I hear Jessica’s voice a moment before I feel her slip her arm through mine. As usual, I have to fight the urge to, pull away from her.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I demand in a low tone, trying to keep my voice down. Despite my efforts, I get a few looks.
“Where else would I be?” she says, flipping her long blonde hair over her shoulder.
I dunno. Fucking your ballplayer.
The only reason I don’t say it is I’ve already hit my quota for disapproving looks from the Boston Elite and if I get one more, I probably will end up in jail. “Not here.” I grit it out through clenched teeth “Because I told you not to come here, Jessica.”
“Have you seen Cari?” It’s like I’m not even talking. “I was thinking we should commission her to do a wedding portrait,” she says, she lets go of my arm to snag a champagne flute from a passing tray. “You know, you in your tux. Me in my wedding dress—it would be so Kate and Wills.”
I have no idea what she just said. All I know is that I need to get her out of here before she sees Tess. “We’re leaving,” I say, stepping as close as I can without touching her. “Right. Now.”
“After I finish my champagne.” She flutters her fingers at me. “And after I talk to Cari. I really think we nee—” She stops min-tirade. I don’t even have to look to know why.
“Jessica.” I grab her arm to keep her in place.
“Looks like someone’s fairy godmother took pity on her.” She flips her hair again, her overly made-up face working itself into a sneer. “Let's go say hi.”
“No.” I squeeze her elbow just enough to let her know I’m serious. “We’re leaving.”
“This is Cari’s big night, Declan,” she reminds me in the sticky-sweet tone she uses when she’s feeling especially psychotic. “Her parents are here. Her adorable little sister. Art critics.” She reaches up and pries my hand off her arm. “I’d hate to have to ruin this for her because you’ve decided to be unreasonable.”
There’s no telling what she’s capable of or what she’ll do in order to get her way. Making a scene in the middle of a black-tie affair just to fuck me and mine over is the least of it.
Before I can say a word she reaches up and straightened my tie. “Let’s go say hi,” she says it again, this time not giving me a chance to get my hands on her before she slips through the crowd, heading straight for Tess.
She’s less than a dozen steps away from Tess before I manage to snatch her up by her arm and stop her, mid-stride. “Go ahead,” I say pushing the invitation through clenched teeth, lowering my head to press my mouth against her ear. “Do what you gotta do, but if you so much as sneeze in her direction, I’ll tell Viaga’s wife all about you.” When she doesn’t jerk away from me and start screaming, I keep going. “Henley’s step-father owns the building, did you know that? The Boylston is known for its discretion but I’m sure she’d be more than happy to help me fuck you over.” I don’t know if any of that is true but I’m an excellent liar so I sell the shit out of it. Flicking my gaze upward I see Tess standing a few feet away. Chase next to her. Both of them watching me. He’s standing close to her, his shoulder angle in front of her, instinctively putting his body between her and what’s happening in front of them.
Because even total strangers know Tess needs to be protected from me.