Page 41 of Just One Silver Fox

“But you’ve broken ties with her again. Change your cellphone number. Move to a different apartment. You can avoid her, if you want to. Put yourself in your own witness protection program.” Nate shook his head, looking resolute. “Don’t let Katia take anything away from you, Sonia. You don’t owe her anything.”

“Oh, but I do,” she admitted. “I owe her a lot.”

Nate’s expression became concerned but he didn’t ask.

He just waited while she thought it all through.

It only took Sonia a heartbeat to trust her instinctive reaction.

“Okay, you’ve convinced me,” she said, hearing her own excitement. “You’re right about it being a good compromise and I’ll do it.”

Nate leaned closer and dropped his voice to a whisper. “Prove it,” he taunted, then plucked her phone out of the charger and offered it to her.

Sonia pulled up Cassie’s number and made the call.

* * *

Nate was countingthis as a win.

Sonia was obviously excited about doing the podcast and he’d just helped her to get past her concern about her family. He wished he knew what they had done to her—and he also didn’t want to know the details. He could hear Cassie’s enthusiasm through the phone line and gave Sonia a thumbs-up.

He had the playlist ready when she ended the call and launched herself at him in delight. He caught her, and spun her around, then kissed her in triumph. He started the music and sangAngel Eyesto her as they danced around the apartment.

It was absolutely perfect. A night to remember—and one Nate knew he would. He bent down to capture her mouth with a slow kiss again, knowing that the next morning would be amazing.

“We should have done this sooner,” Sonia whispered against his throat.

“No regrets,” Nate said, then kissed her to silence. This one night would be more than enough.

He’d make sure Sonia agreed.

* * *

Sonia was at Tobias’party, dressed in the wonderful Cleopatra costume that Katia had brought her. The wig was black and heavy, her eyeliner was thick and perfect, the sequined dress was slinky and slit high up one side. She felt amazing, sexy and incognito, and the party was rocking. It felt like a night when dreams would come true.

She couldn’t wait.

The décor of Tobias’ apartment was beyond any expectation. Inspired by the world of his stories, he’d turned the main room of his apartment into a steampunk gentleman’s library. Cost had clearly been no object. He’d bought furniture on his travels and brought it all together in an eclectic collection that Sonia had found astonishing at first glance. It had been even more amazing at night when filled with people in costume.

It was like attending a party on a movie set, but she couldn’t name the film.

The apartment was in an older building, with period details and high ceilings. He’d replaced the floors with stone tiles laid in a black and white checkerboard pattern, set on the diagonal. Persian rugs were cast over the floor, piled three deep in some parts of the room. The draperies were heavy, made of miles of black velvet thick with gold embroidery, and they covered the exterior walls from floor to ceiling. Massive bookcases had been built into the walls, with glass doors and a brass ladder that slid on a rail. They were filled with leather bound volumes on every possible subject, including the design of dirigibles. The furniture ranged from Victorian to Edwardian and was all black and gold, including a number of tables that were Egyptian-inspired. The tables were covered with old globes and crystals, steampunk weapons and atlases to worlds that didn’t exist. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling and brass lamps sat on every table. It was a room that would take a month to inventory. In one corner was an elaborate bird cage that had to be eight feet tall. A large white cockatiel sat on the swing, surveying the proceedings.

It was a big noisy party, the glittering apartment filled with sparkling people in costume. The dictated theme was historical kings and queens. She recognized several Henry VIII’s and talked to a guy in a long silver beard and a robe embroidered with holly who said he was King Wenceslas. Louis XIV was in attendance along with Julius Caesar, who tipped his laurel to her. She saw Elizabeth the first and the second, Anne Boleyn and Marie Antoinette, Nefertiti, the Queen of Sheba and King Tut. There was champagne and laughter, elaborate canapés, and the lights of the city sparkling beyond the big windows.

But Sonia only had eyes for the Elvis impersonator laughing by the windows. Nick was dressed as a young Elvis in his prison stripes and she wondered whether he’d sing Jailhouse Rock. He’d added longer sideburns to his dark hair, but looked just as gorgeous as ever. Her mouth was dry and her heart skittered as she approached him.

“Hey!” he said, his eyes lighting at the sight of her. “You can’t fool me.”

Sonia smiled, thrilled beyond belief that he’d recognized her.

“Looking good.” He walked around her appreciatively, then saluted her with his beer. “Great costume.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “Any time you need someone to serve your royal needs, give me a call.” Sonia glanced up in surprise and he winked at her.

It was a dream come true.

They danced, Nick’s gaze fixed on her as if he wanted to memorize the sight of her, as if he was caught in the same spell. His hand was on the back of her waist, keeping her pressed against him, and Sonia was sure he could hear—or feel—the skipping of her heart. His lips were against her ear and he smelled so good. She couldn’t wait for whatever happened between them. Katia had her own apartment within Tobias’ place and Sonia was making plans to tug Nick there when Tobias joined them.

Nick spun her out of the dance, but kept his arm locked around her waist. He grabbed another bottle of beer from a passing waiter but Sonia shook her head. The last thing she wanted was alcohol in this moment.

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