Devin shows up halfway through the disaster and quickly loses her patience with me.
I changed three times before she plops onto my bed, surveying me critically. “You look hot,” she declares. “Stop spiraling.”
“I don’t,” I argue weakly. “I look… like me.”
She snorts. “Which is hot. Also, if the silver fox is there, I want you armed with confidence.”
“He won’t be,” I say quickly. “He just suggested the place.”
“Uh-huh,” she says, unconvinced.
When I toss another top to the side, Devin stands up, sighs, and stomps over to the closet. She gives me a gentle nudge to get me to move out of the way, but it’s with an encouraging effort. “Why don’t you do something with your hair? It’s so luscious, and you barely ever touch it!”
She digs through my things as I turn on my curling iron and wait, running through a Googled list of “thick blonde hair” suggestions. Eventually I manage to curl my bangs just right and pile everything else on top of my head, leaving a few whisps to hang down; simple, but a little elegant. Two art deco earrings later, Devin makes a sound of approval and emerges from the depths of the closet.
“This!”
“No,” I say immediately, crossing my arms. “It’s too tight?—”
“Where?” she asks, eyeing me and then the dress. “Try it on first, then I’ll be the judge. Cute hair by the way.”
I roll my eyes, but know her well enough to know she won’t let it go until she sees how ridiculous this dress looks on me. It’s a plum color, simple, an off-the-shoulder look that gathers at my waist and hugs my hips to just above my knees. I haven’t worn it in years because one day in particular it waswaytoo tight and a guy at a club scoffed at me. Hence, its place in the back corner.
Surprisingly, when I put it on and glance in the full-length mirror, I don’t hate it.
“Aly, this is perfect,” Devin gushes, giving the waistline a little tug to position everything. “Seriously. Your collarbones are killer, and your freckles!” Her fingers skim my shoulders, and I can’t help smiling.
“Really? I don’t know, Common is so…”
“Uncommon,” she laughs, picking through my shoes quickly until she finds a pair of strappy gold heels. “But no, really, I think this is understated and elegant. You look great. He’ll love it.”
Shooting me a wink, she ignores my gasp of incredulity and snags her purse. “We’re going to be late!”
She’s not wrong. I hurry behind her, torn between a clutch and a sling bag, landing on the clutch.
By the time we arrive at Common Soul, my nerves are shot. The interior is exactly as intimidating as I imagined. The dark wood and soft golden light complement the people standing around. They look like they belong here especially when the candlelight flickers over their gorgeous faces. Greenery that looks like the moss hanging from the branches of centuries old trees hangs from the ceiling, and ivy climbs the bricks.
I scan the room automatically, not expecting to find him.
And then I do.
Kazimir’s dark and intent eyes are already on me. His presence anchors a private table like it was built around him, and the world tilts just slightly as the reality settles in.
He’s here.
Chapter 7
Kazimir
Iknow the moment she steps into the room because my body reacts before my mind does.
My fist tightens on the table, fingers curling hard enough that my knuckles ache. I force myself not to move or look at her too quickly, but it’s hard because she has such an immediate pull on me.
My best friend and advisor is right beside me, already half-out of his chair. He’s smiling with something like relief when he spots her, and I take a measured breath, schooling my features into something neutral. Something that doesn’t say,I think about putting my hands on your body every night. I want to cup your heat, tease you, hear those sounds you make all over again.
The line has been crossed.
Alyona looks beautiful in a way that has nothing to do with effort. She lacks the confidence of the other women in this room. Her head isn’t held high, and her feet don’t line up perfectly as she takes measured steps. There’s tension in her shoulders. A vitality in her eyes that I watch closely. They flick briefly toward me over her father’s shoulders.
