Page 34 of The Golden Hour

“Hello there,” he murmurs with a lecherous grin. I follow his gaze to the French doors at the back of the house, my blood running hotter and faster in anticipation.

But it’s not her. Just a couple of young, blond socialites in stylish pastel dresses. The younger Avellino sisters. They look cartoonish to me—too groomed, too pretty. I prefer women with a little character to their faces. One or two flaws. My camera prefers them as well.

Teddy whistles softly. “Well, well. America’s Undead Sweetheart is looking damn fine today.”

My head turns so fast my neck cracks.

Callisto has joined her sisters. The full moon between two distant stars. Her silky dark hair swallows the light, her creamy skin luminous. She’s ethereal. Out of place. Remembering Solstice Bay and the first night we met, how vibrant and magnetic she was despite her shyness, I realize how different she appears now. There’s something almost translucent about her, like she’s been stripped of her personality.

It bothers me. A lot.

Her delicate features are impassive as she gazes around the scene, nodding at something one of her sisters has said. Standing stock-still, I wait for her eyes to land on me, both craving and slightly fearful of her reaction. What will she say? Do? The need for eye contact makes my back tighten, my fingers clench. If I could see her eyes, I might know if my being here is beyond stupid. If she has, indeed, come back here with an agenda similar to mine… or if she came back to take her place at her stepmother’s side.

She doesn’t see me, though, and as I watch her, I realize her eyes don’t see much at all. Whatever’s going on in her head, it’s locked down. No more hint of the woman I met just a week ago, who blushed and stammered when I smiled at her.

Two men approach the trio of sisters. Young, cocky, and rich. Oozing charm from their waxed balls to their tanned foreheads. Most of their attention is directed at Callisto, which the middle sister, Eleanor, doesn’t like much. The youngest, Elizabeth, watches her sisters with a grin on her face and happiness in her eyes, either not noticing or ignoring the undercurrent. Maybe she’s just glad to have the family back together. To have her sister back.

Observing Elizabeth’s innocent joy, I almost feel bad for what I plan to do to her family. My gaze tracks back to Callisto, noting the shift of her expressions, the superficiality of them. She’s playing a role. Willingly or unwillingly?

“Bro, you look weird, all intense and shit. Are you crushing on the dead girl?”

I spare Teddy a derisive glance and a scoff, then, as my gaze latches on to two new arrivals to the party, a plan forms.

“See those women? Over by the bar?” I ask Teddy, who immediately perks up.

“Sure do.” He rubs his hands together, eyes undressing the tall, lithe beauties I’ve pointed out. “What’s our strategy? Which one you want?”

Neither.

Aloud, I sigh. “Just follow my lead.”

Without waiting for a reply, I head for the bar and the two women who turn, drinks in hand, as I reach them.

“Abby, good to see you.”

“Finn!” she squeals, bouncing forward on five-inch heels to throw herself into my arms. We’re almost the same height—she towers over most of the men here—but in her line of work it’s an asset. Her back bowed against my chest, she grins at me. “This is probably the last place I’d ever expect to see you! What the heck are you doing here?”

Her sweet, Southern drawl reminds me of a few years ago and a weekend spent between the sheets after a photoshoot for Vogue. We’ve been friends since—last I heard, she’s engaged to some foreign oil tycoon’s son.

“I was about to ask you the same thing,” I remark as she steps back to sip her fruity cocktail.

“Oh, you know. Expanding my horizons and whatnot.” She giggles. “To be honest, though, I’m mostly here out of curiosity. You?”

“Same,” I whisper conspiratorially.

A quick glance shows me that Callisto and her sisters have separated. It takes me a moment to find her—she’s chatting with a former Democratic governor, laughing and touching his arm near the two-story pool house. He looks down on her dotingly, a gleam in his eye. He’s old enough to be her grandfather, which shouldn’t bother me. After all, she’s clearly acting a part.

But it still bothers me.

Teddy claps me on the back, truncating my thoughts. “Are you going to introduce me to your friends, buddy?”

Abby’s brows lift and she shares a knowing smirk with her friend. I make the introductions, learning the other woman’s name, which I promptly forget. Teddy takes instant advantage, edging close to Abby’s friend and laying on the charm.

I lean toward Abby and gesture over my shoulder to where Callisto is.

“Should we go say hi?”

Her eyes widen. “Ohh, should we? I don’t want to be rude.” Concern touches her brow as she looks. “She’s probably a bit overwhelmed, don’t you think?”

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