He cut me off. “I know a private place.”
A moment later, he opened the door and tugged me inside a family bathroom. There was a chair in the corner, and he led me to it, pushing me down. He wet some paper towels in the sink and placed them on my neck. The cool felt good, and his closeness helped diminish the shock I was feeling. He crouched beside me. “Are you going to throw up?”
“No, it’s passing.”
He pressed his glass into my hand. “Drink more of this.”
I sipped the icy cold tonic and leaned my head back. Liam stroked my head gently, his fingers light and comforting on my skin.
“Baby, I’m sorry.”
I opened my eyes. “It’s not your fault.”
“We can leave. You stay here, and I’ll go explain to my parents.”
I sat up, clutching his hand. “No. You don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t want you in the same room as him. I thought you were going to pass out, you were so pale.”
“I don’t have to talk to him. There are so many people, I probably won’t even see him. He won’t seek me out either. We have nothing to say to each other.”
I met his eyes. They were filled with nothing but love, worry, and warmth. They were totally different from the cold, flat gaze Alan had.
“Why did he call you a gardener?”
Liam told me about the one time they had met. He paused. “Forsyth? Your last name is Winters.”
“He insisted I have my name changed back. He didn’t want Lucy attached to him by anything. He paid for it, and I was happy to disassociate myself from him in every fashion.”
Liam lowered his head with a shake. He muttered under his breath, then lifted his head, his expression furious. “What a horrible excuse for a human.”
“Why were you talking to him?”
His story about Alan’s over-the-top reaction and stiff language made me smile. The fact that Liam was actually making fun of him would have gone over Alan’s head completely. I huffed out a long sigh.
“Nothing has changed, it seemed, except perhaps he’s gotten worse.”
“I saw a ring on his hand. I think he’s remarried,” Liam told me. “I feel sorry for whoever made that mistake.”
Gathering my courage, I stood and brushed out my dress. “I do as well. But it doesn’t affect me, and I refuse to let him spoil our night. Let’s rejoin your family and forget him.”
He ran his fingers down my cheek. “Are you sure, Sweet Pea?”
I nodded firmly. “Yes.”
He touched his lips to my mouth. “My brave girl. I love you.”
I smiled at him, tamping down my nerves. “That is why I can do this. I have you.”
That earned me another kiss. “Yes, you do.”
Hand in hand, we returned to the ballroom.
We ran into Aiden in the hallway. He looked between us, frowning.
“I thought you dragged Paige off to ravish her in some dark corner, but your mother said something was wrong. As usual, she was correct.” He put his hand on Liam’s shoulder. “What is it?”
“Paige’s ex is here. It shocked her, and I took her out of there to help her calm down a little.”
Aiden’s eyebrows rose. “That scumbag who deserted you is here?” he asked me.
“Yes.”
Liam explained his encounter and how he had met Alan before.
“What a pompous ass.” Aiden rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles. “There’s an empty parking lot behind the building. We can lure him there.”
Before I could protest, he continued. “I know the kitchen staff pretty well. I could make sure you could spit on his food. Or get some ex-lax shaved onto his dessert. Hmm?”
I couldn’t stop my smile. Leaning up, I kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Aiden, but no. I just want to ignore him.”
Liam chuckled. “Good ideas, though, Dad. Who is giving the speech tonight?”
“I am.”
“It’s a pretty special night, right? I’m here with my girl. My business is doing well. BAM is huge… ABC is totally rocking it…” He trailed off.
Aiden grinned. “Such a special night.” He clapped Liam on the shoulder. “Words are so much better at times.”
I glanced between them, not understanding.
“I’ll head back to the table. Your mother will be worried by now.” Aiden touched my shoulder. “You come when you’re ready.”
“Thank you.”
He brushed a kiss to my forehead. “We got you, Paige.”
I watched him weave his way through the crowded hall and enter the ballroom.
“Your family is so amazing,” I murmured.
Liam squeezed my hand. “They consider you family now too, you know. My dad meant what he said. We’ve got you, and you don’t have to face this alone. Alan won’t get a chance to upset you again tonight. Ignore him. Don’t let him win.”
“He thinks I don’t belong here.”
“He’s wrong. You’re with me, with my family. You belong by my side, and I won’t let him near you. I promise.”
I smiled at him, fighting back the emotional tears that threatened. “I know.”
“Remember that. You’re with us and you’re safe. You belong. You ready to do this?”
“Yes.”
We headed into the room, the noise level rising tenfold. I kept my head up, refusing to cower. Alan had no control over me anymore. I wasn’t going to allow him to ruin the night. I had Liam beside me, and I knew without a doubt he wouldn’t leave my side again tonight. I was safe.
At the table, I slid into my seat beside Cami. It was obvious Aiden had already filled everyone in, and they regarded me with kind smiles. Cami slipped her arm around my shoulders and hugged me. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
Aiden leaned over. “Asshole eleven o’clock. Don’t be obvious when you look—he’s been staring since you walked in.”
Beside me, Liam draped his napkin over his lap and leaned his arm on the back of my chair. He muttered under his breath, and I knew he’d spotted Alan. My hand trembled a little as I picked up my wine and took a sip, daring to glance up. Four tables across from ours, directly in my line of vision, I was met with Alan’s flat, frosty glare. Sitting beside him was, I assumed, his wife. She sat, her spine straight, her shoulders perfectly squared, and had a bored, discontented look on her face. She wasn’t paying any attention to Alan, and he seemed to be ignoring her. They sat apart from each other, as if being close were unthinkable. As if he knew what I was thinking, Liam’s hand tightened on my shoulder, and he drew me closer, dropping a kiss to my head. I tilted my head toward him with a smile, and he lowered his head and dropped a fast kiss to my mouth. As I glanced back, I saw Alan’s gaze had narrowed, focusing intently on our table, and unable to help myself, I lifted my glass in a silent toast and smirked at him.
Instantly, he dropped his gaze and half turned in his seat. Beside me, Cami chuckled.
“Good move, sweetheart. Don’t let him make you uncomfortable. He can go fuck himself.”
I widened my eyes at her words, but she shrugged. “Katy’s favorite saying. It comes in handy.”