Page 4 of Vendetta Vows

His voice is gentle but not pitying. Something loosens slightly in my chest. The fact that he doesn't demand answers makes me almost wish I could give them.

"Glad to be of assistance. And if you bump into any of the writers, could you do me a favor and pass along my thoughts about this?" I give the script one final shake. "Without saying my name, of course."

"That would require me knowing your name first." He extends his hand and I manage a wobbly smile as I take his hand in mine.

A burst of electricity passes between us again when his hand envelops mine in a warm, firm grip.

I can't help but notice the intricate tattoos that trace across his knuckles. One catches my eye. A small bird with broken wings, surprisingly delicate against the otherwise bold designs.

"Aurora," I say. "Aurora Castellanos."

"A pleasure to meet you, Aurora Castellanos." He says my name like he's tasting it.

The breeze picks up again, and I detect the light scent of mahogany and cedarwood tumbling from him to chase away the ghostly memory of blood haunting my nostrils.

My heart thrums at my throat as I maintain my grip on his hand, acutely aware that our touch is starting to cross from polite to dangerously lingering.

I'm both relieved and disappointed when he gives me one final smile, releases me, and turns towards the door.

Before I can stop myself, I blurt out one final time. "Will I see you again?"

I immediately want to snatch them back.

What am I doing? Aurora Castellanos doesn't reach out to strangers. Aurora Castellanos doesn't flirt in back alleys. Aurora Castellanos doesn't invite trouble.

But instead of being surprised by my forwardness, the corner of his mouth lifts again. For the second dizzying time of the night, I fantasize about him closing the distance to kiss me.

"You will," he says with such certainty that I believe him. "I'll find you inside, Aurora Castellanos."

Heat floods my cheeks and my heart speeds up despite my better judgment. He turns and walks away, leaving behind the hints of mahogany and cedarwood trailing in his wake.

And only when the door closes behind him do I realize that he never told mehisname.

2

AURORA

"There you are!I've been looking for you everywhere." Hannah's bright voice cuts through the gentle murmur of the production party as I slip back inside.

Her eyes immediately drop to the pages clutched against my chest. "I should've known. You just couldn't resist getting a peek before production starts, could you? Let me guess. You've already identified seventeen plot holes and thirty-two unrealistic character choices."

I try to laugh, but it comes out strange. A little too high, a little too breathless.

"Whoa." Hannah's eyebrows shoot up as she studies my face. "What's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost. Or maybe a hot celebrity?" She steps closer, her voice dropping. "Did Ryan Reynolds somehow crash this party? Because if he did and you didn't tell me immediately, our friendship is officially over."

I can still feel the warmth of his hand lingering on mine. The memory of those golden eyes makes my stomach flip. My eyes quickly dart around the room.

Partly to see if there are any errant photographers left.

Partly in search of him.

"I just—" I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear, trying desperately to regain my composure. "I met someone outside."

Hannah's eyes widen to the size of dinner plates. "You met someone? Like, 'met someone' met someone?"

"It's not like that," I say automatically, though my burning cheeks betray me.

"Your face is saying something entirely different." Hannah grabs my arm, pulling me toward a quiet corner away from the bustling crowd. "Spill. Everything. Now."

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