Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45614 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45614 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“You’re looking ravishing tonight,” Paul said. There was a slight purr to his voice and she tried not to shudder.
This man was gross. She wanted nothing to do with him.
“It is a beautiful gathering. I wonder how much money has been raised for the event.” She tried to keep the conversation light.
“Are you trying to make me believe you give a fuck about these people and about this event?” Paul asked.
“You don’t?”
Paul snorted. “That’s what you’ve got to love when it comes to foolish girls like yourself. You think there’s a way to make the world better again. Like you can wave a magic wand, but that is not the case. The world is full of monsters and there are people who need to be fucked in this world and those that do the fucking. Cat and mouse. Strong and weak.”
“And you don’t think people can be both?” she asked.
“No. No one can be both. There are those that are strong and lead, and those that need to know their place and stay there.”
She hated this man.
Tamsin had thought her hatred was only toward her father, but there was a special place for Paul Savonas.
“Take my son, for example,” he said. “He’s a strong man and I know he will make a good leader, however, my thoughts about him are starting to … change.”
She tried not to tense up, but it was next to impossible with Paul holding her. She was sure he had tried to pull her a little closer. His breath seemed to fan across her face. He was way too close for comfort.
“Why?” Tamsin asked.
“Simple. The boy has a job to do and that is to get you pregnant. Two years I’ve given him a chance to be a man and knock you up, and are you pregnant?”
She wasn’t going to justify his crudeness with a response. Keeping her wits about her was the only way to survive.
Paul tutted. “I’m starting to think I should take care of this little problem myself.”
“Mind if I cut in?”
Tamsin turned toward Jacob, her eldest brother, and it had been a long time since she had felt relief at her brother being there. She quickly pulled away from Paul and went to her brother. He had saved her where Mason could not. To cut in on his father would appear rude.
Jacob immediately moved her out of the way and Tamsin noticed that several more couples had joined them on the dance floor.
At first, she and Jacob didn’t say a word. She was a little surprised to find herself shaking.
“It’s okay,” Jacob said. “I’ve got you.”
She didn’t want to appear weak, but she couldn’t stop shaking. Jacob held her a little tighter.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“You have no reason to apologize and you don’t need to start now.”
“I don’t know what just happened,” she said.
“I’m guessing Paul was being his charming self, and seeing as he is a fucking disgusting bastard, that is his standard.”
She nodded her head.
“It’s okay. You can relax now. No one is going to take you from me, and after a short dance, I will return you to your husband.”
Tamsin danced with him and it wasn’t as bad as she thought it might be. It was rather nice, and Jacob was a good dancer. She wondered if Louisa had helped him in that department, or if it was a skill he always had. She couldn’t believe how little she truly knew about her brothers.
They had lived in a different world from her. She had brothers and knew of them, but everything else was a blur. She’d been the only daughter and in a weird way, sheltered from the ramifications of what it meant to be a Denton.
Landon had been the only one to tell her anything, much to their mother’s annoyance. She didn’t want her daughter to be anything but perfect and ladylike. Landon helped her be a little rebellious over the years.
“Thank you,” Tamsin said. “For cutting in and saving me.”
“I know right now you hate me and you have every right to be angry, but I promise, I will take care of you.” Jacob sighed. “I have made a great many mistakes in trying to rectify Dad’s … situation. One day, I hope I can offer you everything you were once promised.”
She heard the sincerity in his voice and she didn’t want to argue with him.
After a few more minutes, Jacob kissed her hand and then led her back to her husband. Mason was there at the edge of the dance floor, and she watched as both men nodded their heads.
****
“What did my dad say?” Mason asked the moment they were alone in their bedroom. He’d already gotten Tamsin to move into his room. They were no longer sleeping in separate bedrooms, but sharing. This was how it was supposed to be between a man and a wife.