Page 71 of Angels & Whiskey

Trista pickedme up for our date in a black limo which made Jackson jealous. I didn’t expect to be picked up in a limo, but Trista had said she planned to drink and didn’t want to drive. I wasn’t going to complain. I liked riding in style.

As we drove to our destination, she filled me in on our plan for the evening.

“As you know, you’re supposed to be my boyfriend. I told my boss I had a boyfriend and I need to keep up that appearance.” She took a sip of the champagne I’d poured her.

“Sure, no problem.”

“Awesome. So just enjoy yourself and when asked—”

“I’m your boyfriend.” I smiled.

“Exactly.”

“Don’t worry. I’m a good boyfriend.” I winked.

I could see a hint of red on her cheeks. “I’m just nervous. My boss is going to run for mayor and I’m his campaign manager. Everything has to be perfect tonight.”

“Mayor? That’s awesome. Don’t worry. I gotcha, sweetheart.”

She took a deep breath. “Okay. Good.”

When we arrived at the large brick house on a golf course, I took Trista’s arm and led her in through the front door.

“We’re a little late, so …”

I heard Trista talking, but it was drowned out the moment I sawherstanding next tohimin the dress I’d dreamed of taking offherthe night before.

Have you ever walked into a room and saw the person you loathed standing with the person you wanted more than anything in the entire world?

That was my reality.

Autumn was standing by Major Dick.

The moment her eyes met mine, I felt as if I were living one of my nightmares. This couldn’t be happening. Major Jones …

Fuck.

Autumn’s last name was Jones. Realization hit me like a ton of bricks. My heart broke, my blood started to boil, and I wanted to run as fast as I could and knock Major Jones on his ass. I wanted to punch his face until he could no longer move.

“My boss is coming,” Trista whispered.

As soon as she said those words, I realized that Autumn and Major Jones were walking toward us. Fuck my life. Not only was Major Jones Autumn’s husband, but he was my date’s boss and I had to pretend everything was normal—that I didn’t know who Autumn was.

Taking a deep breath, I turned away from them, trying to calm down before I blew. I could feel Autumn’s scrutinizing eyes trying to burn a hole in the back of my head.

“Let me introduce you to myboyfriend. Gabe …”

Fuck. My life just got worse. I had to say Trista was my girlfriend …I closed my eyes and turned around slowly. This wasn’t happening.

I plastered on a smile while Major Dick—I mean,Richand I got reacquainted. Autumn was silent as she watched. I knew she wanted to yell at me, but I was just as shocked as she was. I hadn’t seen Rich in years.But he was still the sly prick I knew from all my years in the Army.

When he realized who I was, he pretended as if we’d never had words before. God, almost five years later and he was still getting under my skin. I didn’t want to act as if we used to be best friends. I wanted to pull Autumn out the front door and take off in the limo, never to see Major Richard Fucking Jones again.

I needed to get away from him before I throttled him. I told Trista I was going to get her a drink, and luckily, being the asshole that he was, Rich made sure Autumn went to get him one too. I’d never have my woman get me a drink just so I could stay and talk shop. I’d get my own fucking drinkwhiletalking shop and I’d get my woman a drink while I did so.

As Autumn and I walked toward the bar that was set up, she confirmed Major Dick was, in fact, her husband. The same guy who continues to hurt her repeatedly. The same guy who had spies following her. The same guy who has security cameras around the house to monitor her every step. The same guy who I wanted to kill before I knew who he was. The same guy who I was certain I’d kill if he ever laid another hand on her.

Doing damage control, I tried to explain to Autumn that Trista wasn’t my girlfriend, that she was just my date. She didn’t believe me, but I begged her to trust me. Somehow—she did.