He heard the masses moan and Tabby yell, “Coward.”
Taking a seat, he chugged down a bottle of water. He knew it was time to tell Devon about him and Tabby, but how? There was no telling how his friend would react. The man’s friendship meant a lot to him. Not to mention, he was a damn good worker and his right-hand man.
He wasn’t surprised to see Tabby stick her head beyond the door. “Knock, knock. Is it safe to come in?”
He got to his feet. “Baby, I think you deserve a good spanking.”
“Promises. Promises.” She walked into his open arms. “Eeek!” She stumbled back. “You’re sticky.”
He caught her hand, dragging her back into his embrace. “You’ve never complained before.” Pressing his mouth to hers, he kissed her.
“What the fuck!”
The second Reece heard Devon’s curse, he knew the jig was up.
“Devon, please. Reece and I—”
“You sonofabitch.” Hands knotted into fists, Devon approached on firm footsteps. “I’m going to tear your fucking head off your shoulders.”
Tabby darted in front of Reece. He attempted to shove her back, but she held her ground. “For God’s sake, Devon, lower your voice. Think about where we are.”
Devon’s eyes burned with anger. His shoulders heaved with each labored breath. The man shook with his fury. “Get out of my way, Tabby.”
“Dammit, Devon, listen to her. This isn’t the time or the place. Besides, I won’t fight you.”
“Then it will make it easier for me to beat the livin’ shit out of you.”
“It’s not what you think, Devon. Tabby and I are getting married.”
A burst of skeptical laughter met Reece’s declaration. “Married? You?”
“If that’s what it takes for you to accept this thing between us,” Reece said.
Tabby turned to face Reece, unable to believe what she just heard.
“If that’s what it takes?” she repeated his words slowly. Each one burned into her soul. Her chest squeezed, the pain sharp and deep. During their time together there had never been any mention of marriage or even love.
When anger crashed against the anguish, that the man she loved proposed marriage to satisfy her brother, she inhaled, spewing, “We are not getting married.”
“Tabs?” Devon growled behind her while Reece appeared stunned as if she had slapped him, and for life of her she didn’t know what kept her hand by her side.
“We have to marry,” Reece said.
Her brows shot upward as her eyes widened. “Have to? I don’t have to do anything,” she murmured through clenched teeth. “Especially since you’re asking me because you feel some twisted obligation to my brother.”
“But he’s right. You deserve a family, children.”
Face flushed with heat, she felt moisture fill her eyes. “You once said I was a romantic.” She nearly choked on the emotion catching in her throat. “In all these years I never once thought of marrying for a family and children, but for a man who loved me.”
“Love?” Reece pushed his fingers through his wet, sticky hair. “Hell. I don’t even know what love really is.”
“Then let me help you.” Her eyes seemed to dry instantly. “This isn’t it.”
She didn’t wait for a response. She spun around, dodging her brother’s outstretched hand, and ran for the door. Blindly, she pushed her way through the crowd, needing to find someplace to be alone, someplace to fall apart. Darting around the corner of the street, she disappeared behind a noisy generator. Her pulse raged, her chest heaving as she collapsed against the vibrating engine.
Yes. She wanted to marry Reece, but not to satisfy her brother and certainly not if Reece didn’t love her. A marriage without love was only a shell of a relationship. A humorless laugh slipped from her trembling lips. There was a time when Tabby felt her love was all they needed to make a go of it as a couple. That she could make him love her, given time. But a one-sided love and terrific sex wasn’t enough to sustain two people through bad times. She had witnessed that firsthand with a friend at college who had been in a similar position.
Reece would come to blame her, even hate her, if things didn’t work out. And she loved him too much to ever want to do that to him or to herself.
She was still licking her wounds as she stepped beyond the generator and into the street. Her boots clicked softly against the cobblestone with each step. It had to be nearing one and she had been scheduled to officiate at the tricycle races. As she neared the track designated by big orange cones, she ran into Josie and Vic. She tried giving them her best attempt at a smile, but it must have fallen short.