Page 63 of Knot a Bad Idea

The second floor is blocked by velvet ropes, and I pause at the top of the stairs.

I shouldn’t go through.

But the pounding in my chest is painful, and I can’t catch my breath if I’m forced to hear the chatter of the crowd.

“Fuck it,” I hiss, unhooking the rope and stepping onto the second floor.

If someone catches me, I’ll feign innocence and say I was looking for a bathroom.

Positioning myself away from the stairs, I lean against a closed mahogany door and inhale deeply.

I count my breaths, allowing the outside noise to fade away until all I experience is the sensation of my breathing.

Everything fades away until oxygen fills and exits my lungs.

Eventually, my panic subsides, and I sigh deeply.

I will get through this event.

I just have to survive the evening, and a few more events after that.

Then, I can go back to Isleton and truly start living.

I can?—

“I thought I’d find you up here.”

I turn my attention to Hunter, who stands at the top of the stairs, hooking the velvet rope back into place. “You know there’s no trespassing up here, baby,” he tsks. “Such a rule breaker.”

“You’re trespassing, too,” I breathe, doing my best to sound angry. His scent is spicy and potent, and it takes all my willpower to not throw myself into his arms.

My womb clenches, and I freeze in place as a drop of slick slowly trickles out of me.

Oh, this is absolutelynothappening right now.

“I’ve never cared about rules,” he says easily, taking a step toward me. “Especially not when it comes to you.”

“Go away,” I huff. “I’ll be down in a moment. I just needed a break.”

His smirk fades. “From us?”

I sigh. “From all of this,” I motion around the floral wallpaper lined hallway, then to my dress. “It’s a lot.”

He crosses his arms and leans against the wall next to me. I stay silent, hoping he’ll leave, but then he heaves a long dramatic sigh.

I turn to him. “What?”

His eyes are mischievous. “You used the phone I gave you,” he purrs.

“So?”

“So, you still like me.” His grin is wide and wicked, and I want to smack him.

He’s infuriating.

“Are we in high school?” I snap.

“No, baby, if we were in high school, I would say youlikelike me.”