“Patterson warned me to stay away from you,” she says.
Patterson is her older brother and someone I’ve been friends with for years. Anytime I visit America, I stay at Dyson Banks’s penthouse. Patterson lives in the same building and always hangs out with us when I’m in town. We’ve grown close over the years, and I’ve even invited him on exclusive vacations, but we never discuss family, only relationships. Getting mixed up with his little sister is something that shouldn’t happen.
“You should listen to him and go back to New York,” I tell her, and I mean it, knowing he’d break my jaw if he knew what I wanted to do with his sister.
“Maybe you’re right.” She takes a step forward, disregarding my warnings. “But I don’t think I will.”
Her lips part when she realizes how close we’re standing. I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear and notice the champagne flush on her cheeks. Her pulse beats at the base of her throat, and part of me wants to press my lips against it. The breeze carries the sweet smell of her skin, and I realize how she’s haunted me since New York.
One of us should step back, but neither of us does.
Her eyes drop to my mouth, and the space between us shrinks. I don’t remember moving. Maybe she did. Her chin tilts up, and her lips are so close that I can nearly taste her.
My fingers brush along her jaw and?—
“Louis!” Delphine’s voice shatters the moment, and Addison steps away from me.
I keep a hand on her waist, then drop it when my sister appears at the double doors of the balcony.
Delphine joins us with the grace of someone who’s oblivious that she did anything wrong. “Addison, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Addison smooths down her dress, and I try not to notice the goose bumps that formed on her arms. “I was getting some air and saying hello to your brother again.”
Delphine’s eyes slide to mine, and I see an evil twinkle behind them.
“We were catching up,” I offer.
“Great. You’re finished.” She loops her arm through Addison’s and pulls her away. “This is my wingwoman tonight.”
Addison glances back at me and whispers, “Sorry,” as Delphine takes her from me.
I turn toward the garden and grip the railing, letting out an exhale. I’m still buzzing from being close to her again.
Potential brides are waiting for me to make a choice, and all I care about is a woman I can’t have. My parents would never approve. They want European nobility, political alliances, someone who’s been in this life since birth. Addison is none of those things.
Once I gather myself, I return to the party. Delphine and Addison are on the other side of the room, chatting with some of my sister’s friends. They’re giggling and dancing, but I have too many questions racing through my head, ones I need answered now.
I move through the crowd and grab Delphine’s elbow. “A word.”
She pats Addison’s arm. “I’ll be right back.”
Addison smiles as she eye-fucks me, and I force myself to pull Delphine to the side.
“Why is she here?” I bluntly ask.
Delphine is drunk as hell. “I invited her. She’s my guest.”
“Why is she in Montclaire?”
“Ah.” She tilts her head. “Because I invited her.”
“Start talking right fucking now.”
Delphine leads me down the hallway, where we can actually hear one another. “Stop being possessive and nosy. I’m trying to have a good night without you ruining it.”
I groan, tired of the games. “I’ve been through hell this week, and you’ve blindsided me with this.”
“Fine.” She hiccups. “She’s competing for the portrait artist position.”
