Forbidden Fate (Crowne Point 3)

“Is it?” I smiled at West, acting as if Grayson and I were only talking as friends would.

He was supposed to let me go, supposed to let me spin into West for the final dance, but he held on, pulled me closer.

“You really need to stop saying that,” he growled.

I looked over my shoulder at a waiting West.

My eyes collided with Grayson’s. “Or what?”

His grip tightened, bunching the fabric at my waist before he let me go.

I spun into West, finishing the dance.

“Did he propose?” West quirked a brow, tilting his chin at Grayson.

“I don’t know, did Lottie?”

“She did,” West said. “It’s gonna be a weird Christmas.”

My lips quirked. It was getting harder and harder not to laugh and smile around West. He was always so carefree, and I needed that. Grayson was opposite me, jaw clenched so tight I bet the muscles screamed.

When the dance finished, everyone clapped like some Victorian mating ritual had finished and then went to go watch the turkey be carved. West walked a few paces ahead of me, and I lifted up my skirts to walk down the stairs.

Suddenly, Grayson was at my side, linking arms with me, helping me down the stairs.

“What are you doing? People are staring.”

“Let them stare. I’m not leaving you. You’re pregnant.”

“How many times do I have to tell you I can use the stairs?” I shoved him off just as we reached the floor.

I linked arms with West, anything to get away from the look in Grayson’s eyes. A few seconds later, Mrs. du Lac and Tansy joined us. I could still feel Grayson’s stare on my neck, hot as the sun. What was wrong with him? We were in public.

“Are you wearing vintage Chanel?” Mrs. du Lac asked. “That’s very beautiful,” she continued. “I think I recall Tansy wearing something similar, years ago.”

I chewed the corner of my lip, heat rushing up my neck as I felt Tansy eyeing my dress. Abigail swore she wouldn’t notice so long as it wasn’t one of the dresses from the glass cases.

“It…” I coughed. “It was a gift.”

“That’s a very kind gift,” Tansy said.

“Yup.”

I just said yup to Tansy Crowne and Lynette du Lac, perhaps the most elegant women in existence. I opened my mouth to come up with something better, but instead ended up looking like a fish.

“Would you like some wine?” Mrs. du Lac held out a glass of wine, and I searched for a reasonable reason to decline it.

“I…”

Grayson snatched it out of her hand. “I’d love some, thank you.”

Mrs. du Lac smiled at me and Grayson. “You’re very welcome, Grayson…Well, good thing we have the second glass. You really have to try it, Story. It’s the best vintage. Tansy really outdid herself.” She reached for a second glass, handing it to me.

Something felt really, really off with the way she watched me.

Once again, I was out of excuses to say no.

Grayson snatched the second glass, as he drank the first in one gulp. “You’re right, Lynette. This shit is dope.”