Too Far 01- Fallen Too Far

afford a place of my own,” I informed him matter of factly.
    Woods gave me a brisk nod and a sympathetic smile before turning to greet an elderly guest who was passing by. I took that moment to get away. I had snails to feed people.
    Jimmy caught my eye and he winked at me reassuringly. He’d taken care of Rush’s side of the room brilliantly. I hadn’t even gotten close to him. Bethy smiled brightly at me when I arrived at her group. Her smile died when she looked at the food on my tray.
    “What is that?” she asked in horror.
    “You don’t want to know,” I informed her, causing Jace and a guy I wasn’t familiar with to laugh.
    “Probably best that you let this pass on by,” Jace told Bethy as he tucked his hand around her waist and pulled her closer to his side affectionately.
    She beamed up at him and that was all the sweet romance I could take. I hurried on to the next group. The curly red hair was familiar. It took me a second to place her. The evil venom in her smile reminded me exactly where I’d seen her before. She had been after Woods at Rush’s house the night of Nan’s party. I hadn’t made a fan that night thanks to Woods.
    “Isn’t this fun?” she said, turning her attention away from the couple she’d been talking to and focusing on me. “Guess Woods decided you were more suited to work for him than date him.” She giggled and shook her head causing the red curls to bounce around. “I swear, this makes my night.” She reached up and tipped my tray.
    Snails ran down the front of my shirt followed by the tray clattering loudly on the floor. I was too stunned to move or speak.
    “Oh and look she’s super clumsy. Woods should be pickier about his employees,” the girl hissed hatefully.
    “Ohmygod! Blaire, are you okay?” Bethy’s voice came from behind me snapping me out of my shock.
    I managed to shake off the snails still clinging to my clothing.
    “Move,” commanded a deep voice that I instantly recognized. My head shot up to find Rush pushing past the couple with the red head who seemed to be laughing at the mess I was in. He was angry. There was no mistaking that. Rush grabbed me by the waist and studied my face a moment. I wasn’t sure what for. “Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
    I nodded, not sure how to react just yet.
    The veins in his neck were once again straining against his skin as he swallowed hard. He barely turned his head to cut his eyes toward the red head. “Don’t come near me or her again. Understood?” he said in a deadly calm.
    The girl’s eyes went wide. “What are you mad at me for? She’s the clumsy one. She dumped the whole tray all over herself.”
    Rush’s hands clenched tightly on my hips. “If you utter one more word I’ll threaten to remove all my contributions from this club until you are escorted out. Permanently.”
    The girl gasped, “But I’m Nan’s friend, Rush. Her oldest friend. You wouldn’t do that to me. Especially for the hired help.” The childish pout in her voice was odd coming from a twenty- one year old woman.
    “Test me,” he replied.
    He looked back down at me. “You’re coming with me.”
    I didn’t have time to respond before he turned his head to look over my shoulder. “I have her Bethy. She’s okay. Go on back to Jace.” Rush slipped his hand around my waist. “Watch out for the snails; they’re slippery.”
    Two of the busboys were hurrying into the room with supplies to clean up the mess. The music hadn’t stopped but the place had gone quiet. Slowly, people started to talk again. I kept my eyes on the door waiting until I could get outside of this ballroom and break away from Rush’s arms.
    If everyone in there hadn’t known we were having sex, they did now. He’d just shown everyone that he cared about me to an extent but he didn’t exactly want to walk around with me on his arm. My chest ached. I needed my distance from him. It was time I learned to crawl back in my own little world where I trusted me and me only. No one else. Once we were out of the ballroom and away from prying eyes I stepped free of Rush and put some distance between us. I crossed my arms over my chest and stared down at my feet. I wasn’t sure if looking at him was such a good thing yet. I hadn’t taken time to enjoy how gorgeous he looked in a black tux. I’d been doing my best not to look at him. Now that he stood right here in front of me dressed like he was while I was in my server dress covered in