Page 36 of Dance of Devils

“As in, the place where youdo notactually live?”

Fuck. Fuckity-fuckity-fuckerton.

“I’m…in between places,” I mumble. “I’m, uh, staying on a friend’s couch for a couple of weeks. That’s all.”

I smile weakly. Kir glances over at me, a dark eyebrow cocked in a sinful way before he turns his attention back to the road.

I glance in alarm at the glowing clock on the touchscreen dash.

“I…actually need to get to work.” I frown. ”My other work. My second job.”

Kir just nods, still watching the road. “I’ll drive you.”

Shitshitshit.

This is going from bad to worse. I start to ask myself why on Earth I got into this man’s car. But then I realize the answer is that he’s drop dead gorgeous, and I’m the fucking idiot who would probably willingly get into the serial killer’s van.

Regardless, he’s obviouslynotdriving me to The Mirage right now.

“Oh…” I turn to smile at him. “Thanks, but don’t worry about it.”

“I insist.”

Goddammit.

“Well, thank you…” I swallow. “Sir.”

I open my phone and quickly find a random office building in Midtown and rattle off the address. “I just started the other day,” I explain.

Kir nods, turning down another street.

“So, Ms. Ellis, tell me about your interest in theBallet Imperiya Korona.”

My head snaps to the side, staring at him with zero chill whatsoever.

“Uh...what?” I try.Smooth, girl. Smooth.

Kir shoots me an amused look, making my face instantly heat.

“How… How do you know about that?” I finally ask quietly, feeling like a kid who’s just been caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

“Because the Zakharova ismycompany,” he says evenly. “And I like to know when dancers might be leaving.” He eyes slide to me for a second. “Especially the extremely talented ones.”

I feel my face burn as I quickly look down at my hands.

“You know, Ivan Yelchin and I are old friends.”

My pulse quickens as I remember Dove’s words.

“I know it’s a long shot,” I say quietly. “But it’s my dream to dance with that company.”

“Why?”

My lips pull into a smile.

“Because it’s the best.” I quickly recover from the fumble. “I mean, aside from the Zakharova, of course.”

Kir chuckles quietly and pulls up at a curb.