Page 43 of Kiss Me Forever

“Mr. Rochester, Mrs. Rochester. I’m glad I was able to come.”

“Hmm,” the older woman said, her gaze on Reece. “I don’t know you.”

“This is Reece. He works with Montgomery Construction. And he’s lead on the home that is part of the donation to the foundation.”

“I see,” she said. “You two seem comfortable.”

Guilt clawed at me, but I stood straighter. Because this woman, I knew now, had never liked me. I had never been good enough for her son. And now, he was gone, and perhaps I was the one who had moved on too quickly—only I hadn’t moved on. I was just standing here with a man who couldn’t stop looking at me, but I wasn’t with him. Yet, from the look on their faces, I was the terrible woman who had broken their son.

“Reece Fox, I know you,” Duke’s dad said, and my gaze shot to him.

“You have me at a disadvantage, sir,” Reece said, his voice low, assured.

“You should know the Longs are here as well. They would usually be here early tonight but have personal issues. Personal issues that surround you.”

I froze in Reece’s hold, just now aware that his hand was still on my waist.

“It’s a small world,” Reece said, and I wasn’t sure what else there was to say to that.

“And it gets smaller every day, Brooklyn.” Mrs. Rochester shook her. “When Chelsea came to me and told me that you had found a new life, I was disappointed but not surprised. Now that I see who you’re associating with, it can either be a good move for you or not. The Longs have reach in this town.”

“As you’re talking to a Montgomery, I’m pretty sure that she understands the reach in this town. This town being Denver,” Reece said dryly.

I wanted to curl into a ball. I didn’t understand what was happening right now.

“You were never good enough for my son,” she snapped. “He’s gone. And you’re here. And I will never forgive you.” And with that, she rolled on her heels and stomped off, leaving Duke’s father standing there.

“I would apologize for her and my daughter, but they’re in pain.”

Tears pricked my eyes and I nodded. “I know. You don’t have to apologize.”

“They need to,” Reece snapped.

Mr. Rochester’s gaze went to Reece’s. “I would be careful about who you anger. Especially if you want to keep your daughter.”

“Are you threatening him?” I asked, taking a step forward.

“I’m just telling the truth. The Longs have connections. Just like the connections you wanted when you were going to marry my son.”

“That’s not— I didn’t—” I sputtered, so fucking confused.

“You’re going to want to watch the way you talk to her.”

“Don’t threaten me, boy.”

“I’m not a boy. I’m a father, I’m a friend, and I know people too. If this is how you treat somebody who was going to be your family, I have to wonder how you treat everyone else around you. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have a bid to make, as this is a foundation to help raise money for children. Something you don’t understand apparently.” Reece pulled me away, leaving me staggered, and Duke’s father just stared at us, a nonplussed expression on his face.

“Reece.”

“Not here. Not now. I can’t.”

We milled through the event room, and I muttered to a few people, trying to act calm, but I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.

Why did they hate me so much? Were they threatening Reece?

“Don’t cry,” Reece whispered into my ear, his breath warm against my skin.

Tears threatened to come and I shook my head. “I won’t.”