Page 103 of Only for Love

CHAPTER FORTY

Emma

“Ginger Raine!” the announcer’s voice booms.

That’s my cue, and I’m not sure how my legs move forward. But they do, one shaky step at a time. My muscles quiver, my stomach churns, and I’m heading for disaster. I can’t dance—not now, and hopefully never again on this stage.

Trussed up like a sexy, vampy princess, I move to center stage, completely cloaked from the neck down. The train on the robe spreads behind me as I sway. The music pounds. The lights dim, and shadows dance. Every night I’ve performed on this stage, I’ve been heartbroken and purging myself, torturing myself over the man I couldn’t stop loving. But now he’s back.

I shouldn’t be here. But I’m too lost in fear to walk away. My absurd interaction with Bruno has me in a tailspin, and I can’t push away my thoughts. Grayson. Bruno. I’m frozen—I cannot move or see. I can’t do this job and can’t make my body start to dance.

Murmurs from the crowd burn my ears. Laughter too. The announcer drops a joke—I can’t even understand the words. I’m frozen, and my mind runs faster than my thoughts of escape. Consumed by an overwhelming wave of emotion, my mouth dry, I can do nothing but think that I’ve got to get out of here. The announcer’s laughing too, saying I’m a Ginger Raine impostor and calling for the real one.

I know the music. Only seconds have passed by, but it feels like hours since I walked on stage. I fold my arms and hold my sides, and my gaze falls to the VIP faces looking up from center stage.

Grayson Ford stares back at me.

***

Grayson

One second I’m confused and glaring at the stage in disbelief. The next, I’m growling and gripping the wooden railing as I stand, ready to explode.

“Emma?” The word bellows out from my chest.

Hands grab me. Muffled words fall deaf because there’s a rush of blood in my ears. That’s my girl!On stage.None of this makes sense. Sweet, innocent Emma. In what world is this happening? In what world did Icausethis to happen?Fuck me—I want to tear the walls down and maim any man who has ever seen this before.

I fight against the hands that knock me down, swinging my fists for release. I don’t look anywhere but on stage. “Emma?”

A fist connects with my jaw, and my head snaps to the side. I wasn’t expecting the blow, and it knocks some sense into me. I’m here with Delta. There’s a job to do.

But I don’t give a shit. I push out of their hold, ready to storm the stage. Brock and Ryder take me down.Fuckin’ A.I hit the floor. I’ll kill this entire team. “Get off me!”

Fists fly. My body growls as I attack, cursing and pleading. The team hits back, keeping me in place until Brock gets me in a choke hold. He leans close. “Get your shit together, Ford.”

Not a chance.

Brock flexes his arm around my neck.Goddamn it.My pulse slows, and my head pounds. I fight the choke hold until he pushes away, dropping me back.

I fall to the floor again, and Ryder crouches down. “If that’s your girl, you’ve got to pull your shit together.”

My eyes swing back to the stage, but she’s gone. Close by, Colin and Javier play down the scuffle to security, telling them they’ve got it under control, and it’s just a bachelor party beat-in, an old joke from college.

I jump to my feet and shake it off. My eyes search for Emma, but security steps into my line of sight.

“You good?” he asks.

Fuck, no.“Yeah, man. Fuckin’ fine.”

He eyes our group. “No more of that shit.” But he takes off, muttering in a Caribbean accent, “Fuckin’ VIP fuckers.”

Ryder slaps me on the back. “Guess you’re the groom now.”

I need to find her. “No. Got something to do.”

Brock’s in my face again. “The best thing you can do is play your part. Don’t call attention to her, and don’t call attention to us. You got me?”

My eyes search the crowd. Nothing. Nowhere. “Where is she?”

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