Page 96 of A Forbidden Arrangement

Scarlet groans and pulls a bill from her bra. “I should’ve known.”

Xander doesn’t look at them, his focus completely on me. If it weren’t for the way his fingers grip my hips and lock me into place, I’d think he was completely calm. He releases his hold just enough to let me turn and face him, and I get lost in his dark gaze, the world narrowing to just us. I sway with him, letting him control our movements, distracted by the way his chest presses against mine.

“Are you having fun?” he says quietly and brushes a strand behind my ear.

I nod, biting my bottom lip. “They’re great.”

“Wait until you meet their kids.” He pauses, then smiles. “They’re pretty great too. They’re going to love their new aunt.”

Aunt.The label hits just as hard as sister. Like I’m in a dreamland that I never dared to reach for. Xander looks genuinely happy talking about his nieces and nephews, and for the first time in my life, I let myself think about how great it would be to have kids.

It takes a few seconds for me to snap out of it and change the subject.

“You were watching.” It should annoy me. Instead, my pulse trips and lands somewhere low.

He dips his head until I feel his breath. “Were you going to let him touch you?”

“Possessive jerk,” I mutter. It comes out softer than I want.

“I’m not kidding, Dahlia. It won’t end well for him.”

I search his gaze. “You don’t need to worry about that. I’m not interested in other men.”

“So you admit you’re interested in me?”

Misty claps. “Alright, you two. Before this turns into a story we have to explain to a judge, take her home.”

Scarlet lifts her glass from a passing tray. “To love and surveillance.”

Anastasia clinks her glass against hers. “And to men who never learn.”

Xander slides his hand up my side an inch. He doesn’t look away from me. “Say good night.”

I break free, or more aptly, he lets me break free, and turn to the girls. “Thanks for the kidnapping.”

“Anytime,” Misty says. “Text me tomorrow. We’ll do coffee that turns into lunch that turns into dinner.”

“Bring him if you want,” Scarlet says. “Or don’t.”

Anastasia kisses my cheek and whispers, “You looked happier when he got here. Don’t worry, I won’t tell him you’re already caught.”

She just gives me a knowing smile when I jerk back, and I can’t even deny it. Everything I thought I knew about Xander when I woke up in the hospital, tattooed and married, ended up being completely wrong. The man I’d been terrified of ended up being the one I trusted most.

I nod, throat tight in a good way, and let Xander guide me off the floor. The crowd parts without touching him. A security man by the pillar tips his head, pretending he’s still on his phone.

“You could’ve stayed at home,” I say.

“Not an option,” he says.

“You’re ridiculous.” I laugh.

“Then I’m ridiculous.” That playful grin of his does things to me.

We reach the hall to the exit and pass the open door to the camera room. I catch a flash of monitors and familiar silhouettes.

Xander’s mouth tips. “Don’t say hi.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”