She slipped out the door and Gabe needed more than a minute to gather his thoughts. Between the desire pumping through him and the fury over some guy who didn’t have any manners, Gabe needed to rein it in before he went out there in a fit of rage.
Gabe let a good five-minute gap pass before he headed back out. The party was still in full swing. The drinks were flowing, laughter and conversation filled the open area, and couples were dancing to a slow country song by the hired band.
Standing back, Gabe surve
yed the room, trying to pinpoint guests he didn’t know. There was no way a friend of theirs would make snide remarks to Chelsea, so this guy had to be someone outside of their inner circle. Maybe a business associate of Shane’s or Brandee’s.
Within minutes Gabe had narrowed the options to three guys. Gabe shoved his hands in his jeans and watched each of them for a few minutes. He needed to have absolutely no doubt which one he needed to rip apart.
Chelsea and Brandee were throwing darts in the corner. Erin stood near them, sipping on a glass of water and chatting with her friends. Shane and Daniel were at the other dartboard. Gabe figured he should mingle so he didn’t look like he wanted to commit murder, but if any of those three guys said something to Chelsea again, Gabe wouldn’t be responsible for his actions.
“Looks like you owe me a bourbon,” Daniel stated, slapping Shane on the back as Gabe joined them near the dartboards.
“Considering it’s an open bar, I’m paying for it anyway,” Shane replied.
“Actually, Chelsea and I paid for it,” Gabe interjected. “But feel free to drink all you want. We also have drivers to make sure everyone gets home safely.”
“You guys really thought of everything,” Shane said. “Thanks, man.”
Gabe didn’t want the accolades. Shane was his best buddy and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for him. Besides, working with Chelsea was worth all the money and time he’d spent. She trusted him now. She believed in him. And he couldn’t wait to get back to his place and make good on his promise to rip that dress off her body.
“I’ll go get drinks,” Shane offered. “What do you guys want?”
Daniel and Gabe gave their orders and Shane headed toward the bar. Risking a glance at the women, Gabe smiled when Chelsea threw the last dart in her hand and it hit the bull’s-eye. She threw her arms in the air and spun toward her friends with a huge smile on her face. That punch of lust to his gut always caught him off guard—though it was something he really should have been used to by now.
“I’ll go get us some drinks,” she told them.
Gabe forced himself to look away, but when he turned back, Daniel was eyeing him.
“Something you want to tell me?” Chelsea’s brother asked.
“No.”
“You dodged that question before, Walsh.”
Gabe shrugged. He’d continue dodging it until Chelsea wanted her brother in on what was going on...if she ever did.
Even if he and Chelsea hadn’t agreed to keep things private, he wouldn’t be chatting with her brother about this. Chelsea was Gabe’s business. Simple as that.
“This is none of your concern.”
Daniel lifted his brows. “Is that right? Because you were looking at my sister like... I can’t even finish that without getting graphic. What the hell is going on with you guys?”
Gabe crossed to the board and plucked out the darts. “We’re planning a wedding. You want to know anything else, you’d have to ask her.”
“I’m asking you.”
Gabe handed Daniel the red-tipped darts. “Winner gets the final say-so in this argument.”
Taking the darts from Gabe, Daniel nodded. “I’ll want the truth when I win.”
Like Gabe would ever lose.
The crash of breaking glass had Gabe and Daniel spinning around. Chelsea stood in the midst of the mess, and some guy Gabe didn’t know was clutching her elbow.
Oh, hell no. Gabe was across the room before he could even think twice. Rage bubbled within him and all he saw was Chelsea’s shocked face, her mouth open, her eyes wide. And fear. He saw fear and he damn well didn’t like it one bit because his Chelsea never cowered from anything. She was a fighter.
“C’mon, baby. Everyone has already seen everything you have. Why don’t you give me a private show?”