Page 47 of Ruined Vows

But then she wraps her arm around his neck. I can’t see where they’re kissing from this vantage point. It makes my guts churn that I can’t see to make sure I know she’s all right with it and the fact that I’m seeing it at all.

I barely know this girl.

And you’re just her protection officer. None of this should be affecting me at all.

This is her world. Mine are the dive bars outside of Waco, where I grew up. Or out brawling on some military outpost. I heard what her mom called me. I’m a gorilla, and she’s a princess.

I feel my blood heating, and I reach into my pocket, untwist the wrapping on a peppermint, and pop it in my mouth.

I close my mouth and focus on the spicy sugar candy. By the time I’ve got my eyes open again, Kira’s back in her seat and a line of waiters are bringing out dessert. Thank Christ. Does that mean this nightmare of a dinner is almost over?

I double check the exits and go back to my careful surveying of each face that I was engaged in before the slick fiancé got up for his little speech. No one seems to be paying Kira any special attention, but it’s clear everyone in this room is good at acting a part. They all know the rules of the game.

Each person in this room probably has a whole host of skeletons in their closets. Is one of those secrets a penchant for stalking and terrifying the intelligent, young, beautiful deacon’s daughter?

But while the old men occasionally glance her way, none of them linger too long. I’m getting nothing.

Finally, thank god, it feels like the night is winding down. I look at my watch. Ten-thirty. That feels late for all the white hair in this room. More toasts have been given, but they felt more like political speeches for upcoming midterms than happy wishes for the couple. Apparently, Drew’s father is up for re-election. I get the idea that this is essentially another fundraising opportunity for the guy.

But glasses are still clinking and conversations are winding down when a blonde woman at the other end of the table suddenly stands up dramatically, her chair screeching back loudly on the polished granite tile.

She’s in a shimmering gold dress that hugs her body, and the low-cut bodice exposing ample cleavage heaves as she calls out, “I object!”

All heads in the room swivel her way, and a woman I can only guess to be her mother grabs her arm in a futile attempt to yank her back down into her seat.

The blonde fights her off. “I object to this engagement!” she passionately cries again, dancing back from the table and her desperately grasping mother.

“Drew,” she pleads. “Tell them. Tell them it’smeyou love. Nother.” She flings a hand out in Kira’s direction.

I can only see the back of Drew’s head from where I’m standing, but he makes no move to even look over at the woman. Kira’s head twists back and forth from the blonde to Drew.

Several men get up from the table and start walking toward the woman. Family? Friends? Or simply friends of the senator?

She holds her hands out and backs away from them.

“Drew,please,” she pleads to the man who still won’t even look her direction. “We could be happy together. I know we could.”

One of the men approaching her signals a security guard staffing the exits. He nods and advances from behind. “I’m going to need to escort you out, ma’am.”

She spins on him, blonde hair flying. “What are you talking about? I have an invitation.” Her hair whirls again as she turns back. “Drew! Tell them!”

“Ma’am. I need you to please come with me.”

Another security officer is at her other side. When he attempts to take her by her arm, she starts to freak, lashing out with her manicured nails. The security officer catches her arm before her claws get to his face.

“Drew!” she shrieks hysterically as the security officer pins her arm behind her back. “Drew! You told me you’re not even attracted to her! How are you going to give your father grandchildren when you can’t evenfuckher?!”

Drew finally reacts, bolting upright from his chair, chest heaving as the guards forcibly escort the woman from the ballroom. She keeps screaming and crying the whole way. When she starts howling, “I’ll kill you! I’ll fucking kill you, bitch!” right before the doors close behind her, Kira looks behind her and makes eye contact with me.

I nod, already on the same page. Have we been thinking about her stalker in the wrong way? I would chase after the guards and the woman to interrogate her, except there’s no way I’m leaving Kira alone.

Kira’s attention moves back to the table and, infuriatingly, to Drew. She reaches out and grasps his hands, tugging him to sit back down again.

As if she’s comfortinghim.

I obviously don’t understand what the fuck sort of agreement they have between them because any woman from the trailer park where I grew up would’ve slapped her man after an outburst from another woman, then made a great show of stomping off the scene.

But Kira just looks around the table and laughs lightly. For once in the entire evening, the room is silent, and the rich texture of her laugh echoes around the room.

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