The Treble With Men (Scorned Women's Society #2) - Piper Sheldon Page 0,16

few loose tendrils breaking free. I wanted take it down, but I wouldn’t even know where to begin. With her eyes shut, her face was a flawless canvas, save for the two dark slashes of her eyebrows. She looked so much the same still, yet older. Mature. Sharper features, but with a delicate bone structure. I wondered what she would think if she saw me without the mask.

I stepped out of the room, but not soon enough. I ran directly into Mr. and Mrs. Dae, led by Chagny.

“Chagny,” I said flatly.

“What’s this?” He gestured to Kim.

I didn’t respond to him. My focus went to her parents who shared similar looks of worry. “She’s dehydrated.”

“Oh my, she’s so pale,” Mrs. Dae said to her husband.

Chagny stepped forward. “She didn’t say she was unwell. Quick. Take her to my car. The hospital is only a few miles away.”

Again, I ignored him and spoke to the parents. “The hospital wait time will be hours. Dr. Thurston lives near me and can be at my house by the time I arrive home.”

“To your house?” Mr. Dae frowned.

“You’re welcome to follow me,” I said and tried to step around Chagny.

“I’ll go with him, honey. You meet the guests,” Mrs. Dae said to her husband. Then turning to me she added, “We’re hosting a small soiree tonight. I’ll make sure she’s okay and then bring her home.”

“This is crazy. You can’t take her to—”

“I have many spare rooms,” I cut the dirtbag off. “She’s more than welcome to stay at my home until the morning when I can return her safely.”

“It will be very loud at our house and she needs rest. Today was such a big day,” Mrs. Dae said. “Honestly, if this wasn’t fairly common for her, I’d be more worried. Most likely she just needs to eat and sleep.”

Kim shifted in my arms with a soft moan. Her parents exchanged another worried look.

“You’re right.” Mr. Dae glanced at his watch. “Okay. What about the car? How will you get home?”

“Oh shoot.” She frowned. “I didn’t think about that.”

“I’ll drive you, Mrs. Dae,” Chagny insisted. “I have much I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Oh, that would be lovely, thank you, Roderick.”

I glared. “Not necessary.”

“I insist.” He smiled with all his teeth at me.

“No—”

“Excellent. So it’s settled,” Chagny spoke over me. “Let’s go. Devlin must be getting tired, holding Kim like that.”

Mr. Dae kissed his wife goodbye and headed out. The rest of us started toward the exit.

After I gave my address, I walked away from the group, not waiting to ensure they would follow. When I was a few feet away, Chagny said, “How unfortunate for Carla that she missed tonight.”

“Oh yes. But good for our girl,” Mrs. Dae replied.

“Somebody mentioned rehearsal had been intense today. The Maestro is very stern with the musicians. Maybe she just needed a night off,” Chagny said with saccharine sweetness.

I kept my focus on breathing and not punching him in the face.

What game was he playing at? I put more distance between us. Wes’s car sat idling waiting for us. A minivan wasn’t my vehicle of choice, but my brother had it ready and waiting.

“Is she okay?” Wes asked.

“She will be. Help me get her in,” I responded.

He opened the passenger door for me. I placed her in the seat, leaning it all the way back so she could get comfortable. She curled up, still more out of it than anybody should be after just a little bit of champagne. She mumbled incoherently—something about food and notes.

Once she was situated, Wes cleared his throat. “I’m not aiding and abetting criminal activity, am I?”

I shot him a look.

“Don’t answer that. Just give me the keys to the bike and we can pretend this never happened.”

I tossed him the keys and he caught them happily.

“I’ll see you back at my house,” I said.

Once in the driver’s seat, I finally smoothed the loose strand of hair out of her face, tucking it behind the soft shell of her ear. Electricity shot through me.

I balled my fist and pulled it away.

Kim could help me with my music. Nothing more. I wouldn’t let old feelings get in the way of new goals.

“It’s not kidnapping,” I said to Wes. Wear a mask and people automatically paint you as the bad guy.

“You keep saying that like it’s true.” My brother closed the door behind him as he came into the front hallway to whisper-yell at me.

Kim was still asleep in the guest bedroom upstairs. I