Читать книгу Cease Fire - Janie Crouch - Страница 12

Chapter Two

“How do I know the bride? Oh, we used to be strippers together back in the day.”

Keira hadn’t actually used that statement as the answer to the question she’d been asked a few times, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t the truth.

But Andrea, the bride and one of Keira’s closest friends, hadn’t disclosed her previous line of work, so Keira wouldn’t, either.

Although Keira didn’t care who knew she was once an exotic dancer. She wasn’t ashamed of it. She had clawed her way out of a hell most people would never even conceive, and she wouldn’t apologize for how she’d survived. Dancing had been part of that.

But if the bride wanted to keep her past private, that was certainly her prerogative. Keira wouldn’t reveal the information, either.

“Hey there, beautiful. You doing okay?”

The bride had somehow sneaked up on Keira right as she’d been thinking about her. Their arms wrapped around each other.

“Yes! What are you doing over here with me? Brandon’s going to be looking for you.”

Andrea smiled, her straight blond hair in stark contrast to Keira’s riotous dark curls. “He’s watching me, I can feel it. I’m not sure where he is exactly, but I can guarantee he knows where I am.”

Keira laughed. “If he wasn’t so crazy in love with you, that would be sort of stalkerish. But I know what you mean.”

Andrea’s smile, as always, was soft and sweet. She was never going to be someone who wanted to draw attention to herself if she had other options. That had been true even back in their dancing days. Keira still didn’t know how Andrea had managed to survive it.

Except that Andrea was a survivor.

Ultimately, that had drawn Keira and Andrea together, the two of them so opposite in personality, looks and temperament. Survivor had recognized survivor.

“I love you, Andrea.” Keira brought her friend in for another hug. “And I’m so excited for you here on your beautiful day, and for the stalker standing over there with some friends, looking at you with adoration in his eyes.”

“Do you really think this turned out okay?” Doubt tinged Andrea’s voice. “This wedding was so much bigger than I wanted. This reception so elaborate. It’s just that Brandon’s family is involved with politics and business. They wanted to do the whole big thing.”

“It’s perfect. The wedding was beautiful, everyone is having a good time at the reception and you’re handling it all like a champ.”

Andrea didn’t have her own family—her parents had died when she was young, and the people who’d raised her afterwards had made her home life so bad that she’d run away as a teen rather than stay there—but Keira had to admit the Hans had embraced her with such open arms that she could hardly claim no family anymore. They loved their son and loved their new daughter-in-law.

Proof was in Brandon’s sisters making their way over to Andrea a few minutes later and pulling her out on the dance floor.

As they went, a man—the very epitome of tall, dark and handsome—caught Keira’s attention from across the room, over near the terrace doors. He was studying her in a way that made her insides begin a slow burn. Keira knew he was an Omega agent, had seen him around at a couple events in the last few months, but didn’t know his name. Had been afraid to ask in case she couldn’t stop herself from pouncing on him.

Her attention was yanked back by Andrea. “Come join us!” the bride said over her shoulder, a new sister attached to each arm as they crossed to the dance floor.

“In a few.” Keira laughed and waved. She looked over again, but tall, dark and handsome seemed to have moved back into the shadows.

She shrugged, surprised by how disappointed she was to lose that moment with him. She didn’t tend to be so romantic as allowing herself to feel heat from just a glance.

Didn’t tend to be romantic at all.

But Keira didn’t head to the dance floor. Most people had brought a date to dance with. Keira deliberately had not because, as one of the bridesmaids, she wanted to be able to concentrate on Andrea and anything she needed. But mostly because she just didn’t date much.

Keira looked around at the large crowd. There seemed to be two types of people populating the wedding. Omega Sector agents, all half mingling, half watching the door for any sign of that maniac who had almost killed both Andrea and Brandon last year. They were intelligent, they were armed and they were ready.

And they weren’t even the most dangerous people in the room. That was the other part of the crowd.

The wealthy. The privileged. The elite.

Those people scared Keira much more than someone with a gun did.

They shook hands and slapped backs, then stuck proverbial knives in those very same backs as soon as it served their best interests. The room was filled with men and women who aspired to be congressmen, governors, maybe even more. Those who desired to start, run and sell multimillion dollar corporations.

And they had the power—or the family with power—to back up those goals.

She knew these types of people, knew what they could do to someone. Had been married to a member of a family like the ones here. One who had powerful political aspirations.

Six years ago, she had fled this state a broken person. Not much more than a child. She had bought her freedom from the upper echelon with her own blood, always afraid the man who’d broken her would wield his wealth and power to find her again.

His family wasn’t here tonight; Keira had made sure that would be the case long before this day came. She’d asked Brandon, not Andrea, if the Cunningham family of Denver would be attending the wedding. Brandon hadn’t thought so and had double-checked, since his parents—who were paying for the wedding—were inviting some business and political associates he didn’t know well. He was soon able to assure her there would be no Cunninghams in attendance.

Keira had expected Brandon to press for details, but he hadn’t. Just gave her that look that said he’d probably already figured out 90 percent of the situation in that huge brain of his, and moved on to other questions, about wedding bands and cake flavors.

Keira had been relieved she wouldn’t have to miss one of her closest friends’ weddings. But she would have to avoid Jonathan Cunningham and his family.

There weren’t many things Keira was afraid of in this world. But a family willing to use its wealth and power to hide the hideous sins of its son?

Let’s just say she was never getting involved with anyone from a wealthy and powerful family again.

Not that she had much interest in attaching herself to anyone on a permanent basis. When the bouquet was tossed in a little bit, Keira would definitely not be part of the group trying to catch it. She’d already lived through her own hell of a marriage once. That was plenty for one lifetime.

Andrea waved to her from the dance floor and Keira made her way out there. No more boo-hooing over the past. Keira had survived. She would always survive.

Breathe in, breathe out, move on.

Keira joined the group out on the floor, jumping and waving their hands over their heads to an upbeat song. Andrea was positively glowing. Keira was so glad her friend had found her knight in shining armor.

Keira didn’t need one. She preferred to fight her own battles and had now finally gotten herself situated to help others who needed assistance.

Help people like the scared, broken girl she’d once been.

After a few more dances, things began to wind down. The speeches were given, the cake cut, the music became slower. She noticed some women sliding their high heels off to give their feet a rest. Keira didn’t need to, one of the perks of her ex-occupation.

She grinned to herself from the edge of the ballroom, where she stood in the shadows. Her three-inch heels were nothing compared to most of the shoes she’d danced in at the club. Plus they made her seem not quite so pitifully short.

“I have to admit, you look like someone very pleased with herself.”

The deep voice startled her and she glanced to her side.

Wow. Tall, dark and handsome had decided to join her in the shadows.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to spook you.” His smile was so charming she couldn’t help but smile back.

“I just didn’t think anyone was hiding here but me. At least on this side of the room.”

“Are you hiding?”

Keira shrugged a shoulder exposed by her strapless dress. “Only because I’m afraid Andrea’s going to throw the bouquet in a minute.”

He chuckled. “You gathering your strength to wipe out the competition?”

Keira raised an eyebrow. “Are you kidding? Look at them.” She waved her arm toward some of the single women at the tables in the middle of the room. “I don’t need to gather my strength to take them out.”

“I stand corrected.” He laughed softly again, the sound doing things to Keira’s insides she hadn’t felt in a long while.

“But no, I’m over here because I don’t want anyone to notice when I don’t join in the tradition of tackling poor, defenseless flowers.”

“I thought all single women wanted to catch the bouquet.”

She turned completely toward him so she could give him the full weight of her opinion of that asinine statement.

But instead just got caught up in the ridiculous blue of his eyes, coupled with his brown hair. She literally felt her breath catch at the spark between them.

So much for not being romantic.

He felt it, too. She could tell by the way he eased closer. “I stand corrected again. Not every woman wants to make a flying tackle for the bouquet. I’m Roman Weber. I work with Brandon and Andrea at Omega.”

“Nice to meet you, Roman Weber. I’m Keira Spencer, old friend of the bride.”

“I’ve seen you around.”

Yeah, she’d seen him, too, since she’d moved to Colorado Springs six months ago. But she’d never had a chance to talk to him before now. Or really, Keira hadn’t pushed it. Had deliberately not let herself be pulled in by the instant attraction between the two of them.

With him standing beside her, she couldn’t help but be pulled in by it now.

“Dance with me?” He tilted his head down near her ear and whispered the words softly. The music was slow. Sultry even. Definitely not helping her resist this attraction pooling in her.

“I’m trying to stay out of the lights on the dance floor, remember?” But she knew if he led her out there she would definitely not resist.

She felt his arm slide low around her waist. “Not out there,” he whispered. “Right here.”

He pulled her into him and began to gently sway with the music. His other hand found hers and brought it up against his chest, keeping their fingers entwined.

Even with her heels she barely came up to his chin. She knew this sort of closeness should make her feel uncomfortable, and waited for that tinge of panic to assail her.

It never came.

One song led into a second as they moved slowly together, in perfect rhythm.

“Why are you hiding in the shadows, Roman Weber?” Keira asked as the second slow song ended and the band took a break for the bouquet and garter toss.

“I’m dancing in the shadows with a gorgeous woman,” Roman replied.

“Not hiding from the garter?”

He smiled. And still hadn’t slipped his arm from her waist or released her hand from his chest.

“No. Although I will admit, shamefully, since I’m a grown man, that I’m trying to avoid my mother and her nagging agenda at events like this.”

Keira smiled. “Mom’s not a big fan of you working at Omega Sector?”

“Oh yes, believe me, she is not happy about my chosen profession.”

She couldn’t blame a mother for being concerned about her son’s well-being. Keira could feel the muscles of the chest beneath her fingers, the light balance he had on his feet. Roman was definitely an active agent. Probably regularly in the line of fire. A mother could be forgiven for nagging about that.

“I understand the hiding. Even if I wasn’t trying to avoid the bouquet, I generally avoid crowds like this.”

He eased back so they could see each other’s eyes. “Law enforcement agents?”

“No.” She shook her head, smiling. “The other ones. Rich and privileged, with an agenda of their own.”

Roman studied her for a long moment in a way she didn’t really understand.

“What?” she finally asked.

“Nothing.” His gaze turn into something softer, more inviting. “You’re trying to get away from these people. I’m trying to get away from these people. What do you say we just get out of here together, right now? I have a suite upstairs.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“It can just be for more dancing. I promise.” That smile again that took her breath away. “All I’m trying to do is save you from the plant-damaging violence of the bouquet toss. Although I agree, you could definitely take out most of the women here.”

Despite what some people might think of her because of her past profession, giving in to an instant attraction wasn’t Keira’s normal way of doing things. Letting a man get close to her was difficult. Hell, given her previous marriage, even being attracted to someone was a novelty.

But the attraction between her and Roman Weber was something fierce. She couldn’t deny it even if she wanted to.

And she didn’t want to.

For the first time in her life, Keira threw caution to the wind. “What if I’m interested in more than just dancing up in your suite?”

His grinned widened. “Then I would ask why the heck we’re still here talking about it.”

He let go of her waist and pulled her to the door.