Page 85 of Igniting Sparks

“I brought home some steaks and a bottle of wine for us. Figured I’d grill them up and then we can relax in the hot tub. Sound good?”

I crack the bathroom door, releasing a low whistle when I spot Mina before the mirror. “Aren’t you stunning?”

And she is.

Mina wears a navy-blue cocktail dress that hugs every inch of her long, lithe frame, made even longer by heels that look like they could kill a man—probably have.

Her hair’s curled and swept into a loose bun, soft tendrils framing her face, and she’s rocking a full face of makeup, a bold departure from her usual bare-faced beauty.

A pang of fear hits me. Did I forget a date?

Mina mentioned the symphony a few days ago, but I was half asleep and have no clue what night that was happening.

“Shit, are we supposed to go somewhere tonight? Give me ten minutes to change.” I pause, my eyes running the length of her figure again. “You are so beautiful, Mina.”

But instead of smiling, she releases a sigh, her fingers gripping the edge of the vanity. “We aren’t going anywhere tonight. I am.”

I cock a brow at her and fold my arms over my chest, determined not to let my temper get the best of me. It’s probably nothing. “Having a girl’s night out?”

Mina bites her lip and shakes her head, her gaze focused on the sink.

Okay, this is getting weird.

I chuckle and tug a hand through my hair. “Are you going to tell me where you’re headed?”

“Leo called.”

Excuse me?

Mayday. Full emotional crash landing incoming.

“Really? What did he want?”

Mina turns to face me, uncertainty lining her expression. “He and Bitsy have been talking, and he’s calmed her down. She’s willing to speak to me. We’re meeting at that French bistro.”

Talk about a verbal slap to the heart. One I didn’t see coming.

“Let me get this straight. You’re having dinner with your ex?”

“And my aunt. It’s not a date or anything.” Her hesitation doesn’t bode well for tonight.

“You sure about that?”

Mina grabs her lip gloss and pivots back to the mirror, obviously rattled. “You know how important this studio is, Braden. It’s everything to me. My entire future is in Bitsy’s hands.”

“Why are you giving her that much control over your happiness? It’s insane.”

She tosses down the lip gloss and huffs out a breath. “Because that’s the way it works. My life is not as simple as yours. I have to play this game.”

Oh, this is getting good.

“You think my life is simple because I don’t wear a suit and kiss ass at brunch? I’ve worked my ass off for everything I have.”

“But you don’t have the same expectations built around your dreams that I do. It’s their way or no way.”

“That’s what they want you to believe.”

“No, it’s the truth. You just don’t want to acknowledge that fact. You don’t know what it’s like in our world. It’s all about appearances and who you know.”