Read Until I Break for Free Online

invitation, I know what my answer would be.
    Once again, I’m forced to remind myself that
this isn’t Mason, that Mason isn’t real. And that’s probably a good
thing. Mason breaks hearts. He can’t help himself. It’s what broken
people do.
    I feel short of breath and lightheaded as we
walk through the doors into the elaborate foyer of the ballroom. My
step falters and I squeeze Alec’s arm to keep my balance. He looks
down at me, at first in question, but then his expression
changes.
    He looks quizzically into my eyes before he
scans my face. “You’re blushing,” he states. There’s a long pause
before he continues. “Maybe tomorrow you can show me what you were
thinking about.”
    He continues staring for a few seconds more
before he urges me into a slow walk at his side. “Smile,” he says
as we enter the main room. “Or people will think you’ve been doing
something you shouldn’t.”
    I glance up at him to judge his expression,
but I see only his profile.
    How does he do that?
    It’s like he’s inside my head.
    As well as under my skin.
    Following Alec’s suggestion, I plaster a
smile on my face and look casually around the room. I doubt anyone
here would guess that I’m wondering how I got here. And I don’t
mean “here” as in this address. I mean “here” as in so wrapped up
in a man I’ve only just met.
    Only it doesn’t feel like we just met. It
feels as though I’ve known him longer, that I know him
intimately.
    I’m relieved when I spot Chris across the sea
of glamorously clothed patrons. Within seconds, she looks up and
sees me, too. I watch as she makes her excuses to the couple to
whom she’s talking and starts toward us.
    As she moves closer, I have a moment of
insecurity about masquerading as something I’m not—a gorgeous,
confident woman. Like Chris.
    She’s like a cover model come to life in a
scarlet sheath that sets off her golden skin and platinum hair.
She’s just the type of arm candy one would expect to see with a man
like Alec Brand. I’m nothing more than an imposter. A wallflower in
a clever costume. But surely no one’s fooled. Surely they can see
the real me.
    I glance at Alec from the corner of my eye.
His face gives away nothing.
    “You’re here,” Chris says enthusiastically as
she glides up to my side.
    “Of course,” I say, as if there was no doubt,
which there absolutely was.
    “You say that as if it was a foregone
conclusion that you’d be here.”
    “Wasn’t it?”
    Chris rolls her eyes. “Are we even talking
about the same person?”
    “Where’s Mom?” I ask, redirecting her.
    Chris cranes her neck, looking toward the
center of the room. “Oh, she’s somewhere around here. You know
she’ll find you before long. That woman has a sixth sense.”
    “Tell me about it,” I mutter.
    Chris finally turns back to me then her eyes
flicker to Alec. Her smile is brilliant, like she just now noticed
he’s with me. “I’m sorry. I’m so rude! I’m Chris, Chris Wells,
Sam’s sister.”
    “Chris and Sam?” He directs his question to
me, cocking his brow again. I’m beginning to love that gesture. It
says so much without him actually having to say a thing. He turns
back to Chris. “Alec Brand,” he says, inclining his head slightly.
The action is almost regal. It suits him, making me wonder about
his life. I haven’t even gotten that far in my head. And it’s not
as though I don’t care; I’m insanely curious about the real life
Mason. It’s just that, so far, my brain seems to stop working when
he’s around.
    “Yes, I remember,” Chris replies, still
smiling broadly.
    Alec nods. “Ah, the coffee shop. Right,” he
says, his smile a mere curve of the lips. Pleasant yet bland. I
feel a little thrill that he’s not flirting and doesn’t seem to be
instantly enamored of her like most men. Most of them lose their
wits completely when she smiles.
    But not Alec. In fact, he seems almost
oblivious to her beauty and charm, a fact