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I do the same with him, noticing how his wavy dark hair is artfully tousled, with a loose strand falling onto his forehead. His mesmerizing brown eyes lead to his straight nose and plush lips, and that angled jaw I want to nibble on. Lastly, there’s the way he fills out his black suit that has my breath caught in my throat.
He’s the depiction of male beauty, and no amount of staring will ever fill that need to feast my eyes on him.
And I’ve done plenty of that in the last two weeks. Actually, we’ve both been stealing peeks at each other. It’s like neither one of us can look away for long.
“Shall we?” His voice is thick, his throat working on a swallow.
I nod and smile at him.
Tonight, I’m the happy fiancée of a man who can’t get enough of me. A man who looks at his bride-to-be as if the world couldn’t exist without her in it.
That’s my role, and I will give it my all.
Tonight, I will pretend all of my younger self’s dreams have come true.
And nothing can take that away from me, not even some psychopath out there.
Phoenix hasn’t let goof me once tonight, just like he promised. If he isn’t holding my hand, he touches my arm or lower back.
I can’t say I mind.
Everything’s gone smoothly so far. The ballroom at my parents’ estate has been turned into something akin to a fairy tale with fresh flowers, twinkling strings of lights, and white and gold balloons everywhere. If guests were annoyed by the extra security measures when they arrived, no one has let on. Everyone has been kind, congratulating us, expressing their shock over what happened and relief that we got away unscathed.
But I’m sure I’m not the only one playing a role tonight. Everyone has to like us, be excited for us, and be happy we survived. At least to our faces.
My cheeks hurt from smiling so much, from pretending to be thrilled to be here, but I continue anyway.
Warm fingers move over my own.
Phoenix takes the glass out of my hand. “Excuse us. I think it’s our turn to dance.”
The words aren’t for me, but for the man he was talking to.
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from snorting as Phoenix leads me to the middle of the room, putting us at the center of attention for everyone to see.
He gives me a little spin, never letting go of my hand. My heartbeat quickens. He pulls me close to his body and rests his other hand on my lower back. My stomach flutters.
The orchestra starts a new song, “A Thousand Years,” one of my favorites, and we sway across the polished floor in slow circles.
Phoenix closes his eyes for a moment,and when he opens them back up, there’s a solemn expression in them.
I brush a hand over his jaw. “Are you okay?”
He tilts his head as if my question takes him aback, and my thoughts pause briefly. Did I overstep somehow? Things have changed between us so quickly after we disentangled so many lies and revealed truths, I’m still not sure what that makes us. Friends?
Friends ask each other if they’re okay, right?
Something inside me rebels at that thought, but I shove it away. Friends is good. Friends is preferable to enemies.
Phoenix nods. “Just tired of all the bullshit.”
I smile at him and trail my fingers up his nape. “I’m sorry, baby.”
We both freeze, and my eyes widen like saucers.
Heat rises into my cheeks, but I can’t look away. There’s something in his gaze that holds me captive. Storm clouds swirl in his dark irises, and I want to be brave enough to dance in the rain.
But I’m not. This time, I avert my gaze. “Sorry, that just popped out.”