Page 62 of A Forbidden Arrangement

Her shoulders drop in relief. “I would love a drink.”

I start to pull away, but she doesn’t let go. The corner of my mouth lifts.

“You’ll have to let go of me first.”

She glances down at our joined hands, then jerks back like she’s been burned. Color rushes into her cheeks.

“You were the one holding my hand.”

I hide my smile. “Whatever you say, pretty girl.”

I walk off before she can answer, taking the win. There’s something addictive about riling her up, watching the sparks I knew were hiding inside her start to burn.

“Lord Everette, good to see you tonight.”

I’m in such a good mood I stop to speak, but it drains out of me when I spot Elliot beside him.

I made a deal with this bastard once and have regretted it ever since. The only reason he’s still standing is because his father earned a lifetime of respect. My patience is thin, but I’m not ready to burn that bridge. Not yet.

Elliot’s been skimming. Like I wouldn’t notice. Matthias is already digging into it, finding ways to make him sweat without his father catching on.

He extends a hand, and I take it hard enough to make him wince. His eyes dart everywhere but at me. Then something shifts. His gaze hardens, fixed over my shoulder.

I turn, but there’s nothing there. When I face him again, he’s already making excuses, slipping away.

A waiter passes. I grab a glass of champagne. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my wife.”

The good mood fades the second I realize she’s not where I left her.

My pulse spikes. I start searching the room, scanning faces, scanning corners.

“Dahlia?”

No answer.

I push through the crowd, every muscle locked tight. Voices blur into static. Someone calls my name, but I don’t stop. The pulse in my neck is hammering so hard it’s all I can hear.

I check the restroom, shove the door open. A startled scream. Not her. Just a stranger staring at me like I’ve lost my mind.

I mutter an apology and back out fast. The lights feel too bright, the air too thin.

My heart climbs higher in my throat as I scan the hallway. Every step gets heavier. Each second longer than the one before.

She’s not by the bar. Not near the exit. Not anywhere I can see.

A cold sweat breaks across my shoulders. My hands curl into fists. I try to think, to stay calm, but all I can picture is her walking out those doors alone.

I turn in a slow circle, the sound of music fading beneath the blood pounding in my ears.

Then it hits me.

She’s gone.

Chapter 29

Dahlia

The black fabricof Xander’s jacket shifts as he strides through the parting crowd, revealing the flex of muscle underneath. Anyone looking at me right now would know exactly what’s going through my head, but I can’t bring myself to look away.