Page 96 of Roaring Fork Rockstar

“You sure?” Holt asked.

“I’ll only be a minute,” I said, still floating on the happiness of the moment. “Get Luna her treat before she combusts from excitement.”

He laughed, then leaned in to kiss me quickly. “Don’t be long, fiancée.”

The word sent a thrill through me. “I won’t, fiancé.”

As they headed toward the exit, Luna chattering animatedly about what flavor she wanted, I turned to make my way to our seats. It was more crowded now, in anticipation of CB Rice’s set.

I spotted Sam and was about to call out to her when a figure stepped directly into my path. The smile on my face froze as I stared straight into Remi Gilbert’s eyes.

He looked different than I remembered—in a polished, manufactured way, with too-perfect hair and tacky designer clothes. Had he always been that swarmy? His eyes were cold as they swept over me, lingering on the ring now adorning my left hand.

“Quite the performance up there,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

I lifted my chin, refusing to show how much his presence rattled me. “Excuse me, I need to get back to my family.”

He shifted, blocking my path. “That’s what I want to talk about, actually.Family.” His gaze hardened. “Just tell me one thing, Keltie. Have you been lying this whole time about who Luna’s father is?”

Confusion replaced my unease. “What are you talking about?”

“Is it Holt?” he demanded. “Is that what this whole scheme has been about? Getting me to pay for another man’s kid?”

I stared at him, genuinely bewildered by the accusation. “Luna is your daughter, Remi. I’ve never claimed otherwise.”

“Then, why is Wheaton acting like her father? Why the big proposal with the kid right there?” His voice rose, drawing glances from people nearby. “If she’s mine, then why are you letting another man claim her?”

“Holt loves Luna,” I said, anger beginning to replace my shock. “Which is more than I can say for you. You’ve never even acknowledged her existence until now.”

“I’m still not convinced this isn’t all bullshit. This whole benefit thing, the sob story about cancer—how convenient that it lines up with Wheaton being stuck in town because of a mysterious family obligation.”

My hand connected with his cheek before I even realized I’d moved. The sharp crack of the slap echoed in the open area, silencing conversations around us.

“How dare you,” I hissed, shaking with fury. “How dare you suggest I would lie about my daughter being sick. You think I want this? You think I enjoy watching my four-year-old fight for her life?”

Remi’s hand went to his cheek, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “You’ll regret that,” he said quietly. “More than you know.”

“Get away from her,” came a deep voice from behind me. Bridger appeared at my side, his imposing presence immediately changing the dynamic.“Now.”

Remi hesitated, clearly weighing his options until Cord, Beau, and Porter all stepped forward. With a final glare at me, he turned around. He stalked away but glanced over his shoulder. “This isn’t over, Keltie. Not by a long shot.”

Beau’s hand on my elbow steadied me as I began to shake.

“Come on. Let’s find Holt.”

As we navigated through the crowd, Remi’s words replayed in my mind. The accusations, the sneering tone, the threat—“You’ll regret that.” Why, on one of the happiest days of my life, did he have to try to ruin it?

26

HOLT

The sight of Keltie rushing through the crowd toward us stopped me. Her face was pale, her movements jerky and uncoordinated—something was wrong.

“Keltie?” I stepped forward, placing my hands on her shoulders. Luna looked up from her cone, oblivious to the tension radiating from her mother.

“I’m fine,” Keltie said, her voice tight. Her gaze darted over her shoulder toward the amphitheater. “Really.”

Victor’s eyes narrowed as he studied his daughter. Like me, he knew something was off.

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