Page 49 of The Addendum

I stood and followed him to the dance floor. He held me loosely, no doubt sensing my tension.

“Having a good time?” he asked mildly.

“It’s great,” I bit out, looking over his shoulder.

“I understand you’re an event planner. Do you enjoy it?”

“Yes.”

“That’s how you met Luc?”

I swallowed the anger that was beginning to choke me. “Yes.”

“He seems very taken with you.”

“Is that an issue?”

He twirled me, effortlessly bringing me back to his embrace. I had to admit, he was a good dancer.

“Not at all,” he denied. “Although I sense it might be for you.”

“My relationship with Luc is none of your business,” I hissed, looking at his hand, seeing the trace of the black monogram his jacket sleeve hid.

He lifted an eyebrow in surprise at my words.

“I’ve known Luc since he was a kid. He’s part of this family,” he replied. “This is the first time he’s ever brought a woman to meet us. I’m simply saying what I’ve observed.”

“Have you observed anything else?” I asked sarcastically.

Our eyes locked for a moment, the colors so similar. His looked greener right then, and I was certain mine would as well. They always looked green if I was upset.

“Have we met before?” he asked bluntly.

“No.”

“Yet I feel the dislike you have for me. Why is that? Did I inadvertently insult you somehow?”

I had to fist my hand to stop from slapping him.

“I assure you, Mr. VanRyan, when you insult people, it isn’t inadvertently.”

He stiffened. “I don’t understand.”

I stopped dancing, pulling away from him but keeping my voice low and a fake smile plastered on my face. “I’m sure you don’t. You never have. Go enjoy your time with your family,” I almost snarled. Then I raised my voice, interjecting a false, bright note. “Thank you for the dance. I have a headache. Excuse me.”

I rushed away, praying he didn’t follow.

* * *

Luc took me back to the hotel, and we walked up the steps in silence. In the room, I turned to him. “Go back and enjoy it.”

He shook his head. “I’m staying here with you. The wedding is casual and will break up in a couple of hours. The happy couple is heading into Toronto, and the party will split into small chunks. The dads always sit around after and drink, mourning their little girls getting married. They—”

He stopped talking, and I shook my head. “It’s fine, Luc. It’s not going to upset me if you talk about your friends.”

He sat down, tugging off his suit jacket and loosening his tie. “It’s odd. I found myself looking at Heather and Gracie, even Richard, trying to find similarities to you.”

“And did you?”