Page 132 of Bite Me

I’m not surprised. Luther may be one of the most annoying assholes alive, but he knows how this world works. He knows the kind of man my grandfather is. It’s possible he saw the writing on the wall before I did.

“Are you going to turn me in for being a party crasher?” I ask.

“And ruin what might be your plan to dismantle the Everhart empire? No, I think I’ll sit this one out. I know you’re here for Emma.”

Of course he does.

“My father will be pleased to see the prized jewel of the Everhart offering be taken off the table. But if you were to pluck her from her dressing room right now, you know it wouldn’t make a difference. You know how demanding contracts can be.”

Next to the bar, we look like a couple of friends, despite my hatred of the guy. I feel like he understands me. We had similar upbringings, after all. He knows the weight of my choice.

“Man to man, are you sure you can’t let this one go?” he asks.

“I can’t.”

He nods and waves the bartender over for another drink.

“Your father was always trouble.” Those words repeat in my head again. Trouble enough to die over? There are two people I’d die for, and she’s one of them.

He hands me another drink. “Fine, but between you and me, she owes me for throwing me to the wolves. I’ve spent the last few days being interviewed by the dean.”

I laugh but take the drink. “I’m sure you deserved it.”

Chapter Fifty-Two

Emma

“Emma, there is someone I’d like you to meet.” Dacre’s grandfather’s voice almost takes me over the edge.

The little champagne I’ve been sipping is not helping my nerves.

Lined up, ready to go onstage next to me are the other participants, all dressed to the nines. All the women are in different styles of wedding dresses, made to look different and special. Little prizes wrapped in veils.

It’s a darkly lit hallway with little light.

“Ms. Osborne. It’s my pleasure.” An older man grabs my hand and kisses it.

I’m so shocked by everything that I’m just going through the motions at this point.

“This is my good friend and his son Haven. He was very excited to hear of your attendance.”

Haven doesn’t greet me. He just nods with his hands in his pockets. He’s so stoic. I don’t think he could look more uninterested in this if he tried.

“Yes, we’ll be so excited to have you be part of the family.”

“The family?” I gulp, eyes still studying Haven and the pissed-off look on his face.

Haven sighs. “Can we go sit?”

“Yes, son. Is there anything you’d like to say to your future bride?”

“Do you always have all the?” He motions to my face with a disgusted scrunch of his nose.

“Glitter?” I ask.

“Yeah, that.”

“Yes . . . Is that a problem?”