AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My attention drifts away, and I observe people wandering in and out of the ballroom, returning for more drinks.
“Well, at least I got the chance to wear this gorgeous dress. And these hors d’oeuvres are so filling, I don’t mind missing dinner. I’d probably split a seam if I tried to eat another bite.”
I’m only vaguely aware of Teagan’s voice now that my body has gone cold and my heart has momentarily stopped beating. There’s no way. It can’t be. Of all the times to be reminded of her… my mother. The familiar-looking woman disappears in the crowd faster than she appeared. Tricking me into seeing something that isn’t there.
“Hey. What’s up? I’m sorry this didn’t work out.”
I shake myself slightly. Teagan gazes up at me with sorrow in her eyes. “Oh, it’s all right. We tried.”
“You seem upset, though.”
There’s no harm in telling her what startled me. “I saw a woman who reminded me of my mother.”
“Really?” Naturally, she looks around like she wants to catch a glimpse.
“She walked away. You can’t see her now.” I wave it off and wish I hadn’t said anything when I notice her staring at me with what looks a lot like pity. That’s the one thing I never want.
“I know how you feel.” Her hand slides against mine, and my fingers close around it as we begin to slowly cross the marble floor once Dallas lifts a hand by the door. “To this day, my heart will stop for a second whenever I see somebody who reminds me of my parents. The grocery store is the worst. So many people come in and out. One time, I dropped a carton of eggs on the floor because the lady at the register looked so much like Mom.”
“It’s not the sort of thing you get over.” I sigh.
“You never do. You just learn to live with it, that’s all.”
“One more thing to live with,” I muse as we make our way down the red carpet again. She might be young and infuriatingly curious at times, but she carries a deep wisdom I find comforting.
Dallas and Griffin join us in the limo, both of them looking as frustrated as I feel. We knew there was a chance this would end up going nowhere, but no one wants to go to all the trouble of putting a mission together with nothing to show for it.
The driver barely has time to close the door behind us before I reach for the alcohol stocked in the bar. Now that there’s no threat of someone coming along and taking Teagan away, I crack open a small airplane bottle of whiskey and raise it to my lips. I don’t pull it away until the bottle is empty. It takes the edge off the pounding anxiety threatening to split my skull in two—lingering anxiety since I’m no longer out in the open, surrounded by countless strangers. Unless I do something to unwind, this could turn into a very long, sleepless night.
Teagan says nothing, only watches as I take another bottle and uncap it before quickly tossing the contents down my throat. I would care what she’s thinking if it wasn’t much more important to rid myself of the unwanted stress still making my muscles clench.
The warmth that spreads through my chest is welcome. It loosens some of the tightness that makes it a chore to breathe. I’m safe. I’m fine.
“Well, we have to come up with another plan, is all.” Griffin tries to sound positive even if his voice is flat. We both know we were counting on this being the perfect opportunity to lure this bastard into a trap, whoever he is.
And it was enough to use Teagan as bait this time around. I’m not sure I could go through putting her at risk again.
The very fact that the idea fills me with fresh anxiety makes me uncap a third bottle. At this rate, I don’t know if there’s enough in the limo to soothe my nerves.
By the time we are back at the hotel, heading up to the room, I’m certain there wasn’t enough booze in the car to satisfy me. However, I’m glad I’m not three sheets to the wind either. Not when Teagan looks like this.
As soon as we enter my apartment, Teagan goes to slip out of her high heels. “Wait.” I stop her. “Don’t get undressed yet.”
One of her eyebrows shoots up. “Why?” she questions but listens to me and pauses.
With a grin, I pull out my phone and find “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra on YouTube. I hit the play button before placing my phone on the side table.
Turning toward her, I hold out my hand. “I can’t let that dress go to waste. You deserve to have at least one dance in it.”
Her confused gaze turns soft, her eyes light up, and a bright smile spreads across her plump lips before she reaches for my waiting hand. When my rough palm envelops her soft skin, I pull her close until she presses against my chest. I place my free hand on her hips, and she places hers on my upper arm, and we turn.
“I didn’t think you would be the kind of guy who knows how to dance,” she teases as we start moving.
“I will let you know that my moves were very well received at the Navy Ball.” I pull her even closer, though that’s hardly possible. I just can’t get close enough. She places her head on my chest, her cheek pressed right over my heart, and I wonder if she can hear how rapidly it beats.
We softly sway from side to side until the last note plays. “That was really nice,” she says, suddenly a little bashful. “But I do really want to get out of these shoes now.” She laughs, the innocent sound touching something deep in my soul. The feeling is so unexpected I almost gasp. How can a simple laugh have such an effect on me? It’s almost like her happiness is directly linked to mine.
“Let’s get you out of these shoes… and this dress. Only one thing is more stunning than this piece of fabric on you, and that’s when you’re wearing nothing at all.”
