Chapter Ten #2
“Did you know that Kelli and Ian dated when she was a freshman in college? She had it bad for him.” Amanda fanned herself.
“Amanda.” I was infuriated she let that little detail drop out of thin air like an atomic bomb. She ignored me.
Delfia’s entire face lit up. “I knew there was a past there. You should see the fireworks in the office.”
Matt gave me a strained smile, obviously uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. Him and me both.
I finally couldn’t take it anymore. “I’m off to find Boss and Holly.
” No one cared that I left; they were enjoying their gossip fest. I walked past Zane and Mr. Greyson on my way back in, they were now sitting and talking like two old men on a front porch.
It made me nervous. I didn’t want him to be friends with my family, and where was the family loyalty, for crying out loud?
I glared at both men as I walked by. Zane laughed, but Mr. Greyson acted like he was going to stand and follow me until Zane grabbed his attention with some more business talk.
I didn’t expect that, but I should have because ever since he walked back into my life, it had been nothing but unpredictable.
Unfortunately, there was one thing I could predict tonight. And that was Luke. He didn’t disappoint. When I walked into the house, he was coming out. He reeked of alcohol, even more than before, like he had taken a bath in it while I was on the patio.
“Baby doll, I’ve been looking for you.”
I hated it when he called me that, but I ignored it. The last thing I wanted was for him to blow up at his parents’ party, and when he drank you never knew what would set him off.
“Do you know where your parents are?” I tried to distract him.
He shook his head while perusing every inch of me.
The sinister gleam in his eyes gave me the willies.
I couldn’t believe this was the Luke I used to know.
He grabbed my hand and tried to pull me back outside.
I pulled back, but for a drunken guy, he was still well in control of his body, and he sure didn’t lack strength.
“Luke, please let go.”
“Come on, baby.”
He drew closer, and I almost puked from the smell.
“Luke, knock it off,” I tried to keep my voice down, not wanting to cause a scene. He refused to let go, and now he was disgustingly licking his lips. That was it. I yanked as hard as I could. That did the trick, but it set him off.
He reached for me again. “Baby, don’t play innocent with me. You know you want me. It’s why you dressed like a whore tonight.”
He might as well have slapped me. I’d never been called such a thing. I held my stomach, stunned. That gave Luke another shot at me. He gripped my arm like a vice. Thankfully, Mr. Greyson and Zane were alerted.
Mr. Greyson grabbed his hand while Zane grabbed the back of his shirt.
“I suggest if you want to keep that hand you let go of her immediately,” Mr. Greyson growled. I had never seen him look so furious. His eyes blazed with hatred toward Luke.
Luke let go, and Zane directed him forcefully out the door. Luke kept spouting out more vile words. “You ruined my life, tramp. I’m glad I never married you,” he spewed.
All the guests on the patio or near the door were now staring at me.
It was dead silent. I was hot with embarrassment, trying to hold back my tears.
I managed to say, “Thank you,” to a livid Mr. Greyson before I darted off as fast as I could.
I wove my way through a crowd of people and out the front door.
I made it as far as the porch swing before I lost it.
No matter whether you believe what a person says about you, it still hurts.
I clung to the swing’s chain, tears pouring down my cheeks, silently falling on my new dress.
It wasn’t long before a harried Mr. Greyson ran out the door. He almost ran past me until he heard me sniffle. “There you are,” the concern in his voice made me cry harder.
He rushed over to me.
I tried to wipe at the tears furiously, but to no avail—they kept coming.
“May I join you?” he asked. He looked so sweet. He looked like my Ian.
I nodded my reply.
He sat right next to me and handed me a tissue.
I gladly accepted the tissue. “Thank you. Where did you get this?”
“Your sister thought you would need one.”
She knew me so well, but I wondered why she hadn’t come to find me as I dabbed my eyes and cheeks. “Did Luke leave?” I asked.
“He won’t be bothering you anymore.”
That didn’t really answer the question, but it made me feel better. I didn’t want his parents’ party to be spoiled. “Do Gary and Holly know?”
He gently picked up my arm and began carefully pulling up my sleeve. “Quit worrying about everyone else right now. Are you all right?” He lightly touched the finger marks left by Luke. “Does that hurt?”
I shook my head no.
He delicately placed my hand back in my lap. He reached up and brushed a few tears away.
“Doesn’t this cross some professional boundaries?” I sniffled.
He brushed my cheek one more time. “I guess it’s a good thing we’re not in the office.”
Without thinking, I reached up and grabbed his hand as he touched my face. It was so natural. It was an old habit, and my heart leapt. For a moment our eyes locked, and there I saw . . . “Ian.”
His lips curled up. He took my hand and held it between his own, caressing it as if it was a treasure.
Oh, that felt good. Too good. I pulled my hand away. “I meant, Mr. Greyson . . . Thank you. We should probably get back to the party now.”
His shoulders dropped, and he sighed. “Someday, Kelli.”
“Someday, what?”
He tucked some of my hair behind my ear. “Just someday.”
I popped up and smoothed out my dress. His touch was killing me. “Do I look like a mess?”
“After everything that just happened, that’s what you’re worried about?”
“I don’t want to worry Boss and Holly. Plus, a girl never knows when Mr. Right will pop up.”
He shook his head at me and stood.
I gazed up at his beautiful face wishing . . . No, I couldn’t ever risk that wish again.
“You still look amazing, but—”
“But?”
He leaned in like he was going to do far more than answer my question.
Oh, good heavens, his lips looked inviting.
“But . . . the question is, will you ever call Mr. Right by his first name?”
What a weird response. It was good though. It helped me forget that I wanted to plant my lips on his. “Unless his name is Mr. Darcy.” I thought that was a clever response.
“You still love that book?”
“Doesn’t every available woman in her thirties?”
“That I wouldn’t know,” he responded.
I headed for the door. We needed to be around people.
He didn’t follow. “I need to take off.”
I turned around. “So soon?” Why did I sound disappointed?
“I have an early flight tomorrow.”
“Oh.”
“I’m heading to Colorado. Some personal things have come up that I need to take care of.”
“How long will you be gone?” Not like I really cared.
“A week, maybe two. But don’t worry, I’ll be checking in every day.”
“Oh, thank you, you don’t know how worried I was there.”
He chuckled. “Good night, Kelli. I’ll call you.”
Wow that sounded familiar. It made me catch my breath. “Good night, Mr. Greyson.”
He walked off muttering, “Someday, Kelli, someday . . .”
I watched him walk off, and I felt a tiny tug in my chest. I chalked it up to heartburn.