Page 92 of The Sun and Her Star

I should have known then. But he was sonice.

He supported my endeavors at the gallery, and I knew he’d never break my heart.

He couldn’t. Even if he tried. Because my heart was and would never be his to break. That honor belongs to Graham.

Lucas was an anchor when I really needed one. Now, I just feel weighed down.

I ended things the day after my call with Graham. It wasn’t fair to him to keep dangling on. He took it very well. He just asked that we keep it quiet until after we’d fulfilled some public engagements where my absence would be noted.

But he’s moved out of our apartment and into one across the hall already. He said he wanted to be close by when I changed my mind and let him come home. But, I know he’s already atleastfucking someone else.

I have no idea who she is, but I’ve seen the back of her blonde head as she’s walked into his apartment twice in the last week. I knew I’d made the right decision when seeing her evoked not even the slightest amount of jealousy or pain.

I hope he’s happy.

Right now, though, I wish I’d never agreed to the charade. Then, I could be at the table with the rest of my gallery staff instead of at his hedge fund’s table.

“So, are you here on business? Pleasure?” Lucas is grinning up at Graham like he’s Santa Claus and he’d been a very good boy this year.

“I’m enrolling at NYU,” Graham says, his eyes on me. Every synapse in my body is responding to him, and I’m hyperaware of the pull between us.

“Oh, wow. That’s amazing. I’ve heard you’re in talks with Volta to front their new line of soft drinks,” Lucas chirps.

Graham’s eyes narrow slightly, and his jaw tightens, but his tone is pleasant when he says, “No business tonight.”

“Oh yeah, sure man. We can meet up, have lunch. Maybe talk about it later,” Lucas says. I know he’s not this clueless. He can’t really be trying to get Graham on as a client. I shoot him a cutting glance. He doesn’t even notice.

“Maybe,” Graham says. Then, he looks over his shoulder at the empty dance floor. When he looks back at me his smile is nothing short of diabolical.

I shrink in my chair. He wouldn’t.

“Apollo, would you dance with me?” he asks, holding his hand out to me. My head spins, and I stare at his hand and then back at his face.

“It’s not the time for dancing yet, and I’m here with Lucas,” I say weakly.

He ignores me and turns his mind-bending smile on Lucas. “You don’t mind if we dance now, do you? The band’s playing. I can’t stay much longer. I just want to dance with my …” Has eyes slide to mine. “… very best friend.” He’s good. He actually looks forlorn. If I didn’t know him better, I would believe him.

“I’ll dance with you, if she’s not feeling up to it,” Lucas’s sister Victoria pipes up.

I whip my head over to look at her. She’s smiling suggestively at him while her husband’s face turns red.

Oh, for God’s sake.

I shoot Graham a glare. Then, I put my hand in his and smile pleasantly at the rest of the table, “How can I say no?” I say in his face, dripping with artificial amusement.

Every eye in the room is on us as we make our way to the empty dance floor. I’m trying to keep up with Graham as he strides to the dance floor, forcing me to practically jog in my several inches too high to be practical, silver peep-toe Manolos.

When we get to the dance floor, I let out a surprised yelp when he twirls me like I’m a ballerina in a music box.

He’s laughing when he pulls me flush against him, wraps one arm around my waist and holds one of my hands against his chest. I put my arm on his shoulder, and he leans down to whisper in my ear. “Hey, Sunshine. Miss me?”

I look over my shoulder and see Lucas is watching, but instead of frowning, he’s smiling broadly, his face that of a proud father at his daughter’s first piano recital.

Deciding to deal with one problem at a time, I turn back around but keep my eyes on his chest.

“Graham, this isnotcool. Why didn’t you call first?” I whisper, moving my lips as little as possible. He stops, mid-sway and dips his head so that it’s next to my ear. His cool breath sends my hair fluttering and my heart tripping over itself. “What I’ve got to say has to be said in person.” His eyes are calm, but his whisper is fierce. His arm tightens around my waist as if he expects me to bolt.

He starts moving again, but this time leans back, so he’s looking at me. His eyes soften as they roam my face, a small, sad smile on his lips.

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