Chapter 2
Two
You’d think my father was in the room with the amount of anxiety bubbling inside me. From the outside, I appear calm and unaffected, but the truth is I’m always on edge, attempting to control my emotions. If I ever bothered going to therapy, a psychologist would probably tell me that’s where my demand to keep the peace comes from, but I don’t need to pay someone to tell me how fucked up I am.
Tonight is different. My nerves are frazzled because I’m asking Maude to marry me. She met my brothers earlier this evening, and even though the greeting didn’t go exceptionally well, it went okay enough. I wish for them to like her because it will make my life easier, but I don’t need their permission.
I’ve already conducted a thorough background check on Maude and made sure she’s who she says she is. So I don’t know why my eldest brother, Asher, is so resistant to the idea of me marrying her. At least Anabelle is with him tonight. I’m not sure what’s going on with the two of them, but she seems to mellow him out a bit. At least as much as a guy like Asher can mellow.
They’ve just excused themselves to go dance. Now might be the perfect opportunity to sneak off to warn Asher about my plans.
I face Maude. “I’m going to run to the restroom. I’ll try not to stop and chat with people who recognize me.”
Her lips tilt for a beat—probably since I’m leaving her with my brothers Sid and Kol—but she recovers quickly with a smile. “I’ll go find my mom and sister while you’re gone.” She leans in closer. “I don’t think your brothers like me that much.”
I draw back and look in her brown eyes through her silver mask. “That’s not true.” I refrain from admitting that they don’t care for a lot of people. I give her a chaste kiss. “I’ll be back soon.”
We both stand. My brothers quirk their eyebrows in my direction. While she goes in search of Dru and her mother, I walk the perimeter of the dance floor in search of Asher and Anabelle. Spotting them, I push through the crowd and come up behind Asher.
“Asher!”
Asher’s jaw tightens, and he glares at me.
I’ve interrupted something. “Shit, sorry for interrupting.”
“What is it?” he says with irritation.
“I need to know what you think of Maude. I’m nervous as hell, and I need to know you have no real objections.”
My brother’s shoulders relax. “Do whatever you think is right. You’re a grown man. Make the decision yourself.”
Does Anabelle have some potion she’s drugging him with? I’m shocked but pleased.
“I’m going to run to the ladies’ room and let you two talk,” Anabelle says. “I’ll meet you back at the table?”
Asher places a chaste kiss on her lips before his face runs along her cheek to her ear, whispering something that makes her blush. Could he be in love? Asher in love? I never would have thought.
“I promise you this is the right decision.” I clamp his shoulder. I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince him or me.
“Do you know how you’re going to do it?”
I grin. “I booked a room for us at a nearby hotel. I’ve arranged for the suite to be filled with flowers and desserts. I’m going to run a bubble bath for us and ask her to marry me.”
“You’re a regular Prince Charming.”
I roll my eyes. Out of my four brothers, I’m the most in tune with my emotions. Maybe because I’m the youngest, and they all protected me. They all have these hard exteriors that I don’t, but I know my brothers. When they meet the love of their lives, they’ll be running bubble baths and sprinkling rose petals on beds too. “You’d do the same for Anabelle.”
He ignores my statement and instead sticks one hand between us and the other clamps onto my shoulder. “Good luck.”
“Thanks, big brother. Listen, if you don’t mind, I’m going to take off. I just want it over.”
“The rest of us will handle things here.”
“Awesome.” I make my way off the dance floor, but something catches my eye before I do.
Or rather someone.
A blonde with her hair pulled back, wearing a light blue dress that shows off an amazing pair of legs, is trying to free herself from a man who’s clearly had too much to drink. I don’t recognize him, but then again, the masks don’t help any. I turn in their direction, walking toward them. The guy pulls her into him.
What the fuck?
I don’t want to cause a scene, but this guy needs to keep his hands to himself before I break them. I fucking hate men who are physically aggressive with women. It hits too close to home with how my father treated my mother. I was so young when my mother died, but my most vivid memories are the ones where my father was physically abusive to her.
I walk up to them, not pausing for a beat, and place my hand on the small of her back, standing as close as I can to her. “There you are. Ready for that dance you promised me?” I glare at the man who is twenty or thirty years her senior.
Through her silver mask, her blue eyes widen. I stare into the depths, lost for a moment.
She’s much better at recovering herself from whatever just passed between us. “I… yes, yes, sorry I was held up.”
The man mumbles something and reluctantly steps back.
“Shall we?” I gesture to the dance floor.
Her eyes scan the area as if she’s here with someone else whom she’s scared might find her in my arms, but she walks toward the dance floor. She winds around couples dancing until we’re cocooned in the middle of the wooden floor. I place my hand around her waist and hold her hand between our bodies. As I guide her around the dance floor, I’m surprised it doesn’t feel awkward.
Her perfume of jasmine and sandalwood assaults me as her feet easily move with mine. She’s a natural dancer, allowing me to lead effortlessly. I’m distracted by her tits pressing against my chest. Hers are bigger than average, and it’s impossible for me not to notice. I shouldn’t compare her to Maude, but I can’t help it.
“Thank you for saving me. I was trying to be polite, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Usually I have no trouble dealing with men like him, but he was more persistent than most.”
“Happy to help.”
Again, she scours the crowd.
“Are you here with anyone?” Not sure where the douchebag of a man she’s with that would let her out of his sight for a second, but she’s definitely concerned about someone spotting us.
“No, I’m here by myself.”
“You’re looking everywhere but at me. Figured you were with someone here.”
She chuckles, and my stomach swoops from the carefree lilt of her laughter.
“What’s your mask?” she asks, changing the subject.
“A raven.”
She studies it for a beat. “It’s a lot fancier than everyone else’s.”
“I wear a mask on other occasions, so I invested in a nice one.”
“Oh, so you come to this event every year?” Her head tilts, and one of the curls from her updo escapes. I force myself not to tuck it behind her ear.
I smirk. “Something like that.”
“Are you here with someone?” she asks.
Her question is innocent enough. I’m currently dancing closely with her. I have the urge not to mention Maude, which is an asshole move, but the thought of telling her I’m here with someone else feels like a blow to the gut.
“I am.” I circle her around, knowing I need to be honest. “In fact, I’m proposing to her later this evening.”
Her footsteps stumble, and my hand slides down, clasping her waist so she doesn’t fall.
“Sorry.” She strips her gaze from me, and her body grows tense in my hold.
Maybe I’m not the only one who feels this pull between us. I’ve only been around this woman for a few minutes, and I don’t even know what she looks like without a mask. I need to ignore whatever this is since I’m proposing to another woman tonight.
The song ends and another one starts, but she steps out of my arms.
“Thanks again for the help. Good luck with your proposal. I wish you a lifetime of happiness.” She turns toward the crowd.
“Together.”
She stops and glances at me over her shoulder. “Sorry?”
“You forgot to add together at the end of your sentence.”
For the first time, her smile falters, and her lips thin. “No, I didn’t.”
As she disappears through the crowd, I realize that I didn’t even get her name.
I make my way back to Maude, but the mysterious blonde lingers in the back of my mind. Not the best sign.