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When it was time for the first dance, I stood up, holding out my hand to Vanna. “Shall we?”
She put her small hand in mine. As soon as she made contact, I noticed the small tremble she was unable to hide, and the unexplainable urge to protect her rose up. Shaking my head as if that would help erase the feeling, I rushed us to the dance floor.
Since she was a lot shorter than me, she had to run to keep up. I drew her into me, and the music started. I hadn’t cared what they played and didn’t recognize the song, but then again, I usually didn’t pay much attention to music.
But what I did pay attention to at that moment was the way her body fit against mine. How she was all elegance and grace. How strands of her soft hair had escaped her complicated updo and were brushing the side of her face and shoulders.
She never missed a step, following my lead as if we’d done this a million times before. I’d never felt so in sync with another person before. And when the song ended and other people joined us on the dance floor, I didn’t release her as I’d initially planned.
Oh no, instead I danced on like the confused fool I was, wanting to drag out the moment. When the fourth song started, I forced myself to release her, my body protesting the movement. “I need another drink.”
And with those parting words, I left her standing on the dance floor by herself. I rushed past my mom, whose expression promised me a lecture about my behavior later.
I didn’t go to the bar but went outside. And when I spotted the limousine that had brought us there, the driver nearby, I knew I wasn’t going to go back inside.
Instead, I slid into the back seat, wringing my suddenly clammy hands. I loosened my bow tie, then undid the first two buttons of my shirt.
A body slammed down beside me, accompanied by the smell of scotch and cigars. “Where are we going?”
“We’renot going anywhere.I’mgoing to get a drink.”
Jude closed the door, then signaled for the driver to go. “I love leaving a place full of desperate woman who are happy to disappear into the coat closet with me. And all to get a drink that we could have gotten in the aforementioned place.”
“You’re free to stay.”
I filled a glass with ice and then topped it up with whiskey. Before I took a sip, Jude had taken it out of my hand. Instead of punching him, I made another one. Less messy, and Mom wouldn’t question me about a black eye.
“And let you stew in your misery? Nah.”
I was secretly grateful to have my brother with me. But it didn’t mean I wasn’t thinking about what it would feel like if it were a raven-haired beauty sitting beside me instead.
3
VANNA
Thekhuihad leftme behind. And as soon as it became clear that he wasn’t going to come back, a large hand gripped my arm, squeezing. The familiar move didn’t elicit a response from me. I knew better than to flinch.
“What did you say to him to make him run away,suka?”
I smiled at the couple walking past instead of looking at my father. “Nothing. I don’t know why he left. Maybe something came up.”
“At his own wedding?” A harsh, deprecating laugh sounded. “Guess he wasn’t impressed with his bride. I told you to get a lower-cut dress.”
I looked down at my pushed-up cleavage. If Louisa had chosen anything more revealing, I’d be flashing nipples. And I didn’t think Gabriel’s parents would have approved.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
His fingers dug in, and I took steady breaths in and out. He’d leave a bruise. But he’d never cared before, so why start now?
I wish this night was over.
“Darling.” Gabriel’s mom came up, her smile wide, her arms outstretched. “Your dance was beautiful.”
Her gaze fell on my arm that was still in Aleksándr’s grip. Something flickered through her eyes, but it was replaced with a smile so quickly I wondered if I’d seen it at all.
She took my hand, lightly tugging me closer. “You must be tired.”
Unless he wanted to start a tug-of-war, my father was forced to let go. He released my arm with a malicious glint in his eyes, and I knew this wasn’t the end. To him, it was my fault my husband had left.
