Page 66 of Ardently Yours

Her grip on my arm tightens.

“If you’ll excuse us. It’s time to refill my glass,” I say.

I lead Charlotte away from the group. When we’re out of earshot, she groans. “How would someone recognize me? Half my face is covered?”

“He’s fishing. Did you recognize him?”

She shakes her head. “No.”

After we dance again, I flag a waiter when Charlotte requests a glass of water with lemon.

Then it starts all over again. I’ve never been uncomfortable at social events. Small talk is easy. Except for some notable exceptions, I’ve never found parties particularly taxing.

I’ve also never had a woman I wanted to hoard for myself.

Charlotte smiles and makes an excuse to turn down yet another offer to dance with an overly persistent stranger, her discomfort obvious. Slow fury builds inside me.

I’ve never been the jealous type. If I had been, my marriage to Ariana would have destroyed me.

But one more blatant attempt to steal my girl, and I’m fucking somebody up. I’ve never made a public scene in my life, but I’m ready, willing, and able tonight.

“If you get tired of McRae and want to have some real fun, I have something going on at my penthouse after this.” Ethan Jamison grins at Charlotte, then winks at me as if it’s a joke.

Ariana always laughed at his antics, and I rolled my eyes. Tonight, I’m going to plow my fist through his face.

“I’m good. Thanks,” Charlotte says dryly.

She's already refused a cocktail he’s attempted to ply her with three separate times.

Ethan snorts and stares at her cleavage. “I’ll bet you are.”

I don’t register that I’ve touched him until his lapel is in my fist, and I’ve shoved him away from her. “Back off, asshole,” I growl.

He shrugs his shoulders and smooths down his jacket. “You need another drink, McRae. I don’t remember you being so possessive . . .”When I fucked your wifeis the part he leaves unspoken.

My marriage was a business contract. I didn’t care who she slept with as long as she was discreet and sober. Neither of those was the case with Jamison.

“I suppose someone who views women as toys, rather than human beings, would also struggle with basic vocabulary. It’s not possession. It’s showing her the respect she deserves. Harass her again—Speak to her like that one more time—and I’ll make you regret that you were born.”

Someone places a hand on my arm. I glance over to meet my mother’s pinched expression.

“Arden,” she says in a warning tone. Not another word leaves her lips, but the message is clear.De-escalate this scene. Now.

Jamison licks his bottom lip. “You don’t want to be respected. You want someone who knows what to do with that fat ass,”he says to Charlotte as he trails his fingers over her shoulder, following the path of a silk strap.

I lunge.

Are You Gonna Go My Way

Charlotte

Arden moves so quickly,I barely see it. One moment he's standing beside me, the next he’s twisted Ethan Jamison’s arm behind his back and slammed the man's face straight into the table next to us with a sickening thud. Arden holds him there, with Jamison’s face mashed into the black tablecloth, and pushes his pinned arm further and further up his back.

The crowd gasps, then a hush falls in the ballroom. Even the orchestra falters, then goes silent.

Ethan Jamison thought the public nature of this encounter would protect him. Arden McRae wouldn’t really do anything to him. NotMister By-The-Book.

Arden is acting on instinct. He can't be thinking clearly. Jamison probably already needs to get checked out at a hospital, but Arden shows no sign of easing off. He’ll break his arm if he hasn't already. He’ll regret it later.

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