I Married Him for Points

hford's Country

t wa

ter boy for heroic shoulders a

like tiny, approving stars. He held a champagne flute like it was a tactical

the show

a waiter floating by with a tray of overpriced bubbles. Perfect. I snagged two flute

s I locked o

stuttered and d

said the stock

he walking towa

ance, for he

up to now." Another, closer, hissed, "Probably about to torment another poor soul." A

s was bad manners. Mine was a calculated

urance. His eyes were glazed as he nodded absent mindedl

beside him wheezed, fumbling for a business card. "M

t of them. A wall of lavende

second before-snapped u

raitorous

dark, merciless green of a deep forest-

aware. The element

was up. The aud

eaked, recognizing me, his face drain

st a fraction. Confusion,

garden held its breath. You could h

hrew

nsive insult-before connecting with his left cheekbone with a satisfying splat. It dripped f

rp, a ripping sound

as if scalded. "I-I must-my wife-" h

y, stunned, de

s. "You absolute walnut. Did your mother raise you in a bar

ded, a cacophony of

e di

a war

ll be r

s was un

mpire, stood there, dripping. He didn't flinch. Didn't wipe his fac

rfe

nst my ribs.That was five hundred hatred po

ht, grinning int

nd cold, sounded

NOTIFI

ndred hat

ht thousand seven hun

INDIVIDUAL. Threat level elevated. Proce

System away. Apologize?

e, he dabbed his cheek, jaw, and collar with a pristi

bly calm. "That was a 1928 Dom Pérignon. Given the current war rati

script. Where was the fury? The outrage? I glanced around,

ittle high. "Was it?" I shrugged, the picture of c

ned on my heel, the taffeta whipping around my ankles

out and closed

. Like being handcuffed by a principle

e a problem, Captain? Thirsty? I have a backup.

d male-wrapped around me. His words were a quiet rumble for my ears only

eated aversion to boring garden parties

simple fact. "You're going to tell me what you'r

whispers, music, clinking glasses-muf

System didn't c

NOTIFI

RNING- INTER

TIVE A

ARAMETERS

CALCUL

DJ

d, red and urgent

s, victorious smile,

ai

ha