Page 71 of The Duke's Virgin

What’s the harm, though? I thought.She’s not here.

Except…she was.

Light flashed off a woman’s beaded dress as she descended the steps, and my gaze lingered, first out of appreciation for the way the fabric draped over a hip, highlighting the elegant curve lovingly. But the skin on the back of my neck prickled, and my heart thumped, and I looked up and found myself staring at a familiar face, one that haunted my dreams.

Stacia.

Twenty-Five

Stacia

I might have just stayedin my suite the entire night, but I’d promised Aeric I’d make an appearance.

Justan appearance, I’d warned him. “I might only come down for five minutes, so don’t grumble at me if I don’t stay.”

“Have I ever grumbled at you?”

I was sure he had, a time or two, but I hadn’t responded, and he’d hugged me and told me just to come down if I wanted to.

In the end, it was guilt that had me descending those stairs. I washere, after all, and hewashaving a party. It wouldn’t take me that much time to put on a dress and go mingle for a few minutes.

After all, I was hiding out in Monaco—again—to get away from my parents…andall the gossip that was sure to start in their circle as soon as people realized I was pregnant.

I had no doubt my parents would keep it quiet as long as they could, but I wasn’t about to start hiding away in my brownstone. I’d finally figured out the wholebeing socialthing with Emmett, and I’d come to enjoy having a social life. I’d even made some new friends, and I didn’t want to creep back into my empty life as theIce Princessbecause it made things easier on my parents.

It wasn’t like they’d ever made anything easier on me.

“Miss Stacia.”

“Hi, Blanche.”

She waved me down into the sitting area where my cousin and his friends waited. “I’ll have someone bring you a drink.” She raised an eyebrow. “Ginger ale?”

Blanche was the only one who knew in Monaco. She’d found me getting sick in my suite the day I arrived, and I’d confided in her only after she’d promised to keep it to herself.

“Thank you.”

She nodded and waved down a server as I descended into the pit.

Aeric saw me and made room on the wide, plush couch. As I sat, he lifted something from the floor and brandished it. A bottle of vodka. “Want some? It’s from Geraint.”

A warning echoed in my head even as I shook my head. “No. None for me. I’m holding off on alcohol as tired as I am.”

“Aw…just a drink, cousin. It’s quite wonderful.”

But I nudged the glass he urged at me away. “Not tonight, Aeric.”

“All right.” He heaved out a sigh. “But remember, I offered. This is fine vodka, and I’ve only shared with a few select people. Isn’t that right, Luka?”

My heart skittered, and blood roared in my head. I looked up in time to see the familiar, tall, lean form circle around the firepit in the middle and settle in a seat a few feet away from us. He glanced casually at me, then nodded at Aeric, lifting his glass. “Of course, Aeric.”

“Miss Stacia.”

Jolting at the sound of my name, I looked over to see one of the staff standing just to my side with a tall, slim glass filled to the top with a pale gold liquid. “Thank you.” I smiled at her and took the glass, bringing it to my lips. I was parched, my throat gone tight with nerves, but I only allowed myself a sip before lowering it.

“How are you doing?”

Feeling his eyes on me, I looked over at Luka. He was pointedly staring at me. Aeric was talking to the woman next to him, and despite the crowd, the way Luka watched me was strikingly intimate, giving me the impression it was just us in the room.

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