Page 12 of Masked

The rest of the reception went by in a blur of drinks, toasts, and more dancing than she cared for, but it was fun. At some point in the evening, Parker and some of his friends gathered at a table with a bottle of whiskey and were playing cards and drinking. At first she tried to sit there and be the supportive girlfriend, but it was too much, so she got up and wandered the room looking for someone interesting to talk to.

“I’ve been looking for a chance to dance with you all night,” a voice said. She turned to find a drunk groomsman reaching for her waist. She batted his hand away, and he grabbed her wrist.

“Aww come on. Don’t be a spoilsport,” he slurred.

“I’m afraid I’m all danced out. Let go of me.”

He didn’t let go. Instead, he pulled her closer to him and started trying to dance even though they were nowhere near the dance floor. She put both her hands on his chest and tried to shove, but he was solid muscle and she didn’t have any effect on him.

The song was almost over, so she let him keep swaying back and forth with her until she caught the right moment to break away.

“Sure are a pretty thing,” he slurred. “I don’t remember seeing you around before. What’s your name again?”

She wanted to laugh at his drunken questions, but being forced to dance against her will kind of took the humor out of things.

“Let me go or I’m going to knee you in the balls,” she warned.

“You don’t have to be a bitch. It’s just a dance.”

“A dance she doesn’t want, asshole.” A familiar voice growled before a hand shot out and gripped the groomsman’s shoulder. Noah must have been digging into a pressure point, because he let go of her, and Reva backed up.

“I think you’ve had enough fun for one night.”

Noah snapped his fingers and two men appeared at his side. Security for the wedding. She’d never been to a wedding with security before.

“Mr. Davis has had a little too much to drink and needs help finding his room.”

“We were just dancing,” the man shouted as the guards dragged him away.

“Thanks for keeping me from having to kick him in the nuts, but I totally would have.”

Noah flashed her a wicked smile. “I have no doubt about that, Ms. Calhoun. I’m sorry you got cornered that way. Where the hell is Parker?”

Reva nodded to the table where a rowdy card game was still going on. “I think I’ve had enough excitement for one night. Will you congratulate Mandy for me again and tell Parker I left? I’m going to head inside and read until I fall asleep.”

He put a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll escort you. I don’t want Davis to get any ideas if he sees you coming into the house after him.”

Reva smiled. “You’re sweet for caring, but I’m a big girl.”

“I’m afraid I must insist.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “So just like Davis, you can’t take no for an answer. Noted.”

He backed up with a chuckle. “Point made, Reva. Have a good night.”

Reva turned and headed for the house, and as she was leaving the tent, she looked back and found him staring at her.

Chapter 4

Present Day

Reva

Revastaredinhorroras Parker dropped to one knee. How the hell had she gotten here? Somehow, two dates and a few nights spent together had turned into five years and living together.

But they’d never talked about marriage before, so his proposal was not something she ever expected.

“Reva Calhoun, will you marry me?”

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