Page 110 of Time After Time

I’m feeling particularly good and festive tonight.

My gown is navy velvet, off-the-shoulder, with a high slit and a low back. Freja did my hair in soft waves, and my grandmother’s sapphire earrings hang from my ears.

For once, I feel beautiful—more than just pretty, more than simply passable.

I twirl in front of the wall of mirrors in the salon, laughing at my reflection.

I’m wearing flats; I’m not dancing in heels, and I intend to dance the night away with my man.

I push my glasses up my nose with a sort of glee that Ransom is here, he’s mine—it’s so many dreams come true. We may or may not last—but this time we have a better chance than we ever did.

Papa is in a three-piece tux with a wine-colored bow tie. He raises his glass and gives a dramatic bow when he sees me.

Mama, radiant in deep emerald silk, kisses both my cheeks, and whispers, “You look like my heart walking around.”

Aunt Tanya is channelingDesperadoenergy—crimson lace clinging to her like a scandal, a feathered headpiece so enormous it deserves its own zip code. She struts across the living room like she’s about to pull a pistol from her garter. Shehasa garter. It’s showing through the thigh slit.

Uncle Bob—sorry,Roberto(he insists)—is in a black tux with an undone bow tie and the swagger ofsomeone who’s watched Antonio Banderas’s bar fight scene one too many times.

“Elena,mi amor, tonight we burn down the town,” Uncle Bob says in a terrible Spanish accent. “We are theDesperados!”

“More likeDesperate-dos,” I tease.

Ransom looks like sin wrapped in a midnight blue tuxedo. His dark hair is slicked back, his jaw clean-shaven, and the bruise from Aksel’s fist has faded to a light shadow.

Seriously! The man is delicious, and I am hoping that tonight I can unwrap him. The idea makes me hot and bothered.

He looks at me as he adjusts the cuffs of his white shirt.

Can he see I’m aroused?

He dips his face close to mine. “You’re beautiful, Sweet Em.”

I almost whimper when his lips brush against my cheek, soft, seductive. We’ve been in the foreplay phase for days and…I want him with a desperation I haven’t felt before.

The quartet plays the theme music fromDesperado.

Ransom strums an imaginary guitar and murmurs in my ear, “You could bemySalma tonight, if you wanted.”

I arch a brow. “Only if you have a ponytail and learn to somersault while shooting.”

“Give me a week and two espresso shots.”

He’s charming. He’s funny. He’s cute. I’ve always been gone for him, but now, secure in the knowledge of his feelings, of how we’re starting a new journey, together, I feel light-headed in the best possible way.

Anika spins in a pink tulle dress. Thomas races by with his suspenders flapping.

Latika is wearing golden Chanel. She shimmers every time she moves.

Freja is glittering in a deep burgundy gown. She hugs me. “You look beautiful,” she says, eyes scanning me.

“You clean up nice, too,” I joke.

The party flows around us—Ransom and me.

Everyone is eating, laughing, and dancing.

There’s a buffet set up withfoie gras, oysters, small savory pastries, and tiny ramekins ofsoupe à l’oignon.