Page 80 of First Chance

She waves someone out of sight over, and I sigh. “It’s time to push for publicity before we get into the final months of your brother’s campaign.”

His campaign manager, Austin, walks through the crowd, approaching us, and I take a deep breath to curb my annoyance because my brother and father are right behind him. Great.

“What is going on?” I ask even though I really don’t care to know.

“We need to make things official.”

“What things?”

“In two weeks, Austin will propose at the Biltmore Gala.”

Plates crash, water spills, and someone in the distance screams in terror. Except the room doesn’t falter because it’s all in my head.

This can’t be happening again, not after how far I’ve gotten away from them.

“No.”

“This isn’t up for debate, your father approves. The perception will be excellent for your brother’s image.”

“What? That we’re a big, happy family?” I screech, causing a few heads to swivel in our direction. My mother smiles politely, redirecting their attention and then gritting her teethat me.

“Your brother isn’t ready for marriage, but being associated with an engaged couple will boost his likability.”

“He isn’t ready? He’s ten years older than I am!”

“JoAnna, you’ll calm down this instance,” my father demands.

“No,” I cry out, stepping back as they team up in front of me, crowding me like evil invaders.

I’m trapped with my back against the wall, literally. My panicked gaze flits across the room until it latches onto the only eyes that blanket me in safety.

Looming over the crowd, his stature filters through all the chaos. He’s facing a couple of people, but his focus is on me because he always finds me in a room. His brows furrow deeper as my internal temperature rises.

“We’ll start spreading the word tonight that you two have been seeing each other. It’s official,” my mother quips haughtily.

“I can’t be engaged to Austin.”

“And, why not?”

My fingertips graze the gold ring on the middle finger of my left hand, and I take a deep breath, slipping it off and onto the finger to its left.

“Because I’m already engaged.”

“WHAT!” The chorus of outrage rings out, but I can’t pay attention to who is the angriest. All I can see is Lochlan’s confused expression from across the room.

He has no idea what I’m about to do.

I’m so sorry.I plead with my eyes anyway, hoping that I can get away with using him to save myself one last time.

“I’m engaged to Lochlan Dane,” I state boldly, preparing to reap the consequences of my actions.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Lochlan

Her beautiful painted lips turn down, further and further, and I can’t control the rage burning inside me. Someone’s upsetting her.

Her big, sad eyes are a magnet pulling me in because whenever she needs me, I’ll come. It doesn’t matter where we are or what I said earlier about boundaries. If Jo needs help, then I’ll be the one to help her.

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