It had been a great night, but I was grateful it was starting to wind down. Some guests had departed, and the ones who remained were mostly family. I liked it best that way. Brayden and I were in no hurry to leave since it was our wedding and party, and we were enjoying ourselves. But I knew soon he would come take my hand, and we would leave the last of the partiers to shut the place down.
I had a feeling the night would end with my father, Aiden, Maddox, Reid, Van, Halton, and Richard sitting at the last table, feet kicked up, a bottle of whiskey between them, lamenting how their kids had grown up too fast. They’d trade stories and heartbreaks, trying to outdo one another. For such stern businessmen, they were a bunch of softies when it came to their families. I loved them all for it.
I leaned back my head, the sound of a hushed conversation behind me making me perk up my ears. I recognized Gracie’s voice. Her plus-one had been unexpected and mysterious. She had introduced me to him as he came through the receiving line. Her lips had been tight as she spoke.
“Brayden, Addi, this is Jaxson Richards, my, ah, coworker. He helped get me here.”
Jaxson’s eyebrows lifted at the introduction, but he didn’t say anything. We thanked him, and he shook Brayden’s hand, congratulating us on our nuptials, then lifted my hand and kissed it. “A pleasure.”
I noticed a few things about him immediately. He was drop-dead gorgeous. His hair was so dark, it was almost black. He was tall, broad, and his suit was custom tailored. His jaw was chiseled, with a deep cleft in the middle. He carried himself easily, his confidence evident. He looked stern and haughty—serious, without humor. His eyes were a startling blue, piercing and shrewd.
And they were focused intently on my best friend, whereas she was trying to look everywhere but at him. Her over-the-top casualness made it obvious that whoever he was, whatever he was to her, it was not casual.
And the third thing was the fact that around his ring finger was the same pinched pink line I’d noticed on Gracie’s hand earlier.
I could tell I was the only one who noticed. Brayden was already greeting the next guest, and everyone else was too busy enjoying themselves.
Jaxson lingered in front of Gracie, speaking in a low tone, then moved on, heading to the bar. He took a glass of champagne and headed toward the table where Katy was sitting. Beside me, Gracie tensed.
“Did you put him with my parents?” she asked, horrified.
“I don’t honestly know. Jen arranged a spot for him. Is that a problem?” I asked.
“Um, no, of course not. It’s just he and Dad will probably talk business all night.”
I lifted my eyebrows so she knew I knew how full of BS she was. Then I turned to greet the next guest. We would continue this conversation later.
Even though Jaxson had only spoken a few words to me earlier, I recognized his deep tenor.
“Why should I leave, Gracie? I’m enjoying myself.”
“Stop calling me that. It’s Grace.”
“All your family calls you Gracie.”
“You aren’t my family.”
“Hmm. I beg to differ.”
I sat up straighter. What?
“You shouldn’t be here,” Gracie insisted.
“You’re here. I belong at your side.”
“No, you don’t,” she hissed.
“I imagine the law would agree with me.”
“Fuck the law,” she almost growled, shocking me. Grace rarely swore. She rarely got upset. It was one of the reasons she was going to be such a good lawyer.
The next words I heard shocked me even more.
“I would rather fuck you again, darling. Far more enjoyable.”
There was an odd choking noise, and then I heard the sound of footsteps hurrying away. High-heeled ones. Then a low chuckle and that deep voice murmuring a quiet promise.
“Run, Gracie, my darling. I’ll catch you, regardless.”
Jaxson Richards stepped out from behind the corner. He noticed me and lifted his eyebrows with a smirk. He bent close. “Your boss is funny.”
“He’s not just my boss.”
He smiled suddenly, changing his face. It went from haughty to open. His dimple deepened as he grinned, and his eyes danced. He was devastatingly handsome. He tilted his chin toward the direction he and Gracie had been standing. “I’m not just her boss either.”
Then he headed toward the table he’d been sitting at, leaving me gaping at his retreating back. He didn’t appear upset or worried. If anything, his confidence was higher.
I slipped around the corner and into the ladies’ room that was at the end of the hall. It was deserted except for Grace. She stood, gripping the counter, her head down, and her shoulders taut.
I stepped behind her.
“Gracie.”
She whirled around, her eyes wide and startled.
“What is going on?” I asked quietly. “Don’t tell me nothing because we both know that’s a lie.”