rns against the

ic appearance as a couple and every eye in the ballroo

rmurs near my ear.

grip on my champagne f

the emerald silk. Possessive. He

cene. Remind him that proxim

ough the crowd because these wi

ll is bringing us back together inste

," Adrian warns.

ed in Chanel glides toward us with a c

oria's eyes slide to me. "And with Elen

freeze water. "Still draining y

Still letting dead me

y before Adria

rigid against my spine. "They smel

works. "I used t

im into something different. Something b

n stands scanning the crowd. Six feet of surgeon's precision wra

ens against my back

I'd be here.

ff my waist. "Are yo

ne and set the empty flute on a

d stares at

off him to watc

is smile warm and genuine. He barely gl

ger just long enough for every camera in the room t

board." His hand finds my waist-the exact

the ballroom pivots toward us. "Let's move before the song forget

hand settles at my waist-respectful, appropr

and antiseptic. Clean. Safe. Ever

we begin to move. His voice hold

falter.

e, his smile never wavering for t

up my neck

for the record, when you're done playing games with Kane, I'd like to take you to

don't

music swells. "Would you like me to show

nie

ushes my waist. "I'm just telling you: when you'

of my palm, and walks away like he didn'

ed. Cameras flash. The gossip reaches a cr

catches my elbow.

er than appropriate for two people who hate each oth

ants

oo

s

angement. You get to watch me

ngers span my spine like he's trying to memo

ne of your

posed to b

osed to be

d my body betrays me

't w

me rem

is warm against my skin. "The way you hum when you're concentrating. How you

to

ne. "I've tried for five years to forget you.

ed people, society photographers, Victoria Ashford'

yes drowning in regret, mine

y mouth. My pulse h

five years of carefully constructed ar

pplause. Camera flashes. Every pair of eyes

away, but his fingers trail dow

ance." My voice does

le

inish. Before I do somethin

he exit with my coa

ack. But I know Adrian's eyes ar