Page 11 of Vintage

"He doesn’t even look at anyone else now that she’s here," Darius remarked, his words slicing through me like glass. I loathed the truth they carried, the way they twisted the knife in my gut.

That smile of his. The way his eyes crinkled with delight at her stories, everything that once belonged to me now shared with someone else.

"What do you want from me?" I replied flatly, shifting away from the stranger who had settled beside me.

"Just follow my lead," he said with a grin.

I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease when he offered me the drink and gestured toward the stranger who had taken a seat next to me.

Whatever. It couldn’t hurt, could it?

"So, you're an artist too... I didn’t expect that," Natalie laughed, her voice a distant echo as I drifted further from the moment.

Feeling the weight of someone's eyes, I shifted uncomfortably. The man next to me looked out of place.

"Hello," he raised his glass in greeting, then turned to Darius, who was busy mixing another drink for me.

"Another drink for the beautiful lady, Darius." He called for the man's assistance and he acknowledged him with a nod.

"I didn’t ask for that," I murmured, struggling to understand the reason for his sudden interest in me.

I plastered on a half-hearted smile and muttered a thank you, as if that was going to change the world.

My gaze drifted to Ro, but he was too busy ignoring me, so I figured why waste my time looking again?

"What are you doing in this town? Never seen you before?" I couldn't resist squeezing a little more out of this conversation since the guy clearly wanted more than just a polite thank you.

He shrugged, downing his drink like it was water, and ordered another.

"Just moved here last week, but finally got my place ready for human habitation," he said with a grin that was annoyingly infectious.

If I weren’t married or hopelessly in love with my husband, I’d be all over that flirtation.

"Transferred? What’s your gig?" My curiosity was practically begging to be satisfied.

"Nothing too exciting... Just the new commissioner of the jurisdiction," he said, clearly enjoying the shock on my face as I struggled to find words.

My jaw hit the floor, and my eyes nearly popped out of my head.

A... What!?

"How old are you?!" I practically shouted, but he was quick to shush me.

"Woman, that’s not how I like to make ladies scream for me," he chuckled, nursing his drink like he owned the place. "Turning forty this year."

I narrowed my eyes, suspicious. "Don’t lie to me. You look barely over 30, and way too hot to be that ancient."

He burst into laughter, making my cheeks ache, and his eccentric voice drew attention like a magnet. Both wanted and unwanted.

"Nice way to compliment, lady... Now that you know my name, what’s yours?"

I smirked. That was smooth.

"Now, do I?"

His piercing honey eyes flickered, darkening like a storm cloud ready to unleash its fury.

"Sorry for keeping a stunning lady waiting. I'm Dimitri Romeril," he said, flashing a grin that could charm the scales off a snake.

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