Page 91 of Try Me

The Price of Your Soul

Declan

As Declan promised,they were very late to the dinner.

If Declan had had his way, they never would have left his suite at all. But he knew he couldn’t keep Pearl captive. Those days in Kauai were as close to paradise as he would ever get.

They were back in the real world now. The world of competitions and lies. Declan thought of it as putting his public face on. It was a mask he was tired of donning.

Declan glanced around the banquet hall, searching for a friendly face. He found nothing but glowers and squints aimed in his direction. To say he wasn’t well liked among his competitors was an understatement. Declan had been winning too much lately to be popular. He was well aware of the target on his back. There wasn’t a single man in the room who didn’t want to take him down.

Declan didn’t care about the competition. None of the other surfers were a threat to him. His biggest threat to winning the Duke was himself.

Usually before a contest, Declan had a one-track mind. He only focused on the waves he would surf, but tonight was different. Thinking about the waves at Sunset Beach made Declan’s head ache. Every time he pictured the break at Sunset Beach, he thought of Eddie, and his head filled with a hammering sound so loud and sharp he thought his head would split open. So, he didn’t think of the waves, which left him thinking of Pearl.

She’d slipped away from him as soon as they’d entered the banquet hall. Declan had been forced to watch her from afar all night, and his jaw felt like it would shatter from clenching so hard. She’d been on McKenna’s arm the whole night. Declan could only wonder what poison the man was spilling into her ear.

And the dress she’d chosen was killing him. The color of a rich Bordeaux wine, the gown appeared demure from the front with a high neckline that circled her throat and left her collarbones bare. From the back, it was a different story. Two flimsy straps held the dress in place, leaving the rest of Pearl’s smooth bronze skin exposed. A slit ran up from the hem to midthigh, giving him a glimpse of her perfect legs with every step.

Declan brooded and sipped his drink he wished was something stronger than water. If he had a whiskey on ice, he would sip it slowly, letting the flavors of smoke and spice roll over his tongue before sliding down his throat. A glass of whiskey, preferably Irish for its clean, crisp taste, would help Declan forget Pearl’s reaction to his confession of love.

He cringed, thinking of how she had brushed him off and even accused him of lying. It hadn’t been the romantic experience he’d pictured. She hadn’t thrown herself into his arms. She hadn’t repeated his words and kissed him.

And now, she wouldn’t even look at him.

Declan stared so hard at Pearl from his seat at the table that she must feel ready to combust from the heat of his gaze, but she wouldn’t turn his way. She had a smile for everyone except him.

Clenching the glass of water in his hand, Declan transferred his gaze to McKenna. Wearing a three-piece pin-striped suit, McKenna looked as smooth and polished as always. He handed Pearl a cocktail and then drew her close. She stretched up on tiptoe to listen.

Declan’s blood boiled watching them. What was McKenna saying to Pearl? Probably promising her the world. Once upon a time, McKenna had filled Declan’s head with promises, which he’d delivered, for the small price of Declan’s soul.

He slammed his glass down on the table with more force than necessary and gave up casually leaning against the cocktail table. Declan couldn’t take watching Pearl from across the room for another second.

He stood up and started making his way through the crowd toward Pearl. Duke Kahanamoku was supposed to be here tonight, and everyone involved in the surfing industry was at the event. They usually made a big show of introducing the contestants one at a time and taking photos. The banquet hall was crawling with contestants, reporters and superfans of the sport who’d bought tickets at thirty dollars a head.

Declan sucked in a breath of frustration as he tried to make his way through the crowd to Pearl.

A camera suddenly flashed in his face, blinding him before he’d had a chance to fix his scowl. The reporters didn’t usually sneak up on him like that or take pictures when nothing was happening. As Declan’s vision cleared, he realized the flash hadn’t been for him.

Claudia Montgomery was here, only a few feet away. More cameras flashed as she stopped in front of him, nearly the same height as him in her impossibly high heels.

“Hi, stranger,” she said, lips curving in a secretive smile. “Miss me?”

More flashes went off in Declan’s face as Claudia looped her arms around Declan’s neck. He blinked into the light, and Claudia pressed against him. He felt the softness of her breasts crush against his chest and smelled the powdery scent of roses in her hair. Cameras flashed again as Claudia pulled Declan’s head to hers and kissed him.

Claudia was a good actress. She took advantage of Declan’s surprise and controlled the kiss, angling her body to show her best assets to the cameras. Her fingers tangled in his hair, and her leg snaked around his thigh as she wound herself around him, making it impossible for Declan to break free.

By the time Declan tore his mouth away, the damage was done. The reporters had everything they needed to embellish a story.

Declan’s heart dropped as he saw Pearl standing at the bar, a look of pure confusion on her face.

Declan pushed Claudia away and growled at the reporters to move. He stormed across the crowded hall, shoving people aside to get to Pearl. She stood frozen to the spot, eyes blazing at him. Her face was ashen except for two bright stains on her cheeks.

Declan’s heart dropped seeing her so upset. He’d known she cared about him when she’d been jealous over Linda, but this was too much. This was her heart breaking. He’d done that to her and he felt horrible. He reached for her hand, but Pearl stepped away.

Cameras flashed as Pearl turned and ran off in the direction of the kitchen.

Declan started after her, but McKenna grabbed his arm, stopping him. “Don’t go after her,” he said. “It’s over.”

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