Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 130286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“It’s none of your business. You have your own date to worry about.”
His onyx eyes turned challenging. “What’s the matter, Evelyn? Having second thoughts?”
Her palm twitched and she had the urge to slap him. “Not at all, darling. I’m just here to enjoy myself. What you do is your business. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I must get back to my date.”
She turned to walk away as his punishing grip closed on her arm again, cutting off her fast escape.
He growled in her ear, his warm breath a hot caress over her neck. “Don’t fucking play games with
me, Evelyn. You won’t like the result.”
She laughed derisively to cover her discomfort. “Oh, you don’t need to worry about me playing
games, Lucian. That’s your style, not mine.”
He released her arm. “We’ll see.”
She took her escape the moment it was available. When she returned to their table, adrenaline was
coursing through her veins so quickly her limbs were shaking.
“You okay?” Nick asked.
“Fine.” She turned. “Where’s the waitress?”
“Why?”
“I’m out of champagne,” she grumbled, very much wanting another drink.
He gave her a measuring look and she tried for a reassuring smile, but failed. “I’ll go get you one.”
Nick stood and went to the bar. Scout’s gaze traveled to Lucian’s table and saw him making
apologies as he took his seat next to the trollop in the red gown. A waiter passed and Scout managed to snag a glass of champagne and drink it down before Nick returned.
Lucian’s gaze landed on her, heavy with warning. She lifted her glass and saluted him from afar.
His eyes narrowed.
Nick returned and she looked away. She smiled as he placed a fresh glass in front of her. Servers
brought out the first course, a light salad with mandarin oranges and some sort of raspberry dressing.
Scout didn’t have much of an appetite, but it was in her best interest to eat.
The first course was cleared away and replaced with a lovely pasta dish. Delicate little pillows of
pressed pasta were stuffed with a salmon mousse and drizzled in a vodka sauce.
As her stomach adjusted, her equilibrium seemed to right itself enough for her to have another
drink. The people at their table were nice. They breezed over casual topics and by the third course,
Scout somehow managed to forget Lucian’s presence, and by forget, she meant force herself to look in
his direction only once a minute rather than steadily scrutinizing his every move.
After dinner her stomach was happy and her body felt light. Music changed to a more upbeat
selection, and couples slowly made their way to the dance floor. Scout turned and realized there was a
band as well as a prerecorded selection of music.
Her gaze returned to Lucian and found him watching her. Nottingham chatted with the woman to
her right. Her mind went back to the first affair he’d ever taken her to. Scout recalled her fear of
dancing that evening. She didn’t fear such things now. They’d taken many private dance lessons,
something she now realized she missed.
Her lips curled in a soft grin and she made a barely perceptible nod, calling a momentary truce. His
eyes softened and she wondered if he was recalling the same memories.
Their connection was severed as Nicole stood. Scout’s stomach knotted as she leaned down and
whispered in Lucian’s ear, her dainty hand brushing lightly over his shoulder. Nottingham left, and
when Lucian looked back to Scout she lowered her gaze, no longer wanting to play at this game.
“Want to dance?” Nick asked.
She swallowed. “Sure.” She’d dragged him here and he’d been a great sport so far. The least she
could do was dance if that was what he wanted to do.
The music was an older song with a Motown swing to the beat. They slowly trotted around each
other, and she forced a smile on her face. The alcohol in her system helped her to not overthink the
fact that Lucian was watching them. When the song ended, she grinned at her date and caught her
breath.
“May I cut in?”
Her steps faltered as she pivoted and found Lucian at her back. She glanced nervously at Nick, who
swept his arm out invitingly and stepped aside. The song was not anything like the one that was just
playing. A slow climb started on the piano as only one man sang slowly into the microphone.
Lucian stepped in front of her and took her hand. Her fingers curled over his and her palm settled on
his shoulders, his scent a sweet form of torture to her senses. Peace swept over Scout as he pulled her close. He led them slowly in circles and his presence enveloped her. She closed her eyes and breathed
in the welcoming, familiar scent of him.
“You look beautiful tonight.”
His voice climbed into hidden places of her soul that shook with a longing almost impossible to
contain. She was tired of fighting. “Thank you.”
“I asked them to play this song for us.”
Her lashes fluttered open. She glanced at him then to the band. Violins played softly from the