“Why not? You embarrassed and humiliated me in front of all of our family and friends, Colin. At the time, I didn’t think I could ever forgive you for that. But I can now, because I think it was the right thing in the long run.”
“Jade—”
“I don’t want to hear it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have lots to do today.” I took his arm and started walking him out the door.
He turned and grabbed me, pulled me into him, and pressed his lips to mine.
I gasped, and he slid his tongue into my mouth. Everything about this kiss felt wrong. I tried pushing him away, but his strength defeated mine.
“What the fuck is going on here?”
The voice came out of nowhere. Heavy footfalls. Toward us. Powerful arms wrenched me away from Colin’s grasp.
Talon stood, glaring, his eyes afire. “Who the hell are you?”
Colin stumbled backward. “It’s okay. I’m her fiancé.”
“Her what? ” Talon said through clenched teeth.
“Talon, it’s all right,” I said, wiping Colin’s taste from my lips. “He was just leaving.”
“You never touch her again.”
Colin stood his ground. He wasn’t as tall as Talon, but he was buff, a great athlete. “Or what?”
In an instant, Talon jammed his fist into Colin’s cheek. Caught off guard, Colin fell against the wall. Talon grabbed him by the neck and punched him again, this one landing square on Colin’s nose.
Blood oozed from his nostrils, while Talon gripped his shoulders and threw him to the floor, kicking his stomach. Colin groaned, covering his nose.
“Talon,” I yelled. “Talon, stop! Please!”
He kept kicking Colin, who lay on the floor doubled over.
I grabbed Talon around the waist, my heart thundering. “Please! You’re really going to hurt him.”
No change.
“Please! For me!”
Talon froze mid-kick. His facial features went blank, and he backed away.
I bent to Colin. “Are you okay?”
He nodded. “I’ll be fine, I think,” he choked out. “I’ve taken worse on the football field.”
“I’ll show you worse.”
I looked up. Talon’s dark eyes were glazed, ferocious.
“Oh, no, you don’t, Talon. Don’t just stand there. Go get him an ice pack for his nose.”
Talon hesitated for a minute but then walked to the kitchen. A few seconds later, he came back with a plastic bag filled with ice. I held it to Colin’s nose.
“Does he need an ambulance?” Talon asked.
Colin coughed. “Of course I don’t need a damned ambulance, you Neanderthal. I can take as much as you can dish out.”
“Oh, yeah?” Talon’s eyes lit with fire again.
“You two stop this right now.” I stood and faced Talon, my hands on my hips. “You owe Colin an apology.”
“The hell I do.”
“I don’t need a goddamned apology from him.” Colin stood, holding the ice bag to his nose. “I’m staying at the Hotel Coronado in Grand Junction. I want to take you to dinner tonight.”
“Over my dead body,” Talon said.
“Talon, I will decide who I have dinner with, got it?” I helped Colin up and over to a chair in the living room. “You sure you don’t want me to call someone?”
He shook his head. “Just give me a few minutes to collect myself. I’ll be fine. I’ve been in worse shape than this.”
Back in the foyer, Talon seethed. I looked away from him. What I had just witnessed disgusted me…and unnerved me. I did not want to see him right now.
After about fifteen minutes, I walked with Colin to his car. “Text me when you get Grand Junction safely.”
He nodded. “I still hope you’ll meet me for dinner tonight.”
I shook my head. “No, Colin. That’s not going to happen. I’m sorry.”
He drove away.
I walked back into the house. Talon was in the kitchen, sitting at the table with that goddamned glass of water again. He looked up at me when I walked in.
“What the hell was that all about?” I said.
“He was kissing you.”
“Why is it any of your business who I kiss?”
“Well…he walked out on your wedding, so he shouldn’t be—”
I clenched my hands into fists. “For God’s sake, Talon, do you have feelings for me or not? How did it make you feel to see him kissing me?”
“I don’t know…”