Page 48 of Deathless & Divided

“That particular number is a definite no for the dress. Too showy for the church.”

“But?” Lily asked.

She could hear the but in there somewhere.

Abriella smirked a wicked sight. “He’s good with taking silk off you in the evening.”

Jesus.

Evelina laughed, hiding it poorly with her hand. “Sounds just like a man.”

Abriella glanced down when her phone buzzed again. “But he prefers black lace.”

“You’re awful,” Lily told Abriella.

“You’ll thank me eventually.”

Lily bit the inside of her cheek, considering the choice in lingerie. It wasn’t something she’d given much thought to before. “Black lace?”

“That’s what he said.”

“Huh.”

Evelina grinned. “I know a shop just down the street, Lily. They’ve got some great stuff that would look perfect under that dress.”

Lily made a face. “Don’t encourage me, Eve.”

Her friend didn’t even blink. “You know I’m going to.”

Yeah, she did.

“Lily, you have a guest.”

Lily peeked over the top of the book in her hands as Dino’s form darkened the sitting room. The window bench seat had become Lily’s personal resting spot since she arrived home. The sunlight kept it warm and comforting. She also had a great view of the large backyard property. It gave her private, quiet time to think and read, or just do whatever.

Dino rarely interrupted Lily when she climbed into her spot.

“A guest?” Lily asked.

“Last minute thing, I guess. He’s waiting in the foyer.”

“He?”

“Damian,” Dino explained. “You’ll need to change into something more appropriate. A dress, preferably. It’s for a dinner with the Trentini and Rossi families at one of Laurent’s higher end places. Damian is wearing black on black.”

Lily blinked. “Something more appropriate?”

“When did you turn into a parrot, Lily?”

She tossed Dino a dirty look before shoving her novel under the pillow on the window bench. Upstairs, Lily made quick work of finding a dress that would work for the dinner, silver heels to match and give a pop of color, and then she quickly dabbed a bit of rose tint on her cheeks and lips. Mascara helped to fan her eyelashes and black kohl darkened her gaze.

Lily made her way down to the foyer with a silver clutch in hand to meet Damian. Dino hadn’t lied. Damian wore a fitted black suit topped off with a black vest, tie, and shirt underneath. Even his damn leather shoes were a shined black. He looked really good with his hands clasped together and his head tilted down.

Damian was the total vision of dark, mysterious, and sexy standing there in his suit looking like he was. Her waiting fiancé smiled as he appraised her outfit.

“Perfect,” Damian said quietly. “You look beautiful.”

Lily wasn’t sure how to take his compliment. It seemed honest enough, but Lily didn’t know if she wanted to play his games or not, yet. “Thank you. You look fit to be in the Secret Service.”