“What are you doing?” I asked.
“We were good together, Luke. We still can be.” And before I even saw it coming, Kathleen pressed her lips to mine.
I quickly placed my hands on her upper arms and pushed her away. She pouted—then a loud crash caused her to turn.
When I looked at where the noise had come from—where Bree had just been—I saw that she’d run into some waiters. Hank was almost there. He called out her name, but she ran so fast for the back exit, I didn’t even have time to think. I took off after her.
“Bree! Brighton!” I shouted as I made my way through the crowd.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!
She’d seen Kathleen kissing me. How long had she been here? Had she seen us walking around the room? It probably appeared we were posing as a couple—exactly as Kathleen had intended. But surely Brighton would know it was all an act?
“Brighton!” I called out.
I saw her burst through the doors and run down the steps. How in the hell she could run in heels was beyond me. I could barely run in these damn dress shoes. A taxi happened to be parked outside the hotel where the event was being held, and Bree made a beeline right for it.
“Bree, wait!” I shouted. She slipped into the taxi, and it quickly sped off.
“Fuck!” I threw my hands in the air. Hank appeared next to me.
“I saw her earlier,” he stated.
Turning, I looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“I saw Brighton walking up when you got out of the car. I tried to get your attention, but Kathleen made that impossible. When I looked back at her, she was gone. I didn’t see her again until a few moments before she turned and ran into the waiters.”
“Son of a bitch. Why didn’t you tell me you saw her outside, Hank?”
“I tried.”
“Not fucking hard enough. Did she see the kiss?” I asked.
Hank shrugged. “I was on my way toward her, so I wasn’t watching you. From her reaction, I would say yes, she saw it.”
I pushed my hand through my hair in frustration. “How in the hell would Kathleen know Bree was there?”
Hank handed me my phone. “It was pushed down between the seats. Way down. I heard it buzzing when I parked the limo. Brighton texted you. Kathleen must have seen it and stashed your phone.”
“Goddammit. I should have known Kathleen was up to something. She was acting weird and hanging onto me inside.”
I pulled up Bree’s number and called it. It went right to voicemail. “Bree, call me. Please. I need to talk to you. Whatever it was you think you saw, it was nothing. Please…just call me.”
“Luke?”
I heard my friend Bryce, the host of the private event, calling out to me. It was only then that I noticed the press standing around. A lot of them had left, but some had stayed behind.
“Shit, how much of that do you think they heard?” I asked Hank.
“We’re too far away and security is keeping them behind the barricades, so I doubt they heard anything. Brighton ran out too fast and slipped into the taxi quickly. I’m sure they didn’t have a chance to even photograph her.”
“Luke, is everything okay?” Bryce asked as he walked up to us. “What in the hell was that all about?”
“I’m sorry if we caused a disturbance, Bryce. I’m going to have to leave. Something came up.” Turning to Hank, I said, “Stay here and make sure Kathleen gets back to her hotel.”
“I can make sure she gets back okay,” Bryce offered.
“You’re sure?”
He nodded and clapped me on the arm. “Go get the girl, Luke.”
Hank took off toward where he’d parked the limo.
“Thanks, Bryce. I’ll be sure to make an additional donation.” Not wanting to waste another minute, I jogged and caught up with Hank.
“Where to?” he asked.
“Her place.”
I tried to call Bree at least a dozen more times. But it went straight to voicemail each time. After the seventh call, I stopped leaving messages. Hank pulled up to her building, and I jumped out and started toward the door when Lewis, one of the doormen, stopped me.
“Mr. Morrison, I’m sorry, but I’m not allowed to let you into the building.”
“What?” I asked, stunned.
“Ms. Rogers has stated that you are not to be allowed into the building. And if you show up, I’m to tell you, and I quote ‘Go fuck yourself…um…you, um…asshole.’ Yeah. I’m pretty positive that was what she asked me to relay. I still like you, though, sir.”
I was positive I was standing there with an absolutely befuddled look on my face, because Hank cleared his throat from behind me.
When I glanced back, Hank was waiting outside the limo. He must have had an idea I wouldn’t be staying.
“I appear to have made Ms. Rogers angry,” I calmly said as I looked through the doors into the lobby.