“Don’t say that,” I whisper.
He meets my eyes squarely, openly. Honestly. “It’s true.”
“Dante.”
Taking me into his arms, he kisses the top of my head. “We better go, or we’ll be late.”
After fetching Noah, we drive with the habitual convoy of guards to Dante’s office.
Penelope greets us at the door.
“Tatiana.” She holds out her arms. “Boy, am I glad to see you.” She hugs and air-kisses me. “Dante is driving me insane about tonight.”
“I didn’t have a chance to say thank you for taking care of the arrangements.” I give her a grateful smile. “I just found out about the party yesterday. Knowing you, it will be amazing.”
She lifts her eyes to the ceiling. “Your husband is a perfectionist. He’s going to be the end of me.”
Dante scoffs. “And he’s also your boss who pays you more than adequately to expect attention to detail, not to mention that he’s standing right here and can hear you complain.”
Penny shrugs. “My appraisal is done. I don’t have to worry for another year.” She crouches down to Noah’s level. “And here’s my favorite person.”
Noah, who’s standing between Dante and me, slips his hand into Dante’s and sticks his thumb into his mouth.
“How about a tour of our health bar?” Penny wags her eyebrows. “We have the most delicious blueberry bran muffins. And they’re healthy.”
Noah glances at me.
Still smiling, I nod.
Penny holds out a hand. “What do you say, young man?”
Noah slowly releases Dante’s hand and takes Penny’s.
She straightens. “How about a freshly squeezed orange juice to go with that?”
Winking over her shoulder at me, she leads him away.
I stare after them, my heart pulling with a strange magnetism toward Noah. Even when I know he’s safe, I’m always reluctant to let him out of my sight.
Dante’s gentle statement pulls my attention to him. “He’ll be fine.”
“She’s good with him. It’s just…”
Out of nowhere, another flash hits me, a flash of me locking Noah in a bathroom and whispering to be quiet, keeping my voice calm for his sake even as terror slices through me.
“Hey.” Dante grips my chin and tilts my face to his. “Is everything all right?”
Blinking, I give myself a mental shake. The memory is disturbing, but this is hardly the moment to burden Dante with the recollection. I don’t even know what it means.
“Yes.” I swallow. “It’s just nerves about tonight.”
He pulls me against his strong chest. “Those people don’t deserve an ounce of your time or attention. You’re too good for them. Remember that when you get nervous, darling.”
Burrowing my hands under his jacket on his warm, broad back, I nod. I always appreciate his understanding.
“You know why it has to be done,” he says with regret.
I pull away to smile up at him. “I grew up with social gatherings, remember?”
