Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Molly laughed.
“Haven’t you ever had chocolate before?” she asked.
“No, I guess not. Here—let me give you some.”
Carefully, he put a piece of cake in her mouth and Molly smiled at him as the luscious chocolate melted on her tongue. She suddenly wished desperately that this wasn’t fake—that it was a real ceremony and reception. This was exactly how she had imagined things going when she dreamed of her wedding as a little girl. She’d always pictured a kind, handsome husband who looked into her eyes lovingly as they celebrated their love together…
“Hey, you slut!”
The strident words hissed in Molly’s ear made her jump with surprise. When she looked around, Karen Geners was standing there.
Karen had a glass of the woo punch in one hand and a belligerent look on her pretty, pouty face. Molly was sure she must have misheard her but then Karen pointed at her again and said,
“Slut! You only got him because you sent him that dirty video!”
“What did you say to my Mate?” Torus’s voice dropped to a low, dangerous growl and he was glaring at Karen.
“I only said the truth—that you wouldn’t even have wanted her if she hadn’t sent you that dirty video.” Karen’s voice turned plaintive and self-pitying. “I’m the one you should be married to! I’m way prettier than Molly!”
“I don’t find that to be so at all,” Torus said coldly. “Molly is beautiful both inside and out. Whereas your inner ugliness negates any outer beauty you might hope to possess.”
Karen’s china blue eyes went wide for a moment as she digested this remark, then narrowed in anger.
“You’re a liar—I’m the pretty one!” she shouted, waving her glass of Woo punch until it sloshed all over her dress, leaving a pale blue stain. She pointed at Molly. “You’re just a fat, freckled little freak!”
“That’s enough!” Torus growled. He motioned for one of his huge Jorgen friends, who came over at once. “You are extremely lucky you’re a female,” he said to Karen. “If you were male, your life wouldn’t last past your next breath.” Then he turned to his friend. “Take her away. She insulted my mate—she is no longer welcome here.”
“But I’m the pretty one!” Karen howled as the other Jorgen Kindred heaved her easily over one of his broad shoulders and simply walked away with her. “I’m the pretty ooooooooone!”
“Oh my goodness, Molly—are you all right?” Lana was suddenly there at her side with her two Twin Kindred husbands right behind her.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” Molly tried to smile, but inside she felt like crying. Hadn’t she just been thinking how this wedding was so much better than her first one? And now Karen Geners had to go and ruin it…
“I’m so sorry,” Lana said, looking worried. “I could see her getting drunker and drunker but when I tried to stop her from getting more of that blue punch, she just ignored me!”
“It’s okay,” Molly said quickly. “Really, I’m fine. What’s a wedding reception without a little drama, right?” she added, and tried to laugh.
“Well…okay. If you’re sure you’re all right…” Lana still had the anxious look on her face.
“She isn’t at the moment, but she will be,” Torus assured her. “Listen, as acting head of the department while I’m gone, I would like you to make sure that Karen Geners gets transferred out of the Kindred Information Division,” he added. “I never want to see her again. And I don’t want Molly to have to see her either,” he added, putting an arm around Molly protectively.
Lana’s eyes widened but she nodded.
“You got it, Boss.”
“Oh, Torus—you don’t have to do that!” Molly protested. “She was drunk, after all.”
“She insulted you. Also, I’m tired of having to constantly avoid her advances,” Torus told her with a frown. “That female has no shame and no ability to understand when someone has no interest in her!”
“That’s probably because she’s so pretty and thin,” Molly pointed out. “She can’t understand it when a guy doesn’t like her because it’s never happened to her before.”
Torus gave her a confused look.
“You think she’s pretty?”
“Don’t you?” Molly asked.
He shook his head.
“No, not really. I’ve always found her extremely unattractive. Besides being rude and overbearing, she’s too skinny for my tastes.”
Lana, who was still standing by listening, smothered a laugh.
“I bet that’s a first for Karen!”
“Just see that she’s gone from our department when Molly and I get back,” Torus told her. “Right now, I want to talk with my wife.”
He took Molly’s hand in his and led her away from the cake table, where other guests were beginning to gather. He stopped under the shadow of one of the tall sacred trees with dark purple bark and green and purple leaves. Heedless of the immaculate black tux he was wearing, he sat under it and then patted his knee.