Page 132 of Hide and Keep

“No. Amethyst promotes peace.”

“What’s stressful about tonight? You worn out from the show?”

“Not that show, no,” she says enigmatically.

“What other show was there?” I ask just as she finishes with my bowtie.

Instead of pulling away, she presses her hands to my chest, her fingertips drumming over my collarbones. Eyes on her hands, she says, “The one tonight. This is a very important night for my father, for Munreaux Motorcycles.”

She must really need the bracelet if she’s willing to jeopardize her dad’s idea of perfection for it.

“How close do the rocks need to be to you to work?”

“Mycrystals? Preferably on my person, but the closer the better.”

That’s what I was hoping she’d say.

Trapping her forearm against my pec, I roll the bracelet off her wrist.

“No. Don’t.”

She removes her free hand, making me miss it instantly, but I keep hold of the other one, even as she tugs harder to free herself.

“Crue. Not this one.”

“It ruins your aesthetic.” I never thought I’d use those words unironically, but it’s true, they do.

“I don’t care.”

“But your father might.” And I can’t have him raising his voice at Ever again.

I awkwardly fit my own hand through the bracelet, my fingers spread like a starfish to get it in place on my wrist single-handedly.

“They ruin your aesthetic, too.”

“I don’t have an aesthetic.”

“Yes, you do. A dangerous one.”

That makes me smile. “To who?”

“Everybody.”

I have no idea what she means by that. Is it the scar? Does it make me look dangerous?

“Your rocks will be out of sight but still close,” I tell her.

“You can’t be that close to me the whole time.”

“Yes, I can.”

She stills and looks at me with a desperation I’ve never seen her wear as she whispers, “Promise?”

Finally giving in, I grab her just above the swell of her ass.

“I fucking swear.”

I hear someone say, “The limo just pulled in,” a second before two sets of hands are fussing over Ever’s appearance.

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