Page 61 of Vows in Sin

“Wait, how do you know Miss Fifi? She never leaves the building.” Realization lights in her eyes. “You went to my apartment.”

“I wasn’t used to not hearing from you.”

“We said it was the last time.”

I shrug. “I got worried.”

She stares out over the water, a secret smile on her face. Finally, she concludes, “Miss Fifi must have thought you were Dame.”

“Doubtful,” I snort. “How’d you describe him to her? A wrinkly old man with a scruffy-ass beard?”

A little smile comes to her lips. “That’s not how I’d describe you.”

I don’t dare to ask her how she would.

“I told her Dame was tall, dark, and deadly,” she says. “She must have thought you were him. I only told her I was off to a friend’s wedding.” She has an earnest glow.

“Then why’d she tell me you were chasing down another man?” I ask.

She thinks for a second before guessing. “She knew Dame had ghosted me. She thought you were Dame, and in my defense, she was trying to make you jealous. On my behalf.”

I groan. All the pain I went through on the plane ride over here. Imagining her with him. “So generous of her.”

“That’s pretty sweet of her when you think about it.” Seraphina laughs. “I’ll be sending her a thank you note with a basket of fruit tomorrow. She loves mandarin oranges.”

“Fifi brushed the dust off those old acting skills of hers. Came right out of retirement. Had me more than convinced.”

“Nice to know she’s got my back.” She shakes her head. “Anyway, it’s the only possibility because I haven’t told a soul about…”

She stops. Looks away.

“About what?”

Her eyes rise to mine. “About us.”

“Us,” I say.

There’s an us.

The word stretches and grows, consuming the air around me.

“100%,” I ask. “You’re not here for Dame?”

She shakes her head, looking down. “No. Like I told you. I came to help plan Cleopatra’s wedding.” I can read the pain in her face as she says, “And clear my head about some personal stuff.”

I cup her chin, dainty and fragile in the palm of my beastly hand. I bring those brown eyes up to mine. “What personal stuff?”

She presses her small soft hand along the side of my face, putting on a brave smile for me. “Like you telling me that was the last time. Was it? I can leave…”

Her words hang between us.

I can’t lose her. Not again.

“Stay. And we tell Tabitha.” I bring her face to mine, kissing her deeply. “And from now on we’re nothing but honest with one another.”

She pulls away. “If we’re going to start over, if we’re going to be honest, I have something to tell you.” She takes a shaky breath. “Dame’s heard this before.”

I ask, the name in my mouth like sawdust. “Dame?”