Page 119 of Nothing to Win

“It wouldn’t hurt for you to smile,” Bram said, pulling her closer to hiss down at her.

“Oh, I’m sorry, are you worried I won’t make a good impression on your tax attorney friend?”

“Dicktree is a good man,” Bram said.“You’d be lucky to have a guy like that.”

The words hit her just a second before they walked into the ballroom where there should be music or conversation.She didn’t hear any of it, every face was a blur.

For a week, she’d been stuck in her parents’ house.Every move was monitored; she didn’t have a phone or access to the internet.What her father feared was a mystery.Her talking to Brogan would be the obvious guess though that would be a stupid fear.Unhappily or not, she had walked away from him voluntarily.Her family had every reason to believe she’d be loyal to them.

Being locked up gave her time to think, plenty of it.Brogan didn’t leave her thoughts, even when she tried to chase him away.As always.

The smartest thing would be to sever all ties.The quicker he moved on, the better for everyone.If her family thought he was committed to someone else, it was possible they’d relax their rules.Maybe then she could at least see Shanna again.

Bram took her to the opposite side of the room and stationed her back against a pillar.

“Stay here,” he said.“I’ll get us drinks and track down Dicktree.Stay.”

Sarcasm threatened, but he turned to stalk away without giving her a chance to retort.Their usual sibling antagonism had been heightened all week.After his supposed victory over Brogan, Bram felt superior and that wouldn’t go away any time soon.

Watching her brother disappear into the crowd, this could be her moment to break free.But where would she go?Brogan’s?No, if she went there, she’d never leave.Wasn’t she just through deciding he had to move on?Push, pull, push, pull, she couldn’t be one of those women.

Tough.Assertive.Certain.That’s the woman she had to be.

If he was here.

This could be her only chance.If Bram got involved, there would be a scene.Her plan, her plan, did she have a plan?Beyond this…?

No, not really.

On the fly wasn’t her forte.Where should she look for—Jenna stepped in front of her.Oh, like Salvation herself.A goddess.One she struggled not to embrace and never let go.

She settled for cupping Jenna’s face, enlightened with pure gratitude.“You’re here,” she said.Even alone, Jenna still infused her with joy.“Thank you.”

“Yeah, I’m here,” Jenna said, grabbing her hand.“And I’m not alone.Come on.”

A mission she wouldn’t reject.They went down a corridor, past a couple of doors to another that Jenna pushed her through.A dark, stuffy city office, lovely, romantic, if it—

Someone snagged her hand and spun her around.

Brogan.

Brogan!

“Oh, you came!”

The blessing of his kiss was short.“Irish,” he said, planting her back on the wall, pushing her hard against it, pulling her higher.

“I’m sorry,” she breathed, running her hands up his back when he dipped to kiss her neck.“Oh, Mister, I’m so sorry.”

“Tell me you’re okay,” he said, cradling her face, tracing his lips on hers.“I’ve been worried sick.”

“I’m okay,” she said.“They took my phone, I—”

“I know,” he said and pressed something into her palm.“Take this, we need to keep in touch.”

A new handset.“I can’t.”

He laid a hand on the wall when his face fell into her hair.“Please, baby, don’t give me lines about buying you gifts.This is a necessity.I can’t live like we have this past two weeks.You were worried about the company?Fuck the company.The company is going to shit and I don’t give a crap.I don’t give a fuck about anything except knowing you’re okay.I’ve been going out of my mind.”