Chapter 36
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
THORA
By the time Greer and I arrive at the gala, the ballroom is already packed and glittering beneath the chandeliers.
A string quartet plays near the far side of the room, soft classical music drifting beneath the steady hum of conversation while waiters move through the crowd with gold trays.
Everywhere I look, everyone who’s anyone smiles at one another like they’re here out of the goodness of their hearts instead of the far more honest reason: a favor from my father down the line in return for their hefty donation.
That’s how these things work, even when everyone pretends otherwise. Businessmen, politicians, celebrities, and anyone else who wants to grease Daddy’s palms are here for a good time.
Even Savannah and her family are here, though I’m shocked she came. Her father doesn’t surprise me. He’s always tried to get in good with Daddy, but Savannah has preferred to keep her distance.
I lift a bacon-wrapped date from a passing waiter’s tray, thankful no one has pushed me into Zachary’s arms yet.
A few feet away, Greer looks gorgeous in a black strapless silk gown, completely uninterested while some hedge fund guy talks her ear off. She gives him a polite smile, but I know my sister well enough to see she’s already mentally removed his spine and filed him under necessary social suffering.
Since rescuing her would only put me in his direct path, I decide this is the perfect time to get a drink. The bar stretches along the back wall beneath an arrangement of white roses and greenery, and I’m halfway there when one of the mirrored columns catches my reflection.
At first, I see only myself, the soft lace of my navy gown skimming my body. Then my attention shifts past my shoulder and my heart jumps hard enough to steal my breath.
Anton?
He’s standing a few feet behind me in a waiter’s uniform, dark eyes on mine through the reflection while people pass by him.
I turn so sharply that a man walking by with a tray of champagne nearly falls, his polite smile faltering as I stare past him like I’ve lost my mind. But when I search the room, Anton is nowhere to be found.
Pressing a hand to my stomach, I exhale slowly, trying to get a grip on myself. He wouldn’t come to Texas. He has nothing here, and I don’t want him here anyway.
But even as the thought forms, my gut tightens because it’s a lie. I’d do anything to see him just one more time.
As I make my way toward the bar, a familiar little voice cuts through the music.
“Aunt Thora!”
Rue comes barreling toward me, her baby-pink puffy dress swishing around her knees as Savannah follows behind her with a grin, looking effortlessly beautiful in her pale yellow silk gown. Over Savannah’s shoulder, near the edge of the crowd, Jace stands with a glass in his grip, watching them.
Well, mostly watching the woman he pretends he doesn’t want.
My brother may act indifferent, but when it comes to Savannah, there’s nothing indifferent about him. He doesn’t like to talk about it, but they had a thing once when they were teenagers—first kiss and all, and no one forgets that.
“Hey, Savannah. It’s so nice to see you.”
She reaches over for a hug. “You too. It’s been forever.”
“It has. How are Wren and your dad doing?”
“Hanging in there.” She drags in a long breath, pushing her dark auburn waves off her shoulders, her brown eyes shadowed with a hint of melancholy.
It hasn’t been that long since her mother passed away, and she and her sister have done what they can to help their father get through it.
“Doesn’t Savannah look pretty?” Rue grins, staring up at her with stars in her eyes. “I think Daddy thinks she looks pretty too.”
“Of course he does,” I say, just as Savannah gives me a look that says she’s in for it now.
“Have you said hi to each other yet?” Rue grabs her hand.
“Um…” Savannah clears her throat, silently begging me for help, but I’ve got nothing. Not against Rue.
“I think we should all go say hi. Look at him just standing there, looking sad. Come on, guys.”
She drags us over, and we follow beside her like helpless puppets. She really wants her father to marry Savannah, and I think it’s sweet, but I hate that she’ll be disappointed.
“Hi, Daddy. Look who came to say hi to you.”
Jace stands a little straighter, his black bow tie a bit crooked, but I can’t embarrass the man when he already looks this uncomfortable.
Savannah’s face goes red. “I…uh…hi.”
“Savannah.” His gaze travels over her with practiced disinterest, but the act falls apart when his eyes settle on her mouth. “You look…nice.”
I bite back a laugh.
Oh, these two are going to end up married, aren’t they?
“You look…okay, I guess.” One brow arches.
His mouth curls as he leans in, speaking just loudly enough for me to hear. “That’s not what you said—”
Her eyes expand, cutting him off, but the smug satisfaction written across his face tells me everything.
Okay. Wow. What did I miss?
They continue staring at each other until a slow song begins, and Savannah is the first to look away.
Rue pulls on Jace’s tux. “Daddy, don’t you love this song? Ask Savannah to dance.”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s a—” Savannah starts.
“Great idea, baby bear.” Jace grins in that devious way, and Savannah’s face hardens. “What do you say?” He holds out his arm.
She mutters something under her breath and slaps her hand into his. “Fine. One dance.”
Then she reaches up, and for a second, Jace’s jaw hardens as she fixes his bow tie. He barely moves, his breathing heavier now. She notices, her lips curving.
“Come on,” Jace says. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Oh, so romantic.” Savannah places her fingers on her chest, face scrunching before she rolls her eyes and leads the way.
Rue grows all giddy, and as they step away, she sighs. “Aren’t they cute?”
“They sure are.”
She glances past me, her eyes brightening as she lifts one hand and points toward the other side of the ballroom. “Look, Grandpa and Gran are coming, and I don’t know who that man is with them.”
My stomach sinks before I even face them. Because I do.
Zachary Peterson. Great.
Mama and Daddy are making their way toward us with Zachary right beside them, and when his eyes lock on me, his perfectly polished smile appears. He looks exactly like I remember: clean-cut and handsome in a very appropriate, parent-approved way, with dark hair neatly styled and soft blue eyes.
He is practically the poster boy for the kind of man my parents would want me to end up with. Polite. Wealthy. Connected. Safe.
Everything Anton Marinov is not.
“Sweetheart.” Mama leans in to kiss my cheek.
Daddy follows, his palm settling warmly on my shoulder.
“Hi, baby girl.” His smile is gentle as he gestures to the man beside him. “You remember Zachary Peterson.”
“Of course.” I force a practiced grin. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“The pleasure is mine.” He takes my hand with a gentle squeeze. “You look beautiful, Thora.”
“Thank you.”
Mama’s eyes flicker with satisfaction, which makes me want to drown myself in alcohol.
Zachary glances toward the dance floor. “Would you do me the honor of a dance?”
I try to hide my reluctance, but Mama catches it and gives me a wide-eyed look that says go dance with the man.
Rue’s small hand tightens around mine. “But I wanna dance.”
That’s right. Save me from this everlasting doom.
Mama reaches for her. “Come on, sweetheart. I’ll dance with you.”
“Yay!” Rue struts away with Mama, leaving me alone.
No! You were supposed to have my back.
Daddy claps Zachary on the shoulder. “You two have fun.”
Wonderful. My father has already adopted him as his future son-in-law.
Since I’ve apparently been outmaneuvered by my entire family, I surrender. At first, we don’t go straight to the dance floor. He walks beside me through the crowd at an easy pace, nodding to people who greet him.
“We don’t have to dance if you don’t want to.”
“No, it’s fine.” I clasp my hands in front of me.
“Well, that’s a vote of confidence.” He chuckles.
“I don’t mean to be rude.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “Not at all. I understand. I have a sister. Parents don’t make it easy, do they?”
“They mean well.” I sigh.
“Yeah, they do.” We pass a cluster of men laughing with drinks in hand. “Your parents told me about the work you do with horses. Being a vet is admirable, and finishing school so fast. Wow, good for you.”
A little warmth slips through me. “Yeah, I’ve always loved animals. It was my calling.”
“Well, now I definitely feel inadequate in your company.”
“Oh, stop.” Heat creeps into my cheeks.
“No, I mean it. I love animals too. I grew up riding, so horses have always been a big part of my life.”
“Really?”
“Oh, yeah.” His smile widens. “Maybe we could ride together sometime. Your family has some of the best land in Texas, and I’m sure you know every trail.”
Okay, fine. He’s not so bad. I could probably even see us becoming friends, but sleeping with him is never going to happen. Because all I can picture is Anton with his rough, untamed exterior and the softer parts of himself he tries so hard to pretend don’t exist.
Heat rushes through my body, and I clear my throat.
“Don’t you think?” Zachary asks.
Shit. I have no idea what he just said.
“Yeah, definitely.” Lord, I hope that was the right answer.
“Yeah, me too.”
Okay, so I didn’t completely embarrass myself. Maybe.
“So how about that dance now?” He offers me his hand, and I force myself to take it.
His other one settles at my waist as we sway beneath the glittering lights. But through every turn, I search the crowd, hoping to see Anton again, even if I only imagined him the first time.
One song bleeds into another, and just as I give up hope, a figure appears over Zachary’s shoulder. And this time, I know it’s him.
He’s no longer in the waiter’s uniform, but those dark pupils are unmistakable, watching me from behind a group of people near the far side of the ballroom, his body completely still.
My breath stalls in my lungs.
Zachary spins us gently, and by the time the room swings back into place and I peer again, Anton is gone.
I swear, I’m losing my fucking mind.
“You okay?” Zachary’s eyes narrow.
“Yes.” The answer comes too quickly. “Sorry. I thought I saw someone I knew.”
He glances in the direction I was looking, then back at me. “Anyone interesting?”
“No.” I laugh uncomfortably. “Not at all.”
The rest of the song passes with me barely hearing a word. When the final notes fade, Zachary lifts my hand and presses a kiss to my knuckles, so perfectly charming that Mama is probably glowing from somewhere.
“Would you like me to get you a drink?”
“That’s very sweet, but I’m actually going to run to the ladies’ room for a minute. I’ll be right back.”
“Of course.” His smile stays easy as he releases me. “I’ll be by the bar.”
I hurry out of sight, slipping through the crowd and toward the hallway that leads to the bathrooms while trying very hard not to glance over my shoulder again.
Just as I reach for the handle, two women step out, both greeting me as they pass before the door swings shut behind me, leaving the bathroom empty.
Stopping in front of the mirror, I stare at myself. “Get a grip. He’s not here. You’re imagining it.”
But the feeling in the pit of my stomach says otherwise.
Forcing myself to move, I go into one of the stalls, lock the door, and take a minute to breathe. A sudden click makes me gasp, my fingers freezing on the latch as my eyes enlarge.
I wait for footsteps, the rustle of a dress, anything to tell me someone else came in, but nothing follows. My heart races as I gradually open the door and check the sinks and mirrors, recoiling when I find the bathroom still empty.
“Hello?” I call out.
When no one answers, a nervous laugh slips from me as I step fully out of the stall.
“Okay,” I whisper, walking to the sink. “You’ve officially lost your mind.”
I pump soap into my hands and wash them before reaching for one of the folded linen napkins beside the sink. But when I look up, Anton’s dark, emotionless eyes are staring back at me through the mirror.
Every inch of me goes tight. I can’t move, afraid that if I turn around, he won’t be there.
Slowly, I face him, and the second I do, a cold rush sweeps through me.
Anton is really here, in black pants and a black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his expression dark and ravenous and aimed right at me.