Page 20 of A Devious Arrangement

I lean in and say under my breath, “Tell me. Do you enjoy working here?”

He stiffens, eyes shooting wide. His mouth’s opening and closing, but he can’t quite get the words out. “Of cour…course.”

I place a hand on his arm and give it a tiny squeeze. “Don’t worry, it’s not a trick.”

“Of course.” His voice comes out clearly this time. He’s definitely gone through some form of training in order to work at one of these events.

I sigh. “That’s too bad. I have a small favor to ask, but unfortunately, you’ll likely lose this job.”

“What’s in it for me?” he asks, interested.

I lift my tiny clutch, clicking it open to show him the pile of bills inside. It’s definitely more than he makes in a month working here.

His brows shoot up, and his eyes go round.

I shuffle closer, whispering, “In a half hour, I’m going to need a distraction. Can you do that for me?”

He’s nodding before I get the words out. “Yeah, I can do that… I mean, yes, I’d love to.”

“Perfect. Meet me by that doorway, and I’ll give you the signal so I can slip away.” He returns my conspiratorial smile.

Okay, with that handled, I spend the next half hour making my rounds, speaking to all the people I’m expected to. My nerves grow with every second that passes. I’ve lost my fracking mind with this plan, but I can’t back out now.

“I haven’t seen your brother,” a smooth, familiar voice drawls, and I turn to face the youngest Everette.

I press my lips together. “Bash.”

“Stasia.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Do you prefer Princess?”

My palms sweat as he watches me too closely. His lips are full, and I can’t stop tracking the movement of his tongue as it runs along the seam, wetting them. Bash clears his throat, giving me a wolfish smirk, which tells me he knows exactly what I was thinking.

“What did you ask again?” My voice comes out strained.

He tilts his head to the side. “I asked where is your brother?”

Dammit. Why didn’t I think about this? If I’m going to pretend to be him in the Vault, he has to be present at the ball. My heart rate picks up as I search, desperately trying to come up with an answer.

In a last-ditch effort, I lie. “He’s over there.”

Bash raises a brow, then whips around to the direction I’m pointing, doubt in his tone when he says, “Is he?”

Why does he have to be so damn perceptive? Why can’t he live up to his clueless man whore reputation?

“Oh, well, maybe he’s moved. He’s around somewhere.”

He mouths the wordsomewhere. “This is the second time I’ve caught you all alone at one of these events. Didn’t you learn your lesson on what goes on behind closed doors in places like this? Or would you like me to show you again?”

“You know, just because you think them doesn’t mean you have to share your inappropriate thoughts.”

He leans in, his breath grazing the shell of my ear, sending shivers through me. “Inappropriate? You are my inappropriate thoughts, Princess.”

Warmth floods my core, and images of him on his knees before me take up my every thought. I need to get away fromhim before I do something completely stupid like become just another one of his conquests.

“What are you playing at?” I ask.

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