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She stepped forward, grabbing my arms with far more familiarity than our years of cordial acquaintance warranted and squeezed tight. “You just made my night. And if he doesanythingto compromise this,” she nodded towards my chest, towards my heart, “thenplease do let me know so I can ruin his life a little bit.”

I was struck stupid, only capable of watching her turn with a flourish and walk around the large table to the other side, taking a seat with an audiblephewand downing half her water glass.

I was stunned enough that I spoke without thinking. “I—”

Adrian pulled me into his side roughly, his mouth going right to my ear. “Neverget that jealous again in public,” he practically growled. I was about to shove him away from me right then and there. I could do whatever the hell I wanted.

Respect for our surroundings kicked in at the last second and I stepped out of his hold, narrowly escaping his hands trying to descend on my hips and looked at him, ready to—

Whatever I’d been ready to do was cut off by what I saw in his face.

For someone who considered themselves to be a master in control, he looked seconds away from snapping, a near feral glint in his eyes. His jaw was clenched, his eyes dark with…

Desire. His eyes were darkened with desire.

Oh.

We were locked in a stare down for what could have been ten seconds, could have been an hour, while it looked like Adrian had to physically pick his control off the floor. A moment later, he blinked, and it looked like he’d leashed it.

Enough to pull out my chair for me, that was.

By the time we were seated, the storm in his eyes had tamed enough that I dared to ask, “So I take it you and Corinna are close?”

Adrian’s head snapped to me, a challenge in his eyes. “Like I said, we’re friends.”

I couldn’t resist pressing. “What type of friends?”

Adrian poked his tongue into his cheek. “The type where, yeah, I’d probably tell her if I decided to change course and finally get into a public relationship.”

Which implied the existence of private relationships.

Fuck, I needed to get my shit together.

Especially since I had a very public ex who was sure to re-emerge from the shadows the second he heard about Adrian.

I just hummed in response, focusing back on the table in front of us. Corinna has a bright smile on her face, charming everyone as they sat down.

“Oh, and by the way,” Adrian said, whispering just for us right as Chiara came to join our table. “You did an excellent job of convincing Corinna.”

“What do I get as my prize? GivenIwas the one putting in all the work.” Deflecting was a weak move, pulling focus away from the fact that I was genuinely jealous, but I wasn’t ready to face the alternative.

Adrian grinned, reaching under my chair to grab one of the legs and pull my seat right next to his. “You know I’ll give you whatever you ask for, honey.”

“You call her honey?” Someone cut in, making me realize that Adrian had spoken loud enough that the person sitting to his left heard him. I cemented my smile, even though disappointment beckoned. It was getting exhausting always trying to figure out whether things he said or did was for my benefit or our audience’s. “I have to know why.”

Adrian breathed in, something flashing across his face before he shut it down with a calm mask. Then heturned his body like it took great effort, facing one of Chiara’s friends from another powerful Roman family.

Based on the hint of a grin I could see from his side profile, I knew what he was about to say would be sickeningly sweet. “Because she makes my life as sweet as honey.”

In any other world, I would have groaned and teased him about how corny that was—regardless of how warm that endearment made my stomach feel. But in this one, where we did things for the sake of the story we were spinning, I smiled and intertwined our arms. “Sweetie, you’re too kind.”

Adrian raised his brows at me, silently asking mereally?

I just smiled back at him with as much shine as I could manage, acting like I was none the wiser. Because yes, that was the term I was going with in public. It was the armor I needed to keep my reaction to him in check.

Adrian’s answer had the desired effect, though. Bringing stars to her eyes and a “That is justdarling” to her lips.

I was worried we were about to dive into another thinly veiled interrogation, but Uma’s arrival on stage cut it off. When she began with an gracious thank you to the entire crowd for their attendance and their donations, I was finally able to relax.