“I’m sorry,” she continues. “We’ve been friends a long time. I’d like it to remain that way.”
The man she gestured to appears by her side and holds his hand out.
“Sterling, good to see you.”
“William,” Sterling greets as the two men shake hands.
William’s eyes move to me, and Sterling’s grip tightens on my hip.
“Hallie, this is William Fulton. He’s a very talented chef with three restaurants in the city. William, this is Halliday Burton. She’s a very talented businesswoman who works magic.”
I smile as William takes my hand. “Pleased to meet you, Halliday.”
“And you,” I reply.
“So, magic?”
I smile. “I bring people together. Find them love.”
“Ah, so you’re a matchmaker?” His eyes move from me to Sterling. “And you’re working together? How long ago did Elaina?—?”
“Two years,” Sterling clips, stiffening beside me.
William’s brows shoot up. “Two? And you’re ready for…? That’s… Well, good luck. I don’t expect dating at our age is easy.” He chuckles uneasily, his eyes roving around the room as if he’s looking for an escape.
“William,” Lavinia chimes in, “two years is plenty of time. And Elaina was no saint. If you knew what she’d been up to, you’d be applauding Sterling for waiting this long.”
William pales, his throat bobbing. “Of course, I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“No harm done,” Sterling replies smoothly.
I look at him, but his eyes are fixed on Lavinia. A muscle in his cheek clenches.
“It was nice to meet you, Halliday,” William says quickly before looking at Lavinia. “My car’s outside. We should…”
“Of course.” Her gaze drops to Sterling’s hand on my hip before she paints a bright smile on her face. “Halliday, I hope you’re successful in your search. And Sterling, it was good to see you.” She squeezes his forearm, then leaves with William.
“You said no one knew about the affair.”
“I didn’t think they did,” he murmurs.
“They were friends. Elaina must have told her.”
“Perhaps. Lavinia’s never mentioned it, though, and she didn’t see Elaina much those last few months. She was overseas on a charity mission.”
“Oh. That’s…. a little weird, then,” I say.
Sterling’s brow is furrowed as he watches Lavinia and William exit through the main door on the far side of the room.
We stay until all of the guests have left and only staff and family remain.
Sterling pulls me into his arms and presses a kiss straight to my mouth with a groan. “Do you realize how hard it’s been not to do that all evening? Especially knowing you aren’t wearing a bra underneath this dress?”
I smile into his kiss, ignoring the staff around us, packing up all of the jewelry to take to the safe.
He slides his hand down over the silver satin until his fingertips graze the top of my ass. He doesn’t move any further, maintaining some gentlemanly manners. But the heated glint in his eyes conveys all the filthy things he’s planning for me when we get back to his place.
“Let’s go,” he murmurs, kissing me again.
