Page 46 of Kept

“Ladies first, of course.” Vincent sips his wine, watching me with smoldering dark eyes.

It occurs to me that the meal is set up so I can pick out my own portions, rather than have the staff set up a plate for me. It’s adorably considerate. Damn it.

The meal is amazing, as promised.

“Holy shit,” I blurt out, as a bite of salmon melts with butter and lemon and spice across my tongue.

“I told you he was good.”

“You weren’t lying.” I refill my wine, the pleasant buzz already making my lips tingle. “Well, dear, how was work? Tough day at the office?”

Vincent smiles but lets out a tired sigh. “It was—” he pauses, as if looking for the right word, “long. Complicated.”

“Figure out who is trying to kill you yet?”

Something dark flashes in his eyes ever so briefly.

“How was your dance lesson today?” He promptly changes the subject.

“Amazing. I don’t know how you got Madame LeReoux. She’s probably the most well-regarded instructor in the city. A bit terrifying, but amazing.”

“And your friends?”

“Robert is, well, Robert. Bella is terrified of doing both parts, but honestly, she’s a natural. Between rehearsals with Robert and lessons with Madame, she’s going to rock it, even if her first performance is right around the corner.” I sigh. “I wish I could see it.”

Vincent regards me for several moments, his eyes searching my face while absentmindedly drumming his fingers on the checkered tablecloth.

“Are people still trying to kill you? More than is usual?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“You dodged my question earlier.”

“You’re in enough danger as it is.”

I swirl the wine around in my glass. We sit in silence for several minutes, before Vincent clears his throat.

“What do you want to do when you retire?” he asks.

“I always wanted to open a ballet school, like my mother.”

He gives a little nod, encouraging me to keep talking.

“Dancing… it’s the way I feel closest to her. And it helped me become who I am. To appreciate what I can give the world that maybe no one else can. I know it probably sounds stupid, it’s not like I’m saving lives or anything. But the world is ugly enough, and if you can make it more beautiful, you should. I’d like to give that to someone else.” I blink several times, preventing the wash of emotion from taking over.

“You miss her,” Vincent states.

“Yes.”

“What happened?” he asks, his dark eyes focused on mine.

“Who is trying to kill you?”

He sighs again. “Someone is making a move to take over the organization.” That dark flash of emotion flickers in his gaze again.

“You’re holding out on me.”

“So are you,” he counters.

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