“You were right. Dante can’t take his eyes off you.” Alessandra smiled, a trace of sadness crossing her face. “You’re very lucky to have such an attentive partner.”
With her thick, caramel brown hair and blue-gray eyes, she was extraordinarily beautiful, but she also seemed deeply unhappy. Our exchange about the dress had been the most animated I’d seen her all night.
“It’s not all sunshine and roses. Dante and I have our differences. Trust me.”
“Differences are better than nothing,” she murmured. We exited the bathroom, but she stopped at the entrance to the ballroom. “I’m sorry, I’ve come down with a terrible headache. Can you please tell Dominic I’ve gone home?”
A frown touched my brow. “Of course, but wouldn’t you rather tell him yourself? I’m sure he’ll want to know if you’re not feeling well.”
“No. Once he gets into business mode, it’s impossible to pry him away.” A tiny, bitter smile flashed across Alessandra’s face. “I’ll leave him to his work. It was nice meeting you, Vivian.”
“You too. I hope you feel better soon.”
I waited until she disappeared around the corner before I approached Dominic and Dante.
Dominic’s gaze flicked to the empty space next to me.
“Alessandra said to tell you she has a headache and had to go home,” I explained.
Unidentifiable emotion flashed through his eyes before it vanished beneath pools of inscrutable blue. “Thank you for letting me know.”
I paused, waiting for more of a reaction. None came.
Men. They were clueless half the time and callous the other half.
Dante and Dominic weren’t done talking shop, so I excused myself again and wound my way to the bar. Discussing the ups and downs of the S&P 500 was not my idea of a fun Friday night.
A smile broke out on my face when I spotted a familiar glint of purple-black hair behind the counter.
“What does a girl have to do to get a drink around here?” I quipped, taking the stool closest to her.
Isabella looked up from the drink she was making. “Finally, the VIP deigns to drop by.” She garnished the glass with a wedge of lime and slid it toward me. “Gin and tonic, just the way you like it.”
“Perfect timing.” I took a sip. “Have I mentioned how amazing you are?”
“Yes, but I don’t mind hearing it again.” Her eyes sparkled. “I saw you coming from a mile away. I guess people aren’t interested in seeking out drinks when they can have the drinks brought to them.” The bar was empty save for a couple sitting at the far end, but the themed alcohol carts were a huge hit.
“I get paid the full amount no matter how many drinks I serve, so it’s no skin off my back.” Isabella patted her pocket. “I do, however, have a gift for you. Say the word, and it’s yours.”
I sighed, already knowing where the conversation was headed. Once she latched onto an idea, she was relentless. “Save your breath. I’m not having sex with him.”
“Why? He’s hot, you’re hot, the sex is guaranteed to be hot,” she argued. “Come on, Viv. Let me live vicariously through you. My life is so boring these days.”
Despite her naturally flirtatious personality and propensity for writing about sex and murder, Isabella hadn’t dated anyone in over a year. I didn’t blame her after what happened. If I were her, I’d swear off guys for the foreseeable future too.
“You can live vicariously through books, too. Stick to those because sex with Dante tonight? Not happening.”
No matter how good he looked or how my body responded to the idea.
Isabella’s lips pursed in disappointment. “Fine, but if you change your mind, I have strawberry-flavored condoms. Magnum size, ribbed for your—”
A light cough interrupted her.
Isabella’s smile dropped like a concrete kite, and I turned to see Kai watching us with bemusement.
“Apologies for interrupting, but I’d like to order another drink.” He set his empty glass on the counter. “I can’t get through another conversation about the latest society scandal without more alcohol, I’m afraid.”
Wryness touched his last sentence.
“Of course.” Isabella regained her composure with admirable speed. “What can I get for you?”
“Gin and tonic. Strawberry flavored.”
I almost choked on my drink while Isabella’s face turned an alarming shade of red. She stared at Kai, obviously trying to figure out if he was mocking her.
He stared back, his face the picture of polite impassiveness.
“One strawberry gin and tonic, coming right up,” she said. She busied herself with the drink, her embarrassment a tangible weight in the air.
“Should I be worried she’ll spit in my drink?” Kai took the stool next to mine, looking like he’d just stepped off the set of a Great Gatsby revival.
Between him and Dante, I was convinced a twenties-style outfit increased a man’s attractiveness tenfold.
“She’s not that vindictive…most of the time. And if she does, you’ll see her.” I hesitated, then asked, “How much of our conversation did you hear?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said mildly.
Relief settled in my chest. I didn’t think Kai was the gossiping type, but it was nice to have confirmation.
“Kai Young, you deserve all the goodness in the world.”
He laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind for days when I’m feeling low.” He accepted his drink from Isabella, who gave him a tight smile before double-speeding it to the other end of the bar.
His amused gaze lingered on her for a fraction of a beat before he shifted his attention back to me.
“How’s living with Dante? Has he driven you mad with his insistence on spacing all his candles exactly six inches apart yet?”
“Don’t get me started.” Dante’s control freak tendencies extended past his food quirks and into every area of the household. Sometimes, it was oddly charming. Other times, it made me want to drive a steak knife through his thigh. “The other day, our housekeeper Greta moved the candles in the living room…”
Kai and I chatted for a while, our conversation winding from Dante to the gala to our upcoming holiday plans until he received an urgent email and excused himself to answer it.
While he typed on his phone, I scanned the room, breathless from alcohol and the electric buzz in the air.
My distracted survey stopped on a pair of cool dark eyes, and the breath stalled in my lungs.
Dante watched me, his face unreadable, but heat flickered beneath his stony stare. He appeared to be completely ignoring Dominic.
The seconds stretched into a long thrum of tension. Tiny sparks ignited all over my body, and my heart fluttered with a wild rhythm I was sure couldn’t be healthy.
A muscle ticked in Dante’s jaw when he slid his gaze to Kai for a brief second before bringing it back to me.
“Apologies.” Kai’s calm voice shattered the tension and chased away the sparks. “News doesn’t stop even for a Valhalla event.”
He placed his phone on the counter next to his glass.
Dominic said something that turned Dante’s head, and I pulled my eyes away from him with considerable effort.