Page 45 of Falling for Love

From the stage, the senator launches into his preplanned speech.

“Taylor didn’t mention you’d be here today.” Holly glances toward where her sister stands with a plastic smile on her face.

“We’re keeping things quiet.” I slide my hands into my front pants pockets, keeping an eye on the senator as he speaks. “I just wanted to look out for her. Be here if she needs me.” And make sure Chandler Cross keeps his hands to himself.

She smiles. “I’m glad she has you. After all she’s been through with him, she deserves someone who cares about her.”

I open my mouth to reply but the senator clears his throat, capturing my attention.

“Before I let you all go and enjoy yourselves, I have one more announcement to make.”

Holly and I both turn to face the stage.

“As you all know, Taylor Monroe and I have been together for a while now.” He slides his hand into his jacket pocket and I stiffen.

“No. Oh, no,” Holly says beside me.

I glance at her profile, her parted lips and the way the color has drained from her face. “What?” I bite out.

She grips my wrist tightly but doesn’t reply, merely watches her sister, whose eyes have widened in panic. Before I can press Holly further, the senator bends down on one knee.

“And now she’s my fiancée,” Cross says and without waiting, slips the ring onto Taylor’s finger, too smart to give her a choice in front of the now cheering crowd.

“That’s it. This bullshit is over.” I take a step, planning to hustle the woman I love off that stage while telling the senator where to shove his ring, when Holly grabs my arm.

“Don’t! Let her play this out,” she tells me. “Then he won’t see it coming when she takes him down. If you make a scene, Taylor is the only one who’ll pay. He’ll call her out in public.” She holds my arm tight. “Please.”

“No. This isn’t what your sister would want. Let’s go,” I tell Holly, and we make our way to the stage exit.

No sooner do I get there than Taylor glances over and meets my gaze. She shakes her head at Chandler before she runs to me, throwing herself into my arms.

“Come on, sweetheart. I’m getting you out of here.” I grab her hand and together, we rush into the crowd.

“She wants to share the good news with her family,” I hear the senator say into the microphone, trying to save face as he lets out an awkward laugh.

“Taylor!” a man’s voice calls from behind us.

“I’ll deal with David. Go!” Holly, who’s been keeping up with us, says.

I hurry us through the crush of people and duck behind a portable restroom stall. I grasp Taylor’s hips in my hand and look into her tearstained face. Shit. I brush the moisture with my fingertips.

I should never have let things get this far, but who the fuck knew Cross would pull this kind of stunt in public? “Are you okay?” I cup her cheeks in my hands.

She nods. “Even if I didn’t see you and Holly by the stage, I was running anyway.”

“I know.” She’s fucking brave, dealing with his bullshit. Wrapping one arm around her, I pull my phone from my pocket and call my friend, Carter, the attorney who will be representing Taylor.

He answers on the first ring. “Yeah. I saw the shit show on TV,” he says without me having to ask.

“Can you meet us today?” I kiss Taylor’s cheek.

“I’ll be at the office waiting.” It may be Saturday, but he’s a good friend.

“Thanks,” I mutter and disconnect the call. “Come on. We’re going to talk to Carter.”

Taylor nods. “I want this off,” she says, working the ring off her finger and shoving it into her purse, then pulls her phone from inside. “My cell keeps going off,” she says, pulling it from her small Chanel purse. She frowns at the screen. “It’s Chandler. Texts and calls.”

“Turn it on silent and ignore him. We have a lawyer to talk to and plans to make.” I take her hand and squeeze it with reassurance. “I’ve got you,” I promise her.