Page 52

When I’m confident he’s sufficiently sidetracked, I look back to the doorway where I saw Paul.

As soon as our eyes meet, he fades backward into the club, melting away.

I take a deep breath and follow, moving at a leisurely stroll.

When I reach the entrance to the clubhouse, I do a quick sweep for nearby security officials but find none. Paul chose his moment well.

Once inside, my stride lengthens. The crowd is thin here, but there are still bystanders.

I know Paul well enough to know exactly where he’ll go to avoid them.

I move deeper into the labyrinth of the clubhouse, down a heavily paneled corridor with rows of closed doors.

At the end of the hall, I turn left and pass through an open doorway, giving a cursory glance over my shoulder to ensure I wasn’t followed.

My cape slithers on the marble floor behind me.

The hallway dead-ends in a sitting room.

There are bookshelves and a fireplace along one wall.

Silhouetted against the windows at the opposite end stands Paul.

I walk toward him, stepping through rays of moonbeams. It’s dark in here, but I can still see his sharp eyes.

His arms are crossed tightly, muscles on edge.

I wait for him to speak, coming to a stop a few feet away.

Target acquired.

“I see congratulations are in order,” Paul rumbles, jerking his head toward my gloved left hand. His eyes glitter with anger and pain.

“What?” I knew I shouldn’t have worn the blasted ring. “How did you—”

“Come on, Kat. I could see the lump of that rock from all the way across the room. I’m the one person in the world who knows you only wear gloves when you’re hiding something. You don’t think I deserve even the courtesy of a heads-up?”

You’re no longer the only person to know that, Paul, I think stubbornly. Even now, he can’t give Matthew a single ounce of credit. I do feel bad about blindsiding him with the engagement though.

“He only asked tonight, Paul,” I whisper. “I’m sorry. Of course I would have told you.”

“And you said yes.”

It’s a statement, not a question, and I don’t contradict him. I feel his anger building beneath the surface, brewing into quiet fury. I brace myself.

“I just can’t believe this. I really can’t. I cannot believe you want to run off to play housewife for the DaMolin family. For him . I can’t believe you would sell out like that. I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“It’s not like that. I’m not selling out.”

“No, you are. Off to greener pastures the minute something better came along. That’s exactly what happened, Katarina. Don’t fool yourself or me. I don’t have the patience for it.”

“If that’s how you need to remember so it hurts less, fine,” I say. “I don’t care.”

“Don’t psychoanalyze me, Kat. I should have tied you to our bed in the bayou loft and burned the whole place down with you inside months ago, the minute you dug in your heels and refused to stop seeing him.”

It’s a sucker punch, those cruel words. “You don’t mean that.”

He tilts his head and licks his lips. “Forget it. I’m done. Just give me the necklace. Now.”

I hesitate. “I don’t want to do this, Paul. Please don’t make me.”

“Katarina, I don’t give a fuck what you do or don’t want. Take it off. ”

I unfasten the clasp of the forged necklace and hand it over. He immediately pockets it. I remove the original from my pocket and slip it around my neck. I fight to keep from heaving as I secure it.

“You’re right, Paul. We’re done. For good. Piss off, would ya? And try not to get caught waltzing out the front door.”

“You know what? I don’t think so.” Paul extends a hand, seeming to make a decision. His eyes glint dangerously. “We’re done when I say we’re done. Give me the one around your neck too, Katarina.”

“What the fuck, Paul? That’s not the plan,” I hiss at him. “If you take both, I’ll have no cover. They’ll know the necklace has been stolen. Immediately. And the first person they’ll suspect is me.”

“Not my problem.” He pulls the first necklace from his pocket and jerks it in his hand.

“I need insurance, doll. You’re the only one who knows which is the real necklace.

And unfortunately, the minute you slipped that sparkling ring on your finger, I decided I couldn’t trust you anymore. Your allegiance has changed.”

“You can trust me,” I try weakly.

“I don’t think so.” He’s not buying it. “Fool me once, Katarina, remember? Nobody fools me. Not even you. Take it off. Now.”

I turn away from him in frustration, showing him my back. He moves forward to unclasp the necklace himself.

“Don’t fucking touch me, Paul,” I say, my voice sharp over my shoulder. “I can do it myself. I don’t want you touching me ever again.”

I feel, rather than see, Paul’s smirk at the fluster in my tone. He lets me undo the necklace before speaking again. “Good, now hand it over to me, Katarina. Like a good girl.”

I do, my pulse racing as I slowly turn right to face him, passing the necklace off with my left hand.

“That’s good.” He pockets both necklaces, satisfied .

“You realize you’re throwing me to the wolves out there. What, pray tell, am I supposed to do?”

“Oh, you’re a bright girl. I’m sure you’ll figure something out.” He backs away from me.

“We’re done, Paul,” I repeat. “For good.”

“We are,” he confirms. “I’ll let you have your happily ever after. Starting now.” He gives me a sanctimonious smile, looking at my bare neck.

“You better run,” I tell him. “The minute I walk out there, they’re going to lock this whole place down. I’m not feeling very generous to give you much time.”

“I’ll be gone before you even blink, doll. Remember, if I go down tonight, so do you. I’m always watching.”

“Don’t contact me again. Not until you’ve grown up, Peter Pan.”

“Don’t be bitter, little wolf. You know this is how it has to be.”

“No, Paul.” I tilt my chin to hold his gaze. “It really isn’t.”

He takes a final step back, half-hidden in the shadow of the dark hallway. “You know the rules. Fool me once, Katarina…”

“Nobody fools me,” I mutter, finishing the adage as he disappears.

Alone in the empty room, my heart flails and my mind races as I consider my options.

I need to return to the ball. Matthew will be looking for me, among others.

Hopefully not security, not yet. Without the rubies around my neck, the club will descend into chaos.

I do want to give Paul time to get out; I’m not going down tonight.

Hopefully, he isn’t stupid or egotistical enough to linger to see my next move…

but he just might be. Which means I need to play this very carefully. And I’ll likely need Matthew’s help.

I make a decision. I lift my chin and walk back down the long corridor.

The chatter of the party rises to a crescendo as I near the doors to the courtyard.

Once outside, I make a beeline for Matthew.

He’s not far, just over by the empty stage.

Matthew’s eyes widen as soon as he sees me, and he excuses himself from his conversation .

“Katarina, what’s going on? Where’s the necklace?”

“Listen to me very carefully,” I murmur. “Paul is here, and I need your help.”

“Where’s the necklace, Kat?” he repeats, whispering. A few people stare already, noticing my bare neck. We both feel it. We have only minutes.

“We need a distraction,” I tell him. “I need you to trust me right now, in case Paul is still around. I promise you can trust me, but I need you to help me think of something.”

He hesitates for a moment, deliberating. Then he takes a deep breath and meets my gaze head-on.

“Take off your glove.”

“What?”

“The glove. On your left hand. Take it off.” He nods at my finger. “If you want me to trust you, I will. You want a distraction? Watch what happens when you pull that off. And when I do what I’m about to do.”

I swallow hard.

“I trust you. Do you trust me?” he challenges.

There’s nothing for it. I push all my chips in and pull off the glove.

Matthew smiles reassuringly, then climbs to the small stage behind us, where the band is still on break. He grabs the freestanding silver microphone and taps it twice, gathering the attention of the room.

“Good evening, everyone,” he says. His voice is smooth, like dripping hot butter over the microphone. “It’s an absolutely swell night to celebrate the Ides of March here on Jekyll Island, is it not?”

The crowd applauds obediently.

A wildly corked Ethan cups his hands around his mouth and shouts, “Maaattttt! Speech, speech!”

Onstage, Matthew chuckles. “Thanks for the introduction, Ethan. For anyone who doesn’t know me, my name is Matthew DaMolin.

My family has been members of the club for years.

” He gestures at Lady Genevieve from across the way.

“My mother throws the most legendary Hallows’ Eve parties this island has ever seen. ”

The crowd hoots appreciatively, stomping their feet. I’m awestruck as I look around; the entire peerage rests, riveted, in the palm of Matthew’s very capable and charming hand. My stomach clenches with a tiny surge of pride.

“But that’s not the reason I’m standing up here now—though, of course, you are all invited next October.

” He winks, and the crowd laughs. “The real reason I’m up here is because the beautiful Katarina down there—the one so many of you noticed tonight because she’s been wearing the DaMolin rubies—has just agreed to marry me. ”

There’s a loud whoop from the corner of the courtyard, and I know without looking it came from Ethan. An excited ripple torpedoes through the crowd.

“We couldn’t think of a better moment to announce our engagement than right here, right now, with so many friends in the room. Katarina, will you join me?” He looks earnestly at me and offers his hand.

I would never leave him hanging, not ever. He has me eating from the palm of his hand, just like the rest of the guests. I smile, heart still hammering, and let him pull me onstage. The crowd screams as he does, and I laugh. Bubbling with something that, incredibly, feels like undiluted happiness.

“This is my fiancée ,” he continues. “The one and only and very beautiful Katarina. The theme of tonight’s party is Bejeweled Ides of March, and for the rest of this beautiful March evening, she will be wearing the only jewel that matters. The one I gave her. The one here on her finger.”

The crowd descends into cheers of madness as Matthew lifts my left hand. He has them completely spellbound. I look at him in wonder, marveling at his quick thinking, at his ability to provide this spin at the drop of a hat. For me .

“I’ve never loved you more than I do right now,” I murmur to him, sliding my arms around his neck. He dips me low and pauses, letting the crowd have their moment as they think they’re sharing in ours.

“You’re not going to let me down, right?” he whispers, a glint of nerves barely visible in his eyes.

“I'll never let you down. Now kiss me like you mean it. For them and for me.”

He beams, giving me a full dose of Matthew DaMolin dazzle. It lights me up from the inside out.

When the crowd screeches this time, I barely hear it. It’s the intensity and purity of Matthew’s happy kiss that’s roaring in my ears instead.