Page 31 of Ricochet

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The reception hall blurred around Adelia. The twinkle lights that were so romantic ten minutes ago were nothing more than a headache’s worth of white lights with tails chasing her as she rushed off the dance floor like a thunderstorm rolling for the exit doors.

Outside the community center, there would be fresh air, warm air with a cool breeze and not this choking, love sick-balminessthat made her gasp. Panic and tears blurred her vision, and her fists balled, manicured nails digging into her flesh as she refused to let nightmares of Brazil surface on Seven’s special night.

She bumped into a waiter, and the man grabbed her wrist as she lost balance. Adelia barely heard his unneeded apologies. The collision had been her fault, but the touch—the grab—she ground her teeth togetherto force away the memories of when her hands were bound, when she was hung like a pig awaiting slaughter.

Another hand wrapped around her chest. She was off her high heels as the room spun. A hard grip held her jaw and hauled her away…

“Adelia.”

Tears begged for mercy, so that she would free them, but the answer was always no. She didn’t cry. Wouldn’t cry.

“Adelia.”

The harsh hands on herjaw weren’t actually harsh, and her head jostled enough, the rhythmic ripple of fingers massaging one after the other, that she realized the hand didn’t hurt at all. She hazarded a peek—Colin. Her heart jumped the same time embarrassment flashed through her. “Oh, no.”

“There you go. Take it easy.”

“I just needed to get some air,” she whispered.

He chuckled silently. “You are something else;you know that?”

Adelia was finally able to take a deep breath and steady herself. “It’s my nature I guess.”

“Your brother’s stubborn,” he joked. “I suppose you come by it naturally.”

Her hands trembled. Even her ankles didn’t feel strong in her shoes. “He’s more asshole than stubborn. But I love him.”

“You said it.” Amusement made Colin’s eyes prettier. “But you’re no asshole.”

She bit herlip, not wanting to smile. His faux-serious inflection was hard to resist. “Well, thanks.” There was nowhere close to relax, and Adelia was now officially worn out. “I’m okay. Really. I’m going to head out. Thanks for a really, reallyamazing night.”

He pushed his lips together. “Earlier.”

She stopped mid-pivot and glanced over her shoulder.

“I didn’t mean that the way you took it.” Colin handedAdelia her purse, and she hadn’t realized she didn’t have it with her. The only thing in her hand was their puzzle pieces.

Maybe she needed to go hide in the ladies’ room and relax—but how else did he mean it? She silently took her purse, facing him directly, and he took the liberty of keeping her hand in his. She should want him to let go. Shouldn’t she?

He put their puzzle pieces in his pocketand threaded their fingers to make their palms kiss. “Since that came out wrong.”

Adelia tightened her hand on his, unnerved that he could make her so calm when she’d just panicked.

“I’m going to reword what I said.”

“Okay.”

“Let’s go on an adventure.”

“An adventure?” Her hopes jumped now that Colin didn’t sound like he was propositioning her. “What kind?”

“Would it be an adventure if Itold you?”

Adelia squared her bare shoulders as if that might hide how jittery she’d been. “If you don’t tell me, it sounds more like a surprise.”

His chiseled jaw flexed as he sized her up. “I still think you’re the adventurous type.”

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