Down the table, one of the Saxby sisters let out a little moan. The other one elbowed her in the boob, and she yelped. Donovan sauntered around the table to his own seat, all eyes on him, sat down, and leaned back, a vision of power and grace. He didn’t look at Juliette or at Delia on his other side.
I swallowed, trying to remember my manners. To my left sat Ming, the young fifth wife of Montgomery Walker, eyes downcast, staring demurely at her empty plate. Thankfully, he was on the other side of her, away from me. Unluckily for me, Dan Raine was on my other side.
“I must admit, you’re looking good, Sue,” Dan said cozily, eyeing me like a piece of meat. “I expected you’d be a mess. You know, after everything that happened. Jail, the mental hospital, all that stuff.”
I smiled tightly. “Thank you, Dan.”
“Seraphina tells me you’ve got a new job, and you’re doing much better now.”
At the mention of Seraphina, my stomach churned again. “Hmm,” I said, noncommittally.
Juliette grinned. “Seraphina is looking lovely,” she said, her voice deceptively light. “I saw her just the other day, buying a stupidly expensive handbag in Jasper’s.” She plucked at Donovan’s dinner jacket lightly; I wanted to rip her arm off. “Have you met Seraphina, Your Highness? Vincent Andresano’s fiancé? His family is Italian, you must know them.”
“I do not know them.” Donovan didn’t even look at her. “But I have seen her in passing,” he replied. “She is a skinny redhead girl.” There was so much derision in his tone, he might as well have said,she’s a disgusting bald troll.
Juliette barreled on. “Seraphina was always a beautifulgirl, but now that she’s pregnant…” She trailed off and sighed dramatically. “She’s just stunning.”
My smile disappeared. Why the hell was I playing this game? Why the hell had Ieverplayed this game? Juliette was a monstrous bitch; just being in her vicinity was painful. Maybe I’d only ever played it before because I always won without even trying.
She took my expression as a win, a triumphant glint appearing in her beady brown eyes. “I was the same when I was pregnant with my boys. Clear skin, flushed cheeks, thick, luscious hair. There’s something about pregnancy that really makes women glow, isn’t there? Oh!” Juliette gave a fake gasp and clutched her chest. “I’m sorry, Susan. I forgot. You wouldn’t know.”
It would have hurt more, except Donovan’s long legs had sandwiched mine under the table. He held me in place, like I was a sapling tree that had to be propped up in a storm so it wouldn’t fall over. I could barely see Juliette anymore. My eyes had glazed over.
“And you never will,” Juliette added, her tone icy.
“Hmm.”
“Because you’re too old to get pregnant now.” Her barbs weren’t hurting, and she was pissed.
Donovan leaned forward and picked up my wine glass, refilled it, and placed it in front of me. “One more glass,mi amore.” He caught my eye, and held it, his gaze hot. “I do not want your senses dulled this evening.”
The Saxby sisters both moaned in tandem. Juliette clamped her mouth shut, her cheeks reddening.
Holy hell, I loved this man. I couldn’t help it—I giggled like a schoolgirl. “Okay.”
Gladioli dished out the starter—a roasted fennel, burrata and prosciutto bruschetta.
“Thanks, Glad,” I said as she placed the plate in front ofme. Everyone else icily ignored her, not even looking at their plates. I put the whole thing in my mouth and chewed. God, it was delicious—the prosciutto crispy and perfectly salty, the burrata creamy and smooth, the fennel lightly tingly on my tongue. “Mmm. Stunning, thanks Glad. You’re a wizard.”
Donovan scowled. “A wizard? This food is spelled?”
I kicked him under the table and mouthed,not an actual wizard.
“Are we eating carbs again?” One of the Saxbys blinked across the table at me, owl-like. One hand drifted tentatively towards her plate.
“No,” Juliette snapped.
The Saxby pulled her hand back as if Juliette slapped her. Nobody else twitched.
Donovan picked up his bruschetta, put the whole thing in his mouth, and chewed once, then again with relish. He swallowed, then his eyes drifted down to Juliette’s plate. He stared at her bruschetta longingly, then back up at me, a silent question in his expression.
I shook my head slightly. No, Donovan. You can’t steal Juliette’s bruschetta.
Delia turned her whole body towards him, her diamonds glittering in the candlelight, and started quizzing him on Italian architecture. Donovan answered in disinterested monosyllables and stole her bruschetta while she was monologuing about the Colosseum.
He kept looking back at me. Every time he did, I felt the blood rush to my cheeks.No, Susan. He’s taken. Cress would tear out your lungs with her bare hands and play them like bagpipes. And even if he wasn’t already taken, he’s so far out of your league it’s not even funny. He is major league. You could barely qualify for little league.
Dan Raine leaned towards me and put his arm aroundthe back of my chair, oozing cozy confidence. “How much did he cost you, Sue?” he murmured in my ear, and I stiffened at his closeness. “Inquiring minds want to know.”
