Page 99 of Wild Blades

He kisses the tip of my nose, and my stomach rumbles, breaking our heartfelt moment.

“I’m hungry,” I announce, as if that wasn’t obvious.

“Me too.”

“What do you want to eat tonight?” I ask, stealing a kiss.

“You.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

Wade

Bombarded by a wall of photographers when we arrived at this evening’s gala ball, ever the professional, Kali elegantly strutted up the red carpet, head high, and then confidently posed for several photographs when asked.

Unaffected by the barrage of questions that made the reporters sound like a flock of squawking seagulls, she replied to each one of them.

Who are you wearing? “Dior.”

Will you return to the model world? “Never say never.”

Are you dating Wade Collins? “Don’t be crass, darling. I’m his publicist.”

How do you feel about your ex-husband having a baby with your model friend?

Like always, she was polite, replying,“Such wonderful news. I’m so happy for them.” But I could tell from the way she wrapped her fist tight around her diamanté clutch bag, making her knuckles turn white, she was tense, and it threw her out of whack.

Darcy being friends with Kali was news to me. When I questioned her about it later, she told me, through a tight smile,that she mentored Darcy for years, which must have really stung. What a hideous betrayal from both Michael and Darcy.

“So, tonight you’re my publicist?”

“Yes.” Sipping her champagne, she casts her eyes around the room. “For now. Until the time is right to tell everyone.”

“Publicist, boyfriend. It’s all the same thing.” I parrot the words she used by Gretchen’s graveside yesterday, making her giggle against the lip of her glass.

Every inch a supermodel this evening, in a black silk, to the floor gown, Kali’s left leg is peeking out of the illicit thigh-high slit. Hair down, it’s slicked behind her ears, which only makes her eyes look dangerously dark, and her crimson lipstick pop.

“You wear red lipstick a lot. I love it,” I tell her.

She tilts her head to the side. “I now have the gift of freedom. I get to be who I want, not who someone wants me to be. I have my own style, not an adopted one of the current brand I’m promoting, so I get to wear what I want, whenever I want. I like natural looking makeup, but I prefer the makeup I’m wearing tonight. It’s dramatic and accentuates my features.”

I love her confidence.

Between her dress and the way she’s looking at me, it makes me want to drag her into a side room so she can tattoo that lipstick all over my body. More than anything, I wish I could claim her lips in front of everyone and show her off to the world as mine. But I can’t. Not yet.

Breaking through my lust-filled thoughts, she says, “Marcus is here.” Using her head to point to the other side of the room, she then tilts it to the right. “As is your mother.”

My hands form into fists by my side, as that means I might be forced to speak to her at some point during the evening. Something I haven’t done since I called to give her the details of Gretchen’s funeral over a year ago. A funeral she didn’t even attend.

Not showing up to pay her respects to the woman who made me who I am was downright ungracious. I will never forgive her.

Kali adds another name to the list of people I would least like to see. “And… Amelia.”

I spin around quicker than I should. I haven’t seen her since we split up.

Given that her father is currently the mayor, it makes sense that she would be here tonight.

My eyes scan over her quickly. But as I look at her, something odd happens; I feel nothing.

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