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the infamous Claire Kramer?
 Jennifer Swan sort of& manages the main gossip pages in town, Noah said to Claire
as his finger stroked down her arm.  And, baby, being called  infamous is a good thing.
Wait, had he just called Claire  baby in front of all those people?
 Then the stories about the two of you being an item are true? Jennifer demanded as
she inched closer.  Interesting. Claire, how do you feel about 
 Claire s my fiancée, Noah said, and his voice seemed to carry all the way across the
ballroom.  So, yes, Jennifer, we re an item. He gave the group of reporters a wide smile.
 And feel free to print that in the papers.
Cameras flashed then.
 Smile, Claire, Noah whispered. His lips brushed over her ear. She felt the sensual
lick of his tongue against her.
Claire smiled.
And, just like that, with his one, earth-shattering announcement, she and Noah were
the center of attention in that ballroom. Everyone was looking at them.
Some people were smiling. Some were whispering.
Claire wanted to vanish.
The crowd closed in tighter.
Noah climbed up a few steps, pulling her back up with him. Then Janelle was there
and she had a microphone in her hand. She offered it to Noah.
Noah planned this.
Now Claire knew why he d wanted her to wear the perfect dress. His fiancée had to
be perfect.
 On the first anniversary of this hotel&  Noah sounded so smooth and polished as he
addressed the crowd around them.  It only seems fitting that I get to share news that has
made me the happiest man on earth.
Liar, liar. She hated it when Noah lied.
He lifted her hand into the air. The blue diamonds around her wrist caught the light
and seemed to shine even brighter.  Claire Kramer has just consented to be my wife.
Applause shook the ballroom.
Noah laughed.  And I want you all to celebrate with us. Bring out the champagne!
And, at his order, the champagne flowed. As if they d been waiting for that cue and
Claire suspected they had waiters bustled out with dozens and dozens of champagne
flutes. The champagne was distributed quickly.
She even found a flute placed in her hand.
Dazed, Claire s gaze shot around the room. She saw Drake in the back, leaning against
a broad, white column. Like pretty much everyone else, he had a champagne flute in his
hand. He lifted it toward her.
Trace Weston stood beside him. Trace had his hand around Skye s shoulders. Skye
stared back at Claire. Did the other woman looked worried?
Do I look terrified? Because Claire sure felt that way.
Everyone was lifting up their flutes as they toasted to her and Noah. Noah had freed
her hand when he took his own flute of champagne.
He offered her a grin.  To my future wife, Noah said, the microphone catching every
word he uttered.  Claire, I always want you to be mine.
Their glasses touched lightly, and she knew what he d just done.
The reporters. The people. The public display.
The killer had gone quiet, and Noah thought to draw him out again with show.
 Always mine, Noah whispered and his lips took hers.
***
Claire was running, and she knew it. Noah was surrounded by a throng of well-
wishers, and it had been hard, but Claire had managed to slip away from the crowd.
And she was now dashing for the exit as quickly as she could.
 You didn t tell me you were planning to marry Noah. Skye slipped into Claire s
path. She was smiling, but her eyes flickered with concern.  Congratulations. I hope
you ll be 
Claire caught Skye s hands. She brought her in close, as if she were hugging the other
woman.  I didn t know this was going to happen. He never asked me to marry him. This
is all some plan of his.
A plan that was ripping her apart. Noah didn t know how long she d actually
dreamed of having a life, a husband who loved her.
He didn t know how hard it had been for her to stand there while he pretended they
were the perfect couple.
She eased back from Skye, but made sure to keep that terrible, fake smile on her face.
In case others were watching. And they were.
Skye s gaze searched hers.  What plan? Skye whispered.
 He s putting us in the spotlight. I think he wants the killer to come at him again.
 So Noah can catch the guy. Skye was gorgeous in a black dress that fit her like a
glove.  But he s pulled you into the cross-fire, too. Anger roughened her words.
 I was always in the fire. That danger was nothing new. She d been hunted since she
was sixteen, in one way or another.
She eased away from Skye.  I just& I need to be alone for a few minutes. Then she d
get her control back. She d stop feeling as if she were about to break apart. But when
Claire looked around the ballroom, she saw Trace striding toward them. And Noah had
pulled free of his throng and he was closing in, too.
 Buy me just a few minutes, Claire said.
Skye nodded.
Claire rushed for the doors. A few more steps, and she d head outside and be able to
breathe for a bit. She d suck in some air on the balcony, pretend that everything was fine,
and she d be okay.
But she didn t make it to the balcony. A man s hand snaked out and caught her arm,
and Claire opened her mouth to scream.
 No need for that, Drake said as his hold tightened around her.  You know you re
safe with me.
He pulled her behind one of the huge, towering columns that lined the outskirts of
the ballroom. He caged her against that column, and he lifted her left hand.  There s no
ring here.
 No.
 You didn t look like a blushing bride-to-be up there.
 That s because I didn t know I was going to be one.
He exhaled.  He should ve told you.
Drake seemed to surround her fully then, and, hidden behind that heavy column, no
prying eyes could see them.  Did he tell you? Did you know what Noah was planning?
It was her life. Noah should never have pulled a stunt like this without talking to her first.
 Hell, no. The guy s always twisting up the game.
There was no anonymity for her now. Her face would be everywhere. In the papers.
On the news. Everyone would know who she was. Worse, they d know who she d been.
 I need to get out of here, Claire said, nearly desperate.  Those people it s too
much. I feel like they re vultures circling in for the kill.
 Because that s exactly what they are. He stepped back, surprising her. Then he took
her hand in his.
Claire s breath eased out.
 Interesting, Drake murmured.
What?
 Come on. I ll get you some freedom. Then he was guiding her though the
ballroom s back doors. In moments, they were sliding into the private elevator.  You
know, you re leaving your fiancé in the middle of your own party.
A shiver had her tensing.  I ll go back. I just need a few moments.
His hand still held hers.
 You didn t tense on me, Drake said as the elevator doors closed.
She stared at their hands. No, when he d taken her fingers in his, she hadn t tensed.
Claire had actually felt relieved by his touch then.
 Not afraid of me anymore? Drake queried softly.  Did you decide that I don t have
a monster inside?
She pulled away from him.  I know you do. But, no, she wasn t afraid of him.
Maybe she should be.
 You don t belong in Noah s world.
Those words had her blinking in surprise.
 When this is all over, you need to leave. Run as fast and as far as you can, but be
warned, Noah will follow you.
 W-why are you telling me this? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]