“Yes, yes. You’re right.” I tweaked my black velvet bow tie as I stared in the mirror. The last time I’d worn a tux was at an awards ceremony. I owned two tuxedos. This one was a burgundy velvet tuxedo jacket with black lapels. I wore it with black trousers and a white shirt. A little outlandish but perfect for a Christmas event.
“Well?”
I turned from fussing with the tie and froze at the sight that greeted me.
Sarah wore a green velvet dress. It had thin straps, a fitted bodice, and a pleated skirt that flowed from her waist to her knees. The green was dark against her smooth, pale skin. She’d paired the dress with strappy delicate heels that made her already gorgeous legs look fucking fantastic. Her hair was styled in waves down her back, and her makeup was light except forher eyes. She wore black mascara that lengthened her lashes considerably, and the green of her irises was impossibly vivid.
I was struck mute.
She was graceful and elegant and sexy as hell. It was difficult for me to believe that I’d never paid much attention to her before she came to my room all those months ago. I mean, I’d noticed her, eventually. North and I had bumped into her once, and it was the first time I’d realized she was beautiful. But … that was just noting something physical about her. I didn’t know her then.
Now I knew her. Now I knew how extraordinary she was. “You are the most stunning creature I’ve ever seen,” I blurted out, the compliment raspy with emotion.
Sarah flushed a pretty pink, the color spreading across her chest. Tenderness and something like possessiveness filled me. “Thank you. You look very handsome.”
I grinned as I crossed the room to her. “Is it perverse of me that I like that I can still make you blush?”
She rolled her eyes as I pulled her against me. “I would expect nothing less.”
I smoothed my hands down her waist, desire heating my blood. “I miss you.”
Understanding softened her expression. “I know.” She caressed my chest. “I miss you too. We’re getting there, though. I promise.”
Determined to respect her wishes, even if the cost was physical pain, I stepped back. “We look like a Christmas advertisement.”
Sarah laughed, taking in the burgundy velvet of my tuxedo against the forest green of her dress. “So we do.” She reached for my hand, drawing me back to her. “Who cares? I think we’re beautiful.”
“You certainly are.” I threaded my fingers through hers, drawing her close before leading her toward the door. “I’m warning you, I’m feeling very thigmophilic this evening. You can tell me to back off whenever it gets too much.”
She blushed prettily again, heat in her eyes that gave me hope. “Maybe I’m feeling thigmophilic tonight too.”
Grinning, I nodded. “Good. I’m open to groping. Are you?”
She smacked my arm, laughing.
“That wasn’t a no, little darling.”
Sarah leaned into me, wrapping her other arm around mine. “No, it wasn’t, was it?”
Twenty-Six
SARAH
We met a few people on the stairwell, but I didn’t recognize their faces and, thankfully, they didn’t seem to recognize mine. Music cascaded up the stairwell toward us, bagpipes and accordions with fiddles leading the tune.
I’d grown more and more nervous about the Christmas party as the day progressed but was attempting to hide that from Theo. It was strange, though, to come to the castle as his guest. For seven years, I’d scuttled around the halls here, trying to be invisible. It wasn’t my job I was embarrassed by. No. I wasn’t particularly proud of my timidity back then. And now I felt like a fish out of water. Like I was a fraud.
Theo didn’t even acknowledge the weirdness of it. Maybe for him, it wasn’t weird. We were in a relationship, and he wanted me to be his date for the Christmas party.
I think he just wanted a distraction, and I was willing to suck up any discomfort I felt to give that to him.
The great hall was filled with guests. A small band, including a bagpiper, played traditional Scottish country dance music as guests performed the Gay Gordons, some successfully, others not so much.
I spotted Lachlan Adair with his wife Robyn among the participants. Years ago, my eyes would have lingered on my longtime crush. Now I looked up at Theo. “I’m having primary school traumatic flashbacks. Please do not make me country dance.”
Theo chuckled. “We’re on the same page. Let’s find something to drink.”
We skirted the edges of the great hall and followed other guests through the arches and down the corridor to the dining room. It had been transformed for Christmas. Glittering trees, wreaths, an abundance of fairy lights, and garlands everywhere. A long buffet table was set up along one side with serving staff. Tables in the middle of the room were decorated with elaborate vase centerpieces filled with gold-sprayed foliage and fairy lights. Miniature golden deer and red wreaths decorated the bases. The tableware was gold, the napkins red, and the table linens a crisp white.
