Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Our lovemaking ended in a mind–shattering explosion. Instinctually, I wanted to nuzzle into his chest afterwards, but there we work to be done. I fully expected my colleagues to be blowing my phone up, wondering where I was.

I pulled off Andrew’s lap and rushed to put myself back together. When it came time for my heels, I frantically searched for them but could not find them anywhere.

“Looking for these?” Andrew asked.

When I turned to face him, he was holding my shoes in his hand, a crooked half–smile lighting up his face.

“Here, let me help you.”

He bent down on one knee before me, lifted my foot, and slid it gently into. my heel. After securing it tightly with the strap, he moved on to the next foot and repeated the process. Once finished, he slid his hand slowly up the back of my leg and k*ssed my knee.

I leaned my head back, my mouth opened slightly. My underwear moistened.

I could have easily returned to the throes of passion, if my job were not on the line.

“We should go,” I said reluctantly.

Andrew sighed, his hot breath rolling against my skin.

“I suppose you’re right.”

He stood up and handed me my phone.

“I found this on the floor.”

“Thank you.”

I checked my notifications. Fortunately, there were no messages from any of my colleagues, so they must not have needed me, yet. Still, it was better not to take the risk of an emergency in my extended absence.

I reached for Andrew’s hand. He gripped me tightly, as though he would never let me go. In that moment, I wondered if I either of us ever would.

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Chapter 73

“Andrew, what are we doing?” I asked.

Andrew tilted his head at me.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, is this a one–time thing? Are we in a relationship now? I don’t understand where we’re going with this.”

He ran his thumb over the back of my hand.

“I really care for you, Crystal. I would love to be in a relationship with you.”

I kept my eyes on our hands.

“There’s a ‘but‘, though, isn’t there?”

“You have so many problems with this stalker-

“I thought that you thought that was resolved when they arrested those guys.”

He paused.

“I think that there is the possibility that those issues aren’t over yet. I just don’t know who’s behind it.”

I do.

“Considering those problems,” Andrew continued. “I don’t want to burden you with the target that being with me will put on you.”

I thought about the kidnapping and the threats, how much worse they could be if I were with Andrew–all the different sources besides Bob and Lisa they could come from. I suppressed a shudder and squeezed Andrew’s hand.

“You’re right. I’m not ready for that, not yet, at least.”

I looked at him from under my lashes.

“But maybe I will be, someday, especially if we can resolve this stalker problem.”

Andrew stroked my hair.

“Don’t worry. If it’s the last thing I do, I will find the person responsible for your woes and make sure that they pay. For now, though, it might be best to

Chapter 73

keep

our….relationship…unofficial.”

I nodded. Yet in my heart, I knew that I wouldn’t be with anyone else.

No one seemed to notice our absence, and the rest of the wedding went as well -if not better–than most of our weddings. We had to kick out one overly drunk uncle for trying to grope a waitress, but otherwise, everything went down flawlessly, including cleanup. Andrew even stayed behind to help, for which I was eternally grateful.

The next day, Polly and her husband left raving reviews on our website and social media sites, praising us for our professionalism and the stunning visuals of the wedding. Of course, Andrew as the surprise officiant was the ice cream. on the cake and got Ever After Weddings the most attention. Needless to say, Lily was pleased with the positive publicity.

I was still riding on the high of the glowing reviews and S** with Andrew when. I went to my self–defense class two days later. Not even Lisa glowering at me with murderous intent could get me down.

Then our teachers decided to pair us off for practice.

“One of you is going to put on padding and be the attacker,” Martha explained. “The other is going to be the victim and put our techniques to use. Remember, when your partner puts their hands over their head, stop.”

Lisa and I were paired off. I was assigned to be the attacker, and Lisa was the victim. Based on the look in her eyes, I wasn’t sure of the accuracy of the latter

statement.

“All right, attackers,” Martha said, “is your padding secure?”

We all nodded our now–oversized–but protected–heads.

“Three. two…one…go!”

Hesitantly, I charged Lisa.

Lisa held no punches. As soon as I was within striking distance, she jabbed me in the eye and kneed me in the gut–repeatedly. Even with the padding, I could still feel the dulled effects of the hits as they brought me first to my knees and then to my side, lying in the fetal position.

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Chapter 73

As though she had only been waiting for me to be vulnerable, Lisa dropped to her side next to me and started kicking the padding on my head without. mercy. I threw my arms up over my head almost immediately, wanting the beating to be over, but she started to kick those as well.

Susan growled deep inside me.

“Attack,” she insisted. “Do not let her get away with this!”

I felt Susan trying to get a hold of me, but I suppressed her intrusion.

ப

“No.” I replied. “She’s Andrew’s daughter. I can’t hurt her!

“Lisa, stop!” I screamed. “I’m down! I’m down!”

“Take this, you little slut!”

Lisa slammed her foot into my hand–one of the few parts of my b*dy not protected by padding–until I could feel bones cracking.

I cried out in pain. Black dots entered my vision as shock started to set in.

The assault came to a sudden halt when Martha and Susan–the other female instructor–pulled Lisa away from me. Bradley came to my side, helping me to sit up and remove my padding.

“I’m an EMT,” he explained. “Let me take a look at what’s going on here.”

I gasped in pain as he tried to feel my hand and move it around. To distract myself, I eavesdropped on Martha’s conversation with Lisa.

“Never, in all my years of teaching this course, have I had someone behave so violently, especially towards another student,” Martha chided Lisa. “You are no longer welcomed in my class. I’m afraid that you’re going to have to leave.”

“Fine. This class is a waste, anyway.”

I cringed, and not from Bradley’s manipulation of my hand. I didn’t need to be looking to know that Lisa was glaring at me as she stormed out of the building.

“This is bad,” Bradley said as he set my hand gingerly on my lap. “It looks like your hand might be broken. We’re going to need to take you to the hospital.”