Page 136 of The Hunter's Empire

"He insisted."

"I have to admit..." My eyes travel over the perfectly tailored black tuxedo. "He has good taste."

"The man is surprisingly persuasive."

"And here I thought you didn't take orders."

"I don't." A faint smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. "I made an exception."

His eyes linger on mine for a moment. "You look beautiful."

The words are spoken so simply that they steal every prepared response from my mind.

I clear my throat and glance away. "The dress helps."

"No." His voice is calm, almost matter-of-fact. "The dress doesn't make you beautiful."

Heat creeps into my cheeks despite myself.

I focus on the orchestra, on the other couples dancing around us, on anything except the way he's looking at me. "You've become generous."

He doesn't answer immediately.

When he finally speaks, his voice is quieter. "You never talk about Sebastian."

The question catches me off guard. I look back at him. "Where did that come from?"

"You mention everyone else. But not him."

I let out a quiet laugh, though there isn't much humor in it. "Is that what's been bothering you?"

"I'm making conversation."

"No." I shake my head. "You're doing that thing again."

"What thing?"

"You ask questions that sound innocent, but they're never really about what you're asking."

He doesn't deny it. "He's your fiancé."

"I know."

"You don't sound particularly excited when you talk about him."

For half a beat, I miss the rhythm of the dance. "You don't get to comment on my engagement."

I hold his gaze for a minute. "Why?"

This time, he doesn't answer. His eyes remain fixed on mine, as though he's searching for something I'm not ready to give him. The silence stretches long enough that I already know there isn't going to be an honest answer.

That realization stings more than I expect.

I let out a slow breath. "You know what's funny? The thing you've wanted to talk about since we got back..." I hold his gaze. "...is everything except the one thing that actually happened."

Something shifts behind his eyes.

"You kissed me." The words are barely louder than the music surrounding us. "And then we came back here..." I laugh quietly, unable to hide the bitterness creeping into my voice. "...and suddenly it was like it never happened."