“Did they do this,” he asked quietly, staring at my ruined appearance. “To you.”
I nodded once.
He reached out, took my hand without hesitation, and stepped inside like he belonged here.
The first person to notice him was Aunt Deirdre. Her face paled instantly. The wine glass slid from her hand and shattered against the floor. The sound echoed through the house like a warning bell.
My mother appeared around the corner, ready to lecture me for allowing someone in before she had granted permission. Her words died in her throat when she saw Beau.
He advanced toward her and extended his hand as though this were an introduction at a gala. “I am Beau Kingsley,” he said, voice calm enough to make the hairs on my arms rise. “Selena’s husband.”
The room fell so quiet that even the refrigerator humming sounded intrusive.
Troy froze halfway down the staircase, his tie hanging undone around his neck. My mother blinked rapidly as if her eyes refused to process the information her ears had received.