Then she turned back to Jarrod, her voice coming out in a low hiss. “You son of a bitch. You stay away from me and my child. I’ll see you in hell before I ever let you near me again.”

Ryan started to rise, but she shoved him back into his seat. “By all means, you stay. You wouldn’t want to disappoint your family and friends.”

Before he could react, she stalked away.

She bypassed the doorway leading to the bathrooms and kept on walking. She burst into the cold, shivering because she hadn’t bothered to collect her coat. She embraced the chill, welcomed the cold slap in the face.

Her head had ached all afternoon, but after spending the past hour with her teeth gritted and her jaw tight, the headache had exploded into vicious pain.

She walked a block before the cold penetrated the thin layers of her dress. She stopped and waved at a passing cab but it didn’t stop. It took two more attempts before she managed to get one to pull over for her.

She was barely able to get out Ryan’s address before the tears started to fall.

* * *

Ryan’s first thought was to go after Kelly, but he was furious, and this had to be ended now. Like hell he’d ever allow anyone to make Kelly feel the way she’d obviously felt tonight. He bolted to his feet, palms smacking the table as he lunged toward his brother.

“What the hell was that?”

He included his mother in his furious gaze, not backing down when she recoiled from his anger.

Jarrod looked taken aback, his face pale. He looked sick, but at this point Ryan didn’t care. He’d had enough. This was a huge mistake and he wasn’t going to let it go this time. He never should have let it go. Never should have played down the obvious discord between Kelly and his family.

Their mother leaned forward, her expression tight. “Don’t be angry with him, Ryan. I invited him. If you insist on a relationship with this woman we’re going to have to sit down together at some point. Or do you plan never to see your family? Hasn’t she caused us enough pain?”

Ryan let out a curse that made his mother flinch. “Haven’t you hurt her enough? It ends tonight. I’m done with this. I’m done subjecting Kelly to your insensitivity and your blatant attempts to drive us apart.”

Then he turned in his friends’ direction. “Rafael, it was good to see you and Bryony again. I hope to see you before you leave the city.”

He nodded at Devon and Cam, who looked as if they’d rather be anyplace but where they were. That made three of them.

“Sorry, man,” Devon murmured.

Not sparing his mother or brother a second glance, Ryan left the table and went in search of Kelly, hoping she hadn’t made it past the door yet. He’d take her home, apologize profusely and then he’d promise that he wouldn’t subject her to another gathering of his friends and family.