it’d been ages, and now he was at a charity event with Jodi.
Even though I had no feelings left for my ex-fiancé anymore, I felt my heart break into little pieces all the same. Jodi smiled at me as if this was all normal and congratulated me on my marriage and apologized on missing the opening of my coffee shop, just like Bryan had. It seemed just as fake and forced. I couldn’t even nod in return because I couldn’t take my eyes off of Joshua. He spared me one glance and then looked anywhere but me.
I think Jack and Bryan exchanged a few more words, I could hear Jack’s clipped and anything-but-happy tone, but the pounding in my ears prevented me from making out specific words. Starting to feel a little dizzy, I took my shocked eyes off of Joshua when Jodi leaned up and whispered something in his ear, earning a low chuckle from him. I’d been on the receiving end of that chuckle before, and I had loved the warm sound. Now it made my stomach turn.
I leaned harder on Jack, thankful that he was so big and strong next to me. He moved our joined hands from between our bodies and rounded his arm around my waist, my hand still very much attached to his, my arm bent.
I didn’t exactly know what to do with myself, so when I felt Jack’s warm lips against my temple, I looked up at him with a dazed look.
“You want to go find our table?”
I studied his face, his beautiful but angry eyes. He looked so good in a tux, so unattainable, yet there he was, not mine but still holding me up.
“Yes,” I whispered. “Please.”
Jack bid good evening to my cousins and Joshua, and I managed to force a faint smile on my lips. Jodi and Joshua were already walking away.
“Looking forward to hearing back from you, Jack,” Bryan said and touched my arm which made me instinctively jerk and then he walked away too. I couldn’t even make sense of his words.
“What’s he talking about, Jack.”
“Don’t worry about it. Would you like to leave?” Jack asked, and I turned my unfocused eyes back to him.
“Yes.”
My husband, the strong man who was still holding me up, started to gently turn me toward the door we had just come in through. Two steps later, I put my hand on his arm and stopped him.
“No. No, wait. We made a deal. I’m sorry. I’m not going to leave.”
I was talking to his chest, but he nudged my chin up and looked deep into my soul.
“There is no deal, Rose.”
“Yes, there is. This is a business deal. There is no reason for us to leave.”
“Rose—” he started, but I cut him off.
“That was Joshua, my ex-fiancé, with my cousin.”
His lips tightened. “I know who he is.”
“I was surprised, that’s all. I’m okay now.”
“I didn’t know,” he ground out after a few seconds of searching for something in my eyes. God, his eyes were beautiful. “If I had known they’d be here, your cousins and… I didn’t know, Rose.”
I smiled, just a little. “I know that.”
“What was wrong with Bryan? He called me just a few days ago, still threatening. Why would he talk like he just did?”
“You didn’t tell me he called.”
“It wasn’t important.”
“It is. If he bothers you again, tell me.”
I nodded.
“Rose… I thought you’d enjoy this one, the cause—that’s why I chose it.”
My smile widened and resembled something more genuine. “You’re right. I will enjoy this one because of the cause.”
He shook his head, his expression hard. “I’m messing this up every step of the way, aren’t I?”
I wasn’t sure what came over me, but something in his tone didn’t sit well. So, as if it was the most natural thing for me to do, still looking into his eyes, I rose up on my tippy toes, placed my hand on his stubbled cheek, and kissed the edge of his lips. That was as far as I’d allow myself to go. His hand tightened on my waist, pulling me at least a few inches closer to him. It didn’t close the gap between us, but I was aware of his hand and where it was the entire time.
“Thank you,” I whispered as I dropped down to my heels, busying myself with fixing his bow tie.
He let go of my waist. “For what?”
I didn’t have a straight answer for that. “Just thank you.”
He ground his perfectly square jaw and sighed. “You