Page 34 of Harnessed in Gold

So what if hedidsay it? So what if he called me a chuisle mo chroí, the pulse of his heart? Why believe he meant those particular words when so many of the other ones out of his mouth were lies?

Shamelessly, I let my gaze drift to him, watching as he sweeps back his bangs, takes a sip of Dr. Pepper, and makes sure the lids of his daubers are screwed on tight. For half a second, I nearly forgive myself for falling for him. I mean, for god’s sake, I can see those thick dark eyelashes all the way from here.

Rime regains my attention with a gentle nudge of my chin. “What’s the matter, a ghrá? Don’t you like your dessert?”

I see two things when I meet his eyes: one, he wants me back in the game, and two, he knows why I’m so rattled. Maybe I’m mistaking pretend tenderness for sympathy, but I’m sure it’s what I see on his face and feel in his energy.

I give him my biggest, most blinding smile and chomp into my Rice Krispies Treat. I’m fine. Better than fine. I’m strong.

Invulnerable.

Until, out of nowhere, I’m nearly knocked out of my seat by a tidal wave of fury. One that’s not my own. I grab Rime’s arm and open my mouth to warn him, but it’s too late.

The clang of a toppling metal chair has every head in the room snapping up.

A female voice growls, “Touch me one more time, and I’ll break your arm.”

I jump to my feet, my heart pounding. Topaz has one of the frat boys, the smarmy one who won the hundred bucks, in a chokehold. He tries to laugh it off, but she merely tightens her grip. One of hisbuddies grins while the other tries to talk Topaz down. And Avery? She’s just standing there, smirking. It’s not until two older gentlemen intervene that she stops glorying in the douchebag’s misfortune.

Linda sighs and shakes her head. “Those boys are trouble.”

I look to Rime, who, like nearly everyone else, is also on his feet. Out of the side of my mouth, I whisper, “Should we do something?”

“Stay here.” He nods at Leo and takes off toward the altercation. Leo goes too, Aaron close behind. It makes sense for them to do so, they’re the youngest, strongest men in the hall. But what about me?

Screw it. I ask Barbara if she’ll watch our stuff and take off after ‘my man.’

When I arrive on the scene, Topaz is reluctantly loosening her grip, forcing the jerk to gracelessly extricate himself from her hold. When he’s finally free, albeit breathless and red-faced, we all exhale in relief.

Until the dumbass mutters, “Psycho bitch.”

Topaz lunges for him, and it takes Rime and Leo both to hold her back. The two older men order the frat boys to leave. “And don’t be coming back!” one of them adds. The culprits gather their stuff, acting like they wouldn’t be caught dead in this lame-ass hall ever again, while Avery helps Rime and Leo calm Topaz down.

I sneak into the huddle and ask Topaz, “Was he hitting on you?”

“Is that what you call it?”

Avery scowls. “God, it was like we were back in middle school.” She snaps at me, “How can you stand frat guys?”

I jolt like a mosquito caught in a bug zapper. Shame heats my face, although god only knows why.

“Avery,” Leo hisses at the same time that I rush to say, “I don’t know them.”

Her face falls, the frustration giving way to remorse. “Sorry, Betts. I didn’t mean anything by that.”

I nod and swallow, my throat too tight to speak. Just because Iwent out with the frat boy king himself doesn’t mean I’m an apologist for them all. It’s not my job to bear the shame they don’t feel.

So why do I feel like an accessory to their crimes?

Leo’s eyes meet mine, conveying way too much understanding. Thanks to me, he’s gotten plenty of practice facing down frat boys who’ve gotten out of line. Fighting tears, I hook an arm through Rime’s and urge him away.

He pulls me tight to his side as we head back to our table. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” He may not have calming magic, but there’s something about his energy, maybe combined with his size, that feels like a protective shield around me. “But I think we’ve blown our cover.” Most of the crowd have returned to their seats, but eyes follow us as we pass by. God, I hate being the center of attention. “Maybe we should quit while we’re ahead.”

“We’ve gotten a lot of good information,” he agrees.

A glance across the room confirms it’s time to go. The rest of our crew are leaving.