Page 8 of Gilded Whispers

My heart skips. My palms are back to feeling damp. I find the pulse point on the underside of my wrist and press the pad of my thumb against it.

One. Two. Three.

Luna grabs me by the shoulders and uses her best mom voice on me. “Oh, no you don’t. That is not what this is. I know where you are going with this. Don’t dirty up what tonight could be.”

I put down the phone Lavender gave me and toss back the rest of my dirty martini in a single gulp. I already need another. “Damn straight. I’m a classy hooker. I mean look at this dress, right? No. Wait. Or are they? No, that would be an escort in a place like this, right?”

A set of slate-gray eyes brimming with determination and spunk fill my vision. “You’re paying for an experience.” Luna gives me a small shake. “Besides, you don’t want to know what tonight cost. No refunds or do-overs. Tonight is about magic and damn it, you’re going to have it if I have to walk you to that room myself.”

She looks ready to drag me off my stool and make good on her threat.

“Whoa. Hold up. Okay. Okay. I was just having cold feet for a minute.”

I inhale.

“I want this. Go. Be with your men and leave me to mine.”

I exhale.

I use a lot of brave words in a row, but my backbone hasn’t gotten the memo. There’s not a part of me that isn’t shaking.

She rolls her eyes dramatically. “Good, now go get laid and tell me all about it in the morning. Bartender, another dirty martini for my sister, please.”

Leaving me with my mouth hinged open, Luna grabs her small bedazzled clutch and turns for the door. “Enjoy, babe.”

One final wink and I’m all on my own.

I’m so far out of my depth here it’s not even funny. I glance down at my dress. I could be home writing right now.

But you need this, the voice in my head sounds off.

Right. One more drink and then I’ll make the call. I need a little more fortification before I call Lavender and venture upstairs.

“Here you go, babe.”

I lift my startled gaze to find a set of green eyes drinking me in.

“Thank you.” I grab for my clutch to pay for the drinks, but a warm, steady hand comes over mine.

“It’s on the house.” The handsome bartender offers me a warm smile, his eyes twinkling with understood interest.

Whoa. Like everyone else here, the man had the looks to go with the dapper slacks and black button down. I wonder if I can switch out one of my “planned” men for the night or add to the list.

It’s been a long time since anyone has looked at me like that and he’s kinda cute. More than cute. I reach for my drink, our fingers brushing. “Thank you. But I couldn’t possibly accept the drink without paying.” It’s an overt gesture and one that has me smiling for the first time tonight with more than just pleasantries.

“As the lady wishes.”

Hard-wired instinct draws my eyes to the space over the bartender’s shoulder. A reflection in the mirror. Like a ripple in the darkness. A familiar vibe reaches out for me and it makes my stomach churn.

Oh shit! “William.” The name falls from my lips like a curse covered in poison.

I slowly turn on my stool. Goosebumps prickle my skin and my heart goes from easy going to pounding when my eyes lock onto the down right evil hiding in the darkness behind me. When predators get too close, my senses hit high alert thanks to this dickwad. Good to know they are still firing on all cylinders.

Shadows sway as if they don’t even want to touch the darkness moving through them. Within a couple of shallow breaths a familiar form steps into the bath of neon yellow light, hatred alive in the depths of his soulless black eyes.

And just like that, all the hope I summoned for the evening falls flat along with my heart as it sinks to the floor. I stumble off my stool and grab for the bar to right myself. If I am at all lucky and my stars want to align for once in my life, maybe he will walk right by me and pretend he doesn’t see me.

And then his eyes narrow in on me and his lips start to move.

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