Page 287 of Split or Swallow

So when the dress arrived, she pulled it on.

It was far too tight and low cut to be appropriate for dinner. But Tem wore it anyway, willing to appease Leo if only for tonight. The golden claw still rested between her breasts, framed by the significant cleavage afforded her by the dress.

Leo was waiting in the foyer.

He watched her walk down the stairs with his hands clasped behind his back, as if to prevent himself from touching her. Tem stopped on the bottom step so they were eye to eye.

“This dress is ridiculous,” she said.

His mouth twitched.

“That’s the idea.”

“You’re depraved.”

“I’m taking that as a compliment.”

“That’s your prerogative.”

Leo extended his hand, palm-up, and Tem took it. He guided her down the hallway into the same room where the girls had waited for the Frisky Sixty to occur. A circular table was set with gold cutlery and crystal glassware. They were the last to arrive. Leo pulled Tem’s chair out and she took it gingerly, trying to sit in a way that wouldn’t accentuate her neckline. Leo’s arm rested on the back of her chair. Maximus sat directly opposite Tem, his slate gray eyes searing into hers.

“Your father is staring at me,” Tem whispered.

At her words, Leo’s eyes flicked to her dress.

“He has good reason to.”

“I highly doubt he’s as influenced by this dress as you are.”

“I should hope not.”

Maximus was still staring at her. It was becoming rather uncomfortable.

Leo murmured in her ear:

“I apologize in advance for anything you might be subjected to tonight.”

“And what might I be subjected to?”

Leo paused, then said simply:

“Unpleasantness.”

From the way Maximus was looking at her like she was a bug on the bottom of his shoe, Tem could guess what kind of unpleasantness might be imminent. Then again, it couldn’t be anything worse than what she’d already been subjected to her entire life. Maximus may be cruel, but he had nothing on Vera.

The only other person Tem recognized was Lilly, who was sitting next to her father, watching the proceedings with a sympathetic expression. The other chairs were filled with people Tem didn’t recognize—she assumed they were Leo’s extended family, here for the wedding.

“Aren’t you going to introduce your guest to the table, Thelonius?” Maximus said coldly.

Leo smiled.

“Certainly. Everyone—” he stood, grabbing Tem’s hand and pulling her upright with him, “—please welcome my lovely date, Temperance Verus.”

To Tem’s horror, everyone at the table looked right at her. Before she could figure out whether they expected her to say something, Leo was already speaking:

“She’s one of the lovely women in the running for my hand in marriage. As you can see, she’s already got a head start.”

He raised his arm so everyone could see their hands clasped together.