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“Yeah?”
“I love you too.”
—
The air in the ballroom felt so heavy it was an effort to breathe. I glanced around and watched as everyone went about their business. Not one of them knowing that any minute a deranged man was going to come after me.
I lifted the beer to my lips and took a long drink.
“Looks like your evening is going well.”
Colton stood next to me, but I didn’t bother to look at him. He had seen the way Captain Adams was watching Rory and me dance. I was taking a risk by holding her so close…touching her the way I was, but damn it if I didn’t care. I was in love with her, and I’d never felt this way about a woman before. I didn’t give a shit who her father was.
I drew in a deep breath and pushed it out. “It’s going fine. Where’s Melissa?”
“Said she needed to use the ladies’ room.”
My eyes scanned the room for Rory. She and her parents had walked off together and I’d lost sight of them when a few fellow firefighters walked up to me to shoot the shit. I hated how controlling Rory’s parents were, and I fought to keep my mouth shut on it all.
“Are you two official now?” I asked.
Colton laughed. “By ‘official.’ what do you mean?”
Turning my head to look at him, I watched for a few seconds as he glanced around the room. “I mean is she your girlfriend? Are you exclusive? That kind of official.”
He shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t really know. Melissa thinks we are.”
“And you don’t?”
Pressing the beer bottle to his lips, he drained it. “I don’t know, Finn. Maybe.”
His eyes lit up, and I followed his gaze. Melissa was walking back, with Rory next to her. One looked happy as hell, the other looked like she was on the verge of tears.
I walked up to Rory and took her hands in mine. “What’s wrong?”
A single tear rolled down her cheek, and my world came to a crashing halt. I wanted to hurt the person who’d caused her to cry.
“Take me out of here.”
Jerking my head back in surprise, I looked behind her to see her father glaring at me. “What happened, Rory?”
She shook her head and attempted to not fall apart. “Please, Finn. I need you to take me out of here.” Our eyes locked, and I’d never felt so helpless in my life. But if leaving with her would help, I’d do it. No matter how wrong it felt.
Wrapping my arm around her waist, I turned to Colton. “I’ll see ya Monday.”
He nodded and flashed Rory a smile. “It’s going to be okay.”
I couldn’t help but notice how sad her eyes got before she forced a smile. “I know it will.”
With a quick nod of my head to Colton, I ushered Rory out of the room and the hotel. The moment we hit the cold fall air, Rory drew in a deep breath.
“Baby, tell me what happened.”
She shook her head. “Not here,” she whispered, and covered her mouth to keep from crying.
I handed the valet my ticket. “If you could hustle and get me that car as soon as you can, I’ll make it worth your while.”
He took one look at Rory and sprinted off. I couldn’t help but keep checking over my shoulder for Captain Adams to come walking out. It was pretty fucking obvious that things hadn’t gone well.
