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“My gown?” Before I can ask her for more details, women surround me, asking me questions about me and Italy. As curious as they are about my being here with Cannon, they’re polite enough to hold back the questions about him… for now.
I hope they give me more time before their inevitable inquisition. I don’t really have any answers for them except that I’m pretty sure he kidnapped me and brought me here because he did not want me at the All Staff Anything Goes.
Thinking of the reason for his abducting me should anger me but interestingly, it has the opposite effect, making a warmth flow through my veins. I’m not 100% sure that I don’t like the thought of him wanting me all to himself.
Let’s see where the evening takes us.
15
Cannon
I spendthe day keeping an eye on Kylie from a distance. When the women go to skeet shoot, I observe Kylie from the line of trees that hug the field to be sure she puts on the safety ear and eye protection. She aims the rifle in the air, the tip of her tongue wetting her bottom lip as she concentrates. After missing her first target, she hits the second one.
I have to hold in a shout ofAtta girl!I don’t think the Beauties would appreciate finding me spying from the woods.
Later in the day, Kylie lets her fingers drag in the water as she lazily floats down the river in a black string bikini Emilia packed for her. It’s torture, watching her in that barely-there swimsuit, not being able to touch her. All I can think is what I would give to be that green plastic tube she’s lying on.
When the women go snowtubing, I find myself hovering behind one of the equipment sheds at the top of the hill.What the hell are you doing here, Cannon? She’s fine. But I can’t help this nagging sensation that I need to keep an eye on her every moment to be sure she’s safe.
Just as I do—every single night—at the club.
Dressed in black leggings and a hoodie, the most adorable hat perched on the top of her head, a big puff of a pom-pom bouncing as she moves, she gives a laugh as she flies down the snowy hill, powdery snow shooting up from the sides of her big black innertube.
When she reaches the bottom of the hill, she hops off her tube, grabs it and runs back up. “That was so fun! I’m going again.”
She’s so adorable. I can’t take my eyes off her. But my time of spying is over, and she’s dragged away in a crowd of women to prepare for tonight. When it’s time for the auction, she emerges from Paige’s house dressed in a long, fluttering gown, red silk with layers of loose, flowy netting making a tiered skirt over the sleek gown.
The sight of her in the gown makes my chest do that thing and I have to force myself to breathe. Her hazel eyes search the crowd—is she looking for me? But before I can call out, she disappears into a cloud of colorful fabrics.
Fuck this.
I make my way to the group of women, carefully picking my way through them till I see the back of her red dress. “Kylie, wait.”
I pull her to me. Relief washes over her face at the sight of me. “Cannon! You’re here. I haven’t seen you all day.”
Was she missing me? I grab her arm. “Come with me.”
Paige sees me leading Kylie away. She purses her lips. “Have her backstage in fifteen minutes, please, Cannon.”
“Will do.” I guide Kylie toward the rose garden. “How about a few minutes of fresh air before we go to the theater.”
She gives a sigh. “That sounds amazing.”
I slip my arm around her waist. I give the guard at the gate a nod as we pass by. Nikolaos Bachman, our latest recruit.
He stands with his massive biceps crossed over the wide plane of his chest. Dressed in a short-sleeved deep green button-down tucked into black pants, a thick black belt around his waist and heavy black boots on his feet, he gives an air worthy of his military background. He runs his thick fingers over his full beard as he eyes the crowd.
Kylie stares at him as we pass. “Who is that?”
“They call him the Beast,” I say. “He’s fresh off initiation. Just joined the family last month. One of the brothers from the Parrish got to know him and brought him into our ranks. He used to be an Air Marshal for the military in Greece. He’s in charge of all security here at the Hamlet.”
“Why do they call him the Beast?” she asks.
“Just look at him. He’s huge.” She obeys, looking over at him. “On second thought, don’t look at him. He’s very valuable to us and I don’t want to have to add him to my hit list. Half my male staff is already on there.”
She gives a laugh, nudging me playfully in the ribs. “I’m not looking for me. I’m looking forher.”She gives a discreet nod of her head in the direction of the labyrinth of pink roses in the garden.
Charlie Bachman sits on a bench by a pale pink blooming English rose bush, fanning herself with the list of items to be auctioned she’s been pretending to read. What she’s really doing is staring at the Beast.
