Chapter 19: Bruising My Pride and My Knee
VANESSA BELMONT
I went down hard, my knee scraping against the rough surface, the sting sharp enough to make me cry out.
"Vanessa!"
Nathan was there in an instant, his hand outstretched, his expression one of ... concern? But before he could help me, Fiona materialized out of nowhere. Her delicate fingers fluttered to her lips in faux distress as she stepped between Nathan and I.
"Oh no! Miss Belmont, are you hurt?" she said in her breathy voice. She clutched Nathan’s arm.
Unbelievable.
Nathan shook off her grip, or at least tried to. She pretended like he wasn’t trying to extricate himself. I glared up at her, but her adoring gaze never left Nathan.
Carver shouldered past my fiance, his usual smirky expression exchanged for one of anxiousness. "Neenie, are you okay?"
"Other than bruising my pride and my knee, I’m fine."
"You’re bleeding," said Carver. He effortlessly scooped me up. I had no choice but to hold on to him. Nathan’s jaw tightened, his eyes flickering between me and Fiona, who was now wrapped around his arm like kudzu.
"It’s just a scrape," I muttered, but Carver was already carrying me toward the house.