Page 86 of Tangled Control

“That’s not the only big thing that I have…”

I splutter. “Yeah, that nose of yours is quite big too.”

He throws his head back laughing.

“You know what they say, big nose, big…” He leaves the sentence unfinished, and I want to roll my eyes again, but I catch a glimpse of familiar tapered strong shoulders under a crisp white shirt. Rian’s eyes lock with mine across the dance floor. I suck in a sharp breath. It’s the first time he’s looked at me all night. The cold anger in his gaze chills my core. Does he think I’m using Dylan to get back at him while he has Alexandra held tightly in his arms?

Our gaze breaks as my view of him is obscured by something descending on me – Dylan’s face!

“Hey!” I give out to him and lean back as his lips are almost on mine. I add a laugh not to make a scene. “Get that big nose of yours away from my face.”

“Would you prefer my other big thing close to your face?”

“Your big, athlete’s-foot-riddled toe? No thank you.”

Again, Dylan throws his head back laughing, his huge hands gripping me tighter. I’ve never been happier for a song to end. I eagerly extract myself from his embrace, but Dylan places his hand on my back and leads me off the dance floor. It takes everything in me not to glance in the direction I last saw my boss. That icy glare…

“Come, I’ll get you a drink.”

“Sorry, I need the ladies’ room,” I insist and successfully manage to take a step away from him.

“Oh.” Dylan’s face falls for a fraction of a second, before he pastes his carefree flirtatious mask back on. “Find me after, yeah?”

“Sure thing.” I nod and wonder if there’s a different side to Dylan lurking behind his exterior. Not that I’ll be staying to find out, as I need to leave.Now.

I should never have come. What the hell did I think I’d achieve? Show Rian what he’s missing out on? As if I can compete with Alexandra’s beauty, wit, charm, moneyand connections. Christ, someone said that her hair clip was originally a brooch gifted to her great grandmother by the queen at the time! The two of them look so perfect together, like two pieces of a puzzle, working the crowd, knowing how to behave and what to say. I’d never be able to stand proudly next to Rian like Alexandra does. This has truly been a gut-wrenching eye-opener.

A sob travels up my throat as I walk away from the party. The sun has set, casting everything in shadows, like the curtain call to end my play with Rian. All that is left is to retreat with my tail between my legs.

“You’re not leaving already, are you?”

I stop. My heart thumps hard in my chest as I sense him coming closer.

“I haven’t had a chance to tell you how beautiful you look tonight.” His voice, soft and velvety, comes from right behind me. The first words he’s spoken to me in several days. I squeeze my eyes shut, tears prickling.

His warm breath is on my neck.

“Rian… Please just let me go home,” I whisper, still not turning, not looking at him.Can’tlook at him.

“Did you have a chance to see the dock? It’s really nice. I’d like to show it to you.”

“No, Rian, I just—”

“It’s known to have the best sunset in the whole area,” he cuts me off, ignoring the fact that the sun is already down. Sliding his arm around my waist, he leads me away from what would have been my escape and past the far side of the vast Harrington mansion that has chandeliers twinkling through every window. I hate the way my skin heats at the feel of his hand on my body.

In amongst shrubs and manicured trees, a small path leads down to the sea. The place is void of people. The sounds from the party all dulled.

“Have you had a good night?” When I don’t answer, Rian continues, “You sure looked like you did. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman as popular as you’ve been tonight.”

“I’m surprised you noticed,” I bite back.

“Oh, I noticed. I wanted to gouge the eyes of every man that looked at your body and rip the arms off every fella who dared to touch you.” I gape at the venom coating his words. His face is drawn in anger. “Did you enjoy torturing me, Catriona?”

“You’re one to talk! Fuck you!”

I tear myself out of his grip and storm away from him down the narrow path. I soon realise my mistake. The path leads to a small pier jutting out into the water with big boulders on either side on the shore. I’m trapped. With a huff, I walk out to the tip of the pier.

How dare he talk to me like that!