not the time, Margo," Wyatt responds with an imperious dismissiveness that I'll never be able to pull off. And with that, we're in motion.
Margo doesn't stop us. The security guards don't stop us. The arm of a Kingston heir is the only ticket one needs to gain entry, it would seem.
"I didn't think he'd do it," Wyatt murmurs once we're inside. He says it almost to himself, but it's loud enough for me to hear.
"Do what?" I ask, distracted as my eyes adjust to the lower light in the ballroom.
"Get married."
"Commitment issues, huh?" I say offhandedly as I scan the room we've entered, trying to get a bearing on the layout and, if I'm honest, orient myself with escape routes. It's a huge space, decked out nicer than any event I've ever attended. The floral budget alone must have been more than most weddings, I think, taking in the elaborate arrangements spread throughout the room as far as I can see. It looks like we've entered into a cocktail reception area, waiters carrying trays of tiny finger foods and drinks. A long bar anchors the wall to the right and I count no fewer than five uniformed bartenders hustling behind it. It’s a full bar, based on the wall of liquor behind them and the drinks being slid across the bar's surface. I scan the area for Kyle but come up empty.
"That's why you're here, isn't it?" Wyatt looks at me assessingly, his eyes taking in far more of me than I'm comfortable with. "What's he paying you?"
Okay, that I wasn't expecting. He thinks I'm an escort. I know it was asking a lot for him to believe I was Kyle's fiancée and that his assumption got me in the door, but I'm kind of pissed off to be honest.
"Excuse me?" I take a physical step backward, eyes narrowed. Wyatt's hand slips from my back, but slides to within an inch of my ass before he pockets his hand with a smirk, taking another slow sweep of me from head to toe. As if he's perfectly entitled to do so. As if this is some kind of a joke.
"Where did he find you?"
"I'm not sure that it's any of your business, but we met in Boston." On a sidewalk, where I was not hooking, I add silently to myself.
"Boston, huh? He took that trip, what"—Wyatt pauses as if searching his memory—"two months ago?" He raises his eyebrows in suggestion. "Quite the whirlwind engagement."
"What can I tell you? He's quite taken with me." I scan the room again, looking for Kyle so I can get out of here before this night gets any worse.
Wyatt smirks and I'm almost positive I don't like him. His eyes drop to my hand before meeting mine again. "No ring?"
"It's being sized." I smirk back and I realize why I don't like him. Wyatt is exactly the type of man I used to date. An asshole. "It was nice meeting you, Wyatt, but I'm going to find my fiancé now." I make a move to step away but he's quicker, his hand on my back keeping me attached to him.
"Not so fast. I'll come with. Help you navigate, introduce you to the family, since Kyle hasn't bothered."
"It's been a long-distance love affair," I grit out. This guy is really pissing me off. "And I think it'd be better if Kyle introduced me," I add in another effort to ditch him.
Wyatt grabs two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and presses one into my hands, unperturbed by my attempts to brush him off. He tips the rim of his glass to mine in toast, quipping, "Welcome to the family," before taking a sip.
I look at the glass in my hand then glance around for somewhere to set it down, but come up empty so I'm left holding it. I sigh in exasperation.
"You don't drink on the clock? I won't tell." Wyatt winks and then, looking over my shoulder, nods as someone approaches. "Ah, Kerrigan. Have you heard the wonderful news? Your brother has found himself a fiancée. Allow me to introduce you to your future sister-in-law, Daisy."
I do my best not to groan. This is already so out of control. Now his sister? I turn, prepared to smile and nod my way out of this, when instead, I'm embraced into a tight hug. I stand still, unsure of what's happening except for that Kyle's sister is really, really excited about this fake engagement.
Shit.
"Kyle said he had