Page 32 of Flirting With Disaster

Beckette Slader was none other than Gabriel Beckette Slauter. The boy who’d crashed her parents’ plane.

She took a deep breath, and met his hypnotic gaze for a fraction of a second. He made no move toward her. No hint of remorse ghosted in his stoic, hardened features. This was a man who didn’t care.

She turned and fled.

* * * *

Beck’s anger grew to thundering heights as he took in the satisfied smirks of Fantome and his bitch-of-an-agent, Ava Callahan. They’d done this. They’d set him up. He’d had no idea Jude’s broken engagement had been a national topic on the Harry Strubel Show. He hadn’t watched TV since he’d been here.

But, knowing Jude, the negative attention it had brought to her and her work had devastated her. No wonder she’d been acting so out of character all week. She had PTSD, for Christ’s sake. And now he’d added to it. Monster.

His gaze traveled the room as he frantically looked for Jude. He caught one quick glimpse of her agonized features and the tear that slid from her beautiful eyes just before she turned and ran, her dress billowing behind her.

Beck’s first instinct was to jump off the stage and chase after her. But he didn’t. He held his place, this place in front of thousands of fans. Where he could be a stranger to them and himself. Where he didn’t have to face his injustices and guilt. Here, he could be someone else. This was where he belonged.

It was better this way.

He needed this and she didn’t.

She needed someone different. Someone who didn’t wreck lives and drink himself into ten-day benders when things got tough. She needed someone who could trust and love. Who could love her wholly, with all they had.

All he had to give her were reservations. He wasn’t whole.

He was a beast. A Dr. Jekyll who could turn into Mr. Hyde.

The chatter continued as he signed autographs and shook hands for what seemed like hours, successfully restraining the vehement temptation to run to her.

“Do you love her?”

Shut up, Ennis.

“It’s the only thing that matters.”

I said shut up, Ennis!

“You’d be surprised the things love can do and help you overcome…”

Beck left the stage and made his exit, toward her, away from Ennis, away from Strubel and Ava… He didn’t know.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Ava whispered tightly over his shoulder. “This is a publicity event for you!”

“I need to get out of here.” He fucking hated the publicity part of this career.

“It’s her, isn’t it? You’re going after her.”

He turned toward the hurt and rage in his ag

ent’s voice. Richard Fantome stood behind her, smirking.

“You knew about her association with Strubel didn’t you?”

Ava’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.

“I’m outta here.” He spun to leave.

Alcohol beckoned him like a siren’s call. It would numb the pain, silence the taunts. Release the stress about to blow his head off. All because of emotional ties.

“This is your career, Beck. You wanted this. We wanted this. I’ve worked too hard and been with you too long. She can’t have you.”

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