#Heart (Hashtag #6) (23 page)

A few cameras went off close by and their flashes blinded me. Reflexively, I lifted my hand to shield my face from the bright disruption.

“Mind giving us a break for a bit?” Romeo asked, his tone was friendly, but there was an unmistakable note of steel behind his words.

“Sorry about that, Mr. Anderson,” one of them said, and Valerie jumped up to guide them away to a table she’d set up just for the vultures, providing a free meal.

On one hand, I thought it was annoying she was catering to them, but on the other, the free food would keep them away for a least a little while.

“You okay?” he asked, leaning in. His hand settled beneath the table over my thigh, and the feel of him was so welcome.

“Yes,” I said, sheepish, and set down my glass. “Sorry, I dropped my guard a little with the soft music and champagne and forgot about them. They just startled me, but I’ll be ready for them next time.”

He frowned a little and concern deepened his crazy blue eyes. “I don’t want you to have to be on guard all the time. That’s not the life I want for you.”

I covered my hand with his and leaned forward, pressing our foreheads together. “I’m not on guard all the time. Just at your mother’s parties.”

He smiled and the corners of his eyes crinkled as I stared into them.

“Our life is perfect the way it is. I wouldn’t change it.”

The sound of knives and forks hitting against glass created a light tinkling sound, and Romeo smiled. “They want you to kiss me.”

I snorted, and the action made my head pull away from his, but I didn’t like that, so I reached up and grabbed the back of his neck to anchor myself against him once more.

“They aren’t gonna stop ‘til you kiss me, Smalls.”

The distance between us was already so minimal I barely had to move to touch my lips to his. He tasted like beer and I tasted like champagne, the two flavors melding to together to create an interesting cocktail.

We dined on braised beef tips, wide egg noodles with some kind of really good sauce, roasted vegetables, and salad. There were also baskets of freshly sliced French bread going around. For dessert, we were served chocolate cheesecake with a white chocolate drizzle.

I thought I’d be too nervous to eat, but that wasn’t the case.

The first bite turned me into some kind of starved animal, and I ate almost everything they put in front of me. Thank God I managed not to spill any of it on my white gown.

I didn’t feel bad about it, though, because Braeden plowed through his plate and then half of Ivy’s with so much gusto he actually attracted attention.

“Hollow leg!” one of the Knights players yelled out, cupping his hands around his mouth as he hollered so it would carry over to our table.

Romeo laughed and smacked Braeden, drawing his attention from his plate.

“What?” B looked up, still chewing.

I laughed, and Ivy looked toward the sky like she was asking for help from the heavens.

Ha.

“Looks like they’re already giving you nicknames,” Romeo scoffed.

“What the fu—”

Ivy gasped and slapped a hand over his mouth, her blue eyes wide with horror. “Watch your mouth. We’re at a formal event.”

From the sparkle in B’s eyes and the look on Ivy’s face, I knew he licked her hand. To her credit, she didn’t pull away.

“Behave,” she hissed before finally removing her hand and letting him speak.

“Hollow leg got served!” said the player who was sitting next to the one who bestowed Braeden his new moniker (I was still trying to learn all their names when they weren’t wearing jerseys).

Braeden made a face like he was about to spew forth a few other colorful words, but then he sighed and said, “What, pray tell, does hollow leg mean?”

Pray tell?

Where on earth did he come up with that?

I gave Romeo a look, and he snickered.

“Means you eat so much your leg must be hollow to hold it all!”

The entire table of players laughed.

Seriously. Is this how a bunch of grown men behaved together?

“Gotta get my gains on if I want to pummel you in practice,” Braeden yelled and returned to eating.

“We’ll see about that, rookie!”

Braeden saluted them with his fork, and everyone at the table laughed and went back to eating.

Romeo slapped B on the back. “Already part of the team.” He was looking at the table where Gamble and the coaches were. They’d been watching the exchange and now were talking quietly.

“Don’t jinx me, Rome.” Braeden warned and pushed away the plate.

“No more business talk,” Valerie leaned around me (she sat herself right beside me) and told the boys.

Then she stood up and called the entire room to attention. She surprised me by giving a short speech, thanking everyone for traveling into town for the party, announcing an open bar for the rest of the night, and then making a toast to me and Romeo.

She didn’t make anyone else get up and give a speech. Maybe she realized as best man, it would have been Braeden’s job, and one speech from him at the reception was more than enough.

The band started playing louder, more lively music, and couples started to migrate toward the dance floor.

I watched as Drew led a dark-haired girl out onto the floor and pulled her close for a slow song. Trent was talking to one of the Knights—I think his last name was Thomas—and from what I could hear, the topic of conversation was football. Big surprise there.

Ivy excused herself to the ladies’ room, and I was just about to follow her (it’s true women do go to the ladies’ room in packs), when I caught the tail end of Romeo and Braeden’s conversation.

“Relax, B. It’s going to work out,” Romeo was saying.

“I like these guys, Rome, but we gotta be realistic. The odds aren’t good.”

They were talking about the draft picks. I knew how badly they wanted to play on the same team, and I wished there was something I could do to help make that happen.

Rachel Wintor was standing close by, talking with a man I hadn’t been introduced to. I didn’t know anything about football. I didn’t know anything about the world Romeo and I were venturing into, but I did know one thing.

I’d learned it last year when Romeo got a contract because he became an underdog. He became a media darling.

I concentrated on walking the way I was supposed to in these dumb heels and approached Rachel and her companion. They both turned toward me, smiling like I knew they would.

It was a party in mine and Romeo’s honor after all.

“Rachel,” I said warmly, trying my best to not sound awkward and my normal antisocial self. “I just wanted to thank you again for coming.”

“Oh, the pleasure is all mine. This has been a wonderful party.” I was about to launch into my plan, but she kept on talking. “Rimmel, have you met Paul Carson? He’s the senior chief editor over at Brindle Publishing.”

I extended my hand and smiled. “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Carson. We are glad to have you here.”

“I must say, Miss Hudson, the photographs we’ve printed in our magazines do not do you justice.”

I felt myself blush, and I tried to not look like an idiot. “Thank you. So your company publishes magazines?”

“Oh, yes,” Rachel gushed. “Brindle Publishing is an umbrella house. They handle many different types of publications.”

I glanced back at Paul. “Sounds very diverse. Which magazines do you print?”

“Mostly sports related. We have brands for every major sport here in the United States. Your fiancé has been quite the regular in our football themed magazine
Kick Off
.”

I gasped. “I know that magazine! It’s all over our house. Romeo and Braeden read it like the Bible.”

Paul laughed heartily, and I felt self-conscious. But then I remembered that’s why I was over here, and I smiled. “My other brother carries around a racing magazine…” I paused to think of the title. “
GearShark
,” I finally said.

Paul chuckled. “That’s one of ours, too.”

“Well, you’re very popular at our house.” I widened my eyes a bit like I just had a great idea.

Clearly, I was learning a thing or two from Romeo.

“I would love to introduce you both to my brother, Braeden Walker.” I glanced at Rachel. “I told you about him before.” She nodded, and I looked at Paul, trying to smile like Romeo when he wanted something. “And I have no doubt Braeden and Romeo both would love to meet the man behind their Bible.”

“Who could say no to an offer like that?” Paul grinned and spread his arm out wide for me to lead the way.

If good publicity, if popularity in the media helped get them jobs, then I would bring the media to Braeden… and lucky me, I had two people with lots of connections right here following behind me.

And yes, I was innocent, but I wasn’t that innocent. I wasn’t about to believe if Braeden did get a spot on the Knights like we all hoped for, it would be because the media made him look good. I understood much more went into something like that.

But it wouldn’t hurt.

Good publicity was good for the Knights as a whole, and the more of a crowd their players drew in, the better.

Romeo and Braeden were standing in a group with a few players and their parents when I approached. Romeo saw me first and smiled, but then his eyes went to the people behind me and he gave me a barely there quizzical look.

I winked.

“Braeden,” I said, angling myself in front of Romeo so I could get his attention.

“Sis,” B answered, interrupting whatever he was saying to look at me.

Quickly, I made the introductions and threw out a couple of his stats just because I knew them. If he knew what I was doing, he didn’t let on. He was as skilled as Romeo in that regard. Braeden was quite charming when he wanted to be, and years of playing for the Wolves taught him how to handle press.

He took control of the conversation, and I slid back away from the three of them because I didn’t want to topic to somehow turn back to me or what I was wearing.

When I turned completely away and faced Romeo, I heard Braeden say, “That’s like a football Bible!”

Paul and Rachel both laughed, and I gave myself a mental high-five.

“Dance with me.” Romeo caught me around the waist and towed me onto the edge of the dance floor.

“Wait!” I protested and kicked off my heels before returning to his hold.

He laughed. “I like what you did back there,” he said, dipping low and talking against my ear.

I stretched up a little and pressed closer against him. The gold silk tie he was wearing brushed against my skin. “I know he’s nervous about the draft.”

Romeo nodded. “Yeah. He’s gonna be fine, though, baby. He’s a good player. He’s gotten better in the last year.”

“Think he’ll make it to the Knights?”

“I sure as hell hope so.” It sounded like a prayer. But then he gazed down at me. “You’re handling the press like a pro tonight.”

“It’ll take some getting used to. But it’s not all bad. Especially if it helps B.”

“I love you,” he said soft.

My fingers played with the ends of the hair brushing against the collar of his jacket. “Love you.” I laid my head against his chest and let him support most of my weight. The song playing was beautiful, something I’d never heard before.

My eyes drifted closed, and I exhaled. The night would be winding down soon. We still had a few hours left. I was sure. We’d need to stay and see everyone off, but for the most part, the night was almost over.

Valerie definitely knew how to host a party, and it convinced me more I should let her handle the entire wedding. April third was coming fast, and I knew if anyone could pull off an amazing wedding, it was her.

As I melted into my husband (who everyone thought was my fiancé) the air in the room shifted and became charged with a feeling that up until now had been absent.

Tension.

A few murmurs moved through the crowd.

Romeo stiffened.

“His son was the one who attacked Romeo and Rimmel,” someone whispered.

In an instant, I pulled back from Romeo’s arms and craned my neck, looking around. Romeo made a sound in the back of his throat. “Oh, hells no,” he growled.

“I’ve come to congratulate the happy couple!” a man yelled. “No thanks to them, my son will never see an occasion such as this!”

A panicked feeling slammed into my middle like I’d been punched right in the gut.

The crowd shifted, and I caught a full-on view of our uninvited, unwelcome guest.

Zach’s father.

Romeo

She winked at me.

She. Fucking. Winked.

I’d given out lots of winks in my lifetime. They never ceased to make the ladies giggle and panties drop.

Can’t say I’d ever been on the receiving end of a wink.

Until now.

Until my
wife
went and freaking mastered the sexiest wink in the history of sexy winks.

On her first try.

Day-um.

When I pulled her out onto the dance floor, all I could think about was the time at Screamerz when we’d done a little more than dancing. I had to restrain myself tonight. I mean, this wasn’t a nightclub, the lights weren’t near dark, and my parents were in the room somewhere.

That last thought was enough to make the boner I was starting to rock die a swift and painful death.

This wasn’t my first time at an event like this. I made some appearances last year during the season, attended a few events. And I grew up with my mother. She hosted crap like this on a regular basis. That meant I was used to it. Rim wasn’t.

But damn if she didn’t own the room.

You’d never know by looking at her that she hated this kind of stuff. She made it look natural. There had to be five hundred people here, easy, but she outshined them all.

Even from across the room, I felt her pull. The warmth of her smile, the light sound of her laughter. More than once, the shine of her wavy hair caught my attention when she shook her head beneath the lights.

And her legs.

Damn, what a pair of stems.

I don’t know what the hell kind of magic those gold heels and flirty short/long dress of hers was wielding, but I was completely under her spell.

And it wasn’t just me.

I saw people looking.

Hell, I looked for people looking (a guy needed to know who was checking out his girl). Eyes went back to her again and again. I even caught a few members of the Knights totally checking her out.

It pissed me off, but I didn’t say a word. This wasn’t the time or place. But once we got on the field, I’d deliver some payback.

Besides, she was mine. Totally. Completely. It didn’t matter if men looked at her, because she didn’t want them and she never would.

I knew how to keep my girl happy, and I’d spend the rest of my life doing it.

I sensed when he walked in. I didn’t know who was here, just that someone or something that wasn’t supposed to be was.

The heaviness that suddenly befell the room was intense. Even in a crowd, his presence rippled through swiftly until it stopped at me.

Robert was by one of the wide archways that led out into the hall that led outside. He was in a suit, but it wasn’t in any presentable shape. The color was dull gray, and it only served to make him look worse.

His hair was disheveled, his jaw unshaven. The gray in his hair seemed a lot more pronounced, like he was aging at some exponential rate. The second Rimmel saw him, she pulled out of my arms, her body went rigid, and her face went pale.

It pissed me off, and I growled something, but I didn’t think about what it was because Robert started yelling.

“I’ve come to congratulate the happy couple! No thanks to them, my son will never see an occasion such as this!”

I moved to stand in front of Rim and at the same time sought out Braeden in the crowd. I found him immediately. He was still standing with the two reporters, and my jaw tightened. He did not need this tonight.

He was well aware of who was here. He might have only heard that voice once, but it had been enough.

A man didn’t forget the sound of the voice that accused him of murder.

Drew was on the dance floor, closest to Rim and me. I turned swiftly and picked her up, her bare feet dangling over the floor as I stepped over to Drew’s side. He’d been dancing with some brunette, but when he saw us, he stepped away from her and toward my girl.

“Watch her,” I ordered low and plunked Rim down beside him.

“I got her,” Drew replied and put his arm across her shoulders.

Rimmel opened her mouth to argue, but I gave her a hard look. “Stay with Drew.”

Her mouth slammed shut. I never talked to her like that. Sure, I bossed her around, but I never really meant that shit. I only did it ‘cause I thought it was cute when she got pissed off.

But I wasn’t joking now.

Drew angled himself in front of her, and I turned back. She might be mad at me later, and she could be mad all she wanted. At least she’d be safe and out of the crossfire that was surely about to start.

The crowd parted as I made my way toward Robert. He was leaving. Now. Somewhere not too far away, I heard my mother summoning security.

He’d be gone before they got here. I didn’t like to make a scene, but sometimes it couldn’t be helped. At least I wouldn’t ruin his ugly-ass suit when I threw him out on his ass.

His hollow eyes locked on me. It wasn’t a look of a man bent on revenge. It wasn’t even a look of hate. Zach had those looks down to a science.

No, Robert Bettinger was a man in pain. He was a lost man acting out because he didn’t know what else to do.

I felt kinda sorry for him.

Kinda.

This wasn’t the time or place for his issues. He could put them back in his bag and check them at the door.

“Where is he?” Robert asked, his voice loud enough to carry. Not that it mattered. He could whisper, and everyone would still hear. The place was quiet enough to hear a mouse fart. Even the band had stopped playing.

“You aren’t welcome here,” I answered. “Please leave.”

“Not too long ago, I’d have been on the guest list.”

Yeah, well, that was before your son tried to kill my family.

“I bet the bastard who killed my son is on the guest list!”

I sucked in a breath and hurried the rest of the way toward him.

A few things happened at once.

Ivy entered through the same wide archway Robert had just come through. She must have been out in the bathroom in the hall. The second she saw him, her steps faltered and she took a step back.

I gave her a look, silently telling her to get the hell out of here before he saw her.

But, of course, Robert followed my gaze and all his attention went to Ivy. “You,” he spat, with more dislike in his voice than before. “Have you been filling the society elite’s head with lies about how my son raped you!”

A collective gasp went through the room.

All the blood drained from Ivy’s face. She turned so white, so fast it scared me.

Braeden shoved through the crowd and stopped beside me just in time to see Ivy wobble on her feet and reach out a steadying hand to catch herself on the wall.

“You son of a bitch!” B roared and lunged forward.

I caught him around the waist, barely able to restrain him. As much as Robert deserved it, Braeden attacking him in a room full of people would only hurt B. Robert could use it as ammo in the case he was trying to build, and an entire room full of people including all the important Knights staff would get a front row seat to B’s temper.

That would not be good publicity.

“Man, not now,” I told him quietly. “Think about your future.
Think
.”

Braeden fought against me some more. I put him in a tighter grip. “Look at Ivy,” I demanded. “She’s going to fall over. This is too fucking much. You need to take care of
her
.”

The fight left his body instantly. He went completely slack.

I let go, and he rushed past Robert and lifted Ivy into his arms and hurried out of sight.

I gave the lead singer of the band a
what the fuck
Look and motioned for him to start playing again. Hopefully, the music would drown out Robert’s yapping.

Gentle would be the last word used to describe how I was when I grabbed Robert right up under his armpit as the music began. It was some upbeat, happy song, and I wanted to laugh.

I towed Robert out of the room, my father hastening after us.

“I can’t believe you had the nerve to show up here,” Dad told his old colleague.

“I can’t believe you had the nerve to throw a party! My son is dead.”

“And we’re all very sorry about that, Robert, but Zach’s been gone for several months, and our family has a right to move on.”

Security came around the corner down the hall and rushed forward.

‘Bout fucking time.

Robert opened his mouth to say something no one wanted to hear, and I slapped a hand over his face. I was well aware of the reporters and cameramen watching from inside the door. People were riveted by whatever personal drama was conspiring right here under their noses.

“If you don’t shut the fuck up right now”—I leaned in close so only he could hear my words—“you won’t be the only one building a lawsuit.”

His eyes flared and he tried to say something, but my hand blocked the words.

Dad sighed. “You know as well as I do that Romeo would be within his legal rights to file a restraining order. Is that what you want, Robert? Another dark cloud over your family? Would you like a lawsuit for defamation of character?”

Beneath my hand, his nostrils flared. He was like a bull in a china shop, a bomb about to detonate.

“What’s going on here?” one of the security members asked.

“He needs to be escorted off the property,” I said. “Now.”

Robert was seized by both arms and all but hauled away.

“My son was nothing but a victim!” The broken sound that ripped from his chest made the back of my neck tighten. “He was a victim his entire life. It’s all my fault.”

Dad and I stood there for a long time, staring after him, even after he’d disappeared.

My father turned to me. “I hate to say this, but it was a good thing he showed up tonight.”

“How much beer have you had tonight, Dad?” I muttered, still watching where he’d gone. If he came running back in here, I was gonna take him out.

I didn’t think of Zach as a victim. I thought of him as an aggressor. But I guess it wasn’t so out of left field that the guy had been a victim of something in his life. How else would his wild behavior make any sense?

“Not near enough.” Dad chuckled and shook his head. “He just set fire to his credibility, and no less than five hundred people were here to see how unstable he behaved. If he ever somehow gets charges filed against Braeden, they won’t stick because he clearly can’t remain objective.”

After I was sure he wasn’t going to come back, I looked around for B and Ivy. They hadn’t come back in. “I’m going to go talk to Braeden,” I told Dad.

He nodded. “I’ll let Rimmel know you’re okay and with Braeden.”

“Thanks.” Dad turned back, but I called his name. I stepped close to him and spoke quietly. “How much damage did Robert do to Braeden tonight?”

He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t know. I would say none because he never actually accused Braeden directly, but you and I both know everyone realizes Braeden and Ivy were at the scene of the accident. Those details spread like wildfire.”

“I can’t believe he tried to make it sound like Ivy was lying. That was really fucking low. No one had to know she was raped.”

My father’s expression hardened. “I agree. That was uncalled for. I’ll go inside and try and do some damage control, see what people are saying.”

Yeah, maybe it was callous to be standing here talking about doing damage control for Braeden’s reputation and career. But this was my brother. His life. I wouldn’t let Zach take anything else from my family.

“Excuse me!” a familiar voice echoed from the crowd. Seconds later, Rimmel emerged from the gathered people and burst into the hall. Drew and Trent scrambled along behind her, and it kinda made me smile.

It was Snow White followed by two of her dwarfs.

Well, really big dwarfs.

“Is he gone?” she asked the second she saw me.

I nodded and held out my hand. She rushed forward and slid hers home. Drew and Trent hung back a little, and I hitched my chin toward the doors leading outside. “Ivy’s out there.”