Page 76 of Unbalanced

“Do you need anything? Something to drink? I don’t mind going to get it.”

“You don’t need to do that.” Alden lifts a finger in the air, and someone rushes over. “Three glasses of wine, please. I’d like to speak.”

In a blink, the man is gone, along with my escape from Darla and any possible mishap involving something sliding down my leg.

Darla looks at Alden inquisitively.

“I didn’t earlier because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say, but now I know,” Alden says, and then looks at me.

What is he doing? Do I just go with it, or stick to my plan of excusing myself and getting the heck out of here? I’m still floundering in my thoughts when the butler returns, but I also catch a glimpse of Camille’s sour expression.

I can’t help wondering if Alden invited her here today, and if so…does that mean that he still wants her, too? The thought makes my blood boil…she needs to go. I don’t care what arrangement they have. It’s over. The look in her eyes is one I’ve seen plenty of times before. She’s in love with him. I get it. He’s deadly and completely intoxicating, but that means she’s a threat, and that makes my decision to stay so much easier.

My fingers clutch the crystal glass as Alden clears his throat and all eyes turn to us.

“Before you all leave, I’d like to say a few words.” He pauses and waits a beat. “Rob and I were opposites in every way. I’m not sure you can find two more different people. My mother can certainly tell you stories of us ruining more than one set of clothes as we rolled around outside fighting over, I don’t even know what anymore.”

A soft chuckle floats around the room.

“But in the end, we were brothers, family, and no matter how different we were…I will always love him and see him as the chubby-faced kid who chased me around. Those differences helped me grow into the man I am today.”

Once more, people smile at the imagery.

“Rob also brought Emily into our home.”

Alden looks at me, his eyes burning with lust, and I freeze.

“Today would not be the beautiful celebration that it is without her gracious help.”

Am I dreaming? Did I fall at some point and hit my head, and I’m actually in a coma living an alternate reality?

“You did my brother proud today.”

I give a little nod and try to swallow the dry sensation in my throat. I replay our interlude in the coat check, and my face flushes hot. I doubt Rob is smiling at me, or maybe that’s the point of saying it.

Ugh…Alden, what are you playing at?

Alden has knocked me off balance, proving that it doesn’t matter how well I know him. Uncertainty is always around the corner.

He raises his glass, and the room follows.

“To Rob.”

“To Rob.”

Alden is still all over the place, hot and cold, which only confirms that I must stick to my plan. He can throw another curveball just to keep me on my toes, and it may well be the one that knocks me off course.

I will not let that happen.

Alden is mine.

Forever.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

EMILY

It’s been three days since Rob’s funeral, and I’ve purposely kept space between me and Alden. No falling all over him, no calling for a booty call, no texting to see what he’s doing. Cool, but not cold.