Page 31 of Second Chance Savior

We had a complicated history. Including my engagement to his brother. But my connection to River went far beyond that. I had thought we were friends once.

And averylong time ago, I had believed we could be more.

“I don’t know what to do with you,” I said. But already, the anger was fading. That was another thing about River. It was hard to stay mad at the man. Especially when he seemed so insistent on saving my life.

Before I realized what I was doing, my hand stretched out to fix his shirt collar. It was slightly uneven on one side.

When I went to draw my hand back, he captured it between his. The air whooshed out of my lungs. Shivers chased the goosebumps along my skin.

Tonight, River looked just polished enough to pass for the rich man he truly was. But those hands. They were rough and scarred, betraying the brutal realities of his past. A past I didn’t know much of. River had always disappeared before I could get too close.

Dangerous, I reminded myself.That’s what he is.

“Does that mean I can stay?” he asked. Which was a total non sequitur to anything I’d just said.

Yet there I was, nodding.

“Don’t get in the agents’ way. As far as I’m concerned, you’re just another donor.”

“Then I guess I’ve taken up enough of your time, Lieutenant Governor.” He still had my hand cradled between his.

I pulled away from his grasp, spun on my heel.

Brynn caught up with me. “Is he going to be an issue?” she asked.

“No. Just ignore him. That’s what I plan to do.”

Brynn’s lips pressed together. Like she knew what a lie that was. “What should I tell Rainey and Torres? They still don’t know River warned you about Stillwater. They’re assuming he’s another ex-boyfriend who won’t move on. That man-eater reputation of yours is going to spread if you’re not careful.”

I rolled my eyes. “If they only knew how boring my love life really is. Let Rainey and Torres think what they like. Just tell them River isn’t a threat.”

We’d returned to the party, and I was immediately swallowed up by donors vying for a moment of my attention. But my mind was on the man I’d left behind me.

For the rest of the evening, I kept seeing River on my periphery. He had a glass of red wine in his hand that he didn’t drink. He smiled and schmoozed with the other rich donors. Women flirted with him by the silent auction tables, and it looked like he was flirting right back.

I wished my attention didn’t keep gravitating toward him.

One woman in particular kept laughing and touching his jacket, and I had the compulsion to rip her arm from the puffy sleeve of her dress. This was a serious event about a sobering subject. Not ladies’ night at a downtown club.

Also, wasn’t he supposed to be protecting me? Not picking up wealthy divorcees?

Yes, I knew how ridiculous I sounded. I hadn’t wanted him here at all.

But at least I’d forgotten to be anxious about the threat against me.

The silent auction was almost over. I’d bid on several items, and I’d talked to just about everyone here. I wasbeat.

That was when Brynn came over to me, looking pale. A sheen of sweat coated her forehead. Agent Torres had been standing near me, so she pulled both of us away from the crowd near the auction tables.

“You okay, Somerton?” Torres asked. “You don’t look so good.”

“No shit. I feel like I’m going to—” She turned and retched into the bushes.

“Brynn!” I put a hand on her back.

She coughed a few times, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief Torres offered. “This came on way too fast. I think I might’ve been drugged. Charlotte, we need to get you out of here.”

“Drugged?”

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