Page 63 of Lovely Deceit

“That’s it?” I ask. “That’s all you’re giving me?”

“I imagine it’s the same reason you came back,” Leo challenges. “Out of duty, right?”

He watches for my reaction, but the last thing I need is one more person knowing why I’m at Carnegie, so I school my face into the perfect solemn stare. “I can understand that.”

We’re both full of shit. I’m pretending to be someone else, too, but at least I’m not trying to ruin his life. I’m the one caught up in his world, not the other way around.

Forgetting all that, I focus on what I’m here for and peer around the party for Vincent. I have no idea how I’m going to get him alone for long enough to talk to him, but I’ll make it happen somehow. Otherwise, I don’t know how I’ll pull off getting Leo back for what he’s done to me. He needs to feel the same fear I did. The same humiliation. Everything he ever said to me was a lie. Even all the sexual moments were probably just his way of directing my attention away from his motives, and I’m mortified that it worked. I let him get the upper hand. I won’t make that mistake again.

I’m still searching the crowd when I see Anne-Marie walking toward us, and I barely stop the sneer from forming on my face.

“What is it?” Leo asks.

I almost jump. I hadn’t realized he’d been watching me, but I nod in her direction. He doesn’t have any problem letting his full emotions show on his face when it comes to her.

She waltzes up to us like she’s on a catwalk, wearing the most exquisite white party dress covered in rhinestones and lace that could be someone else’s actual wedding dress.

“Leo, good to see you,” she says, bending down to kiss his cheek, which is a little too close to his lips for comfort.

I attempt to quell the jealousy roaring in me. I have no reason to feel the burning heat in my veins.

He narrows his gaze at her, and I notice she’s transferred some of her lipstick to his face. “Oops,” she giggles before reaching up to wipe the red mark away, but she only smudges it. “I just wanted to see my new cousin, but here I am getting my lipstick all over you.”

The innuendo is clear, and I’m shocked.

He carefully grabs her wrist and drags her hand away. “I can take care of it myself.” He looks at me. “You know Eden, right?”

Her dark hair lies in curls over her shoulders, and they shift when she looks over at me like I’m inconsequential before returning her attention right back to Leo. “I came over here because your grandfather needs you in the house.”

Leo sighs. “I’m busy.”

Her smile flatlines. “I don’t think he cares.”

He gives me a hard look, and I just shrug. “I’ll be right back,” he says. “Don’t go off with anyone. Anyone,” he emphasizes. “Trust me.”

When he steps away, I smile at him. “I think I’ll just grab myself more of those scallops while I wait.”

Anne-Marie grimaces. “Do you think you should be doing that, hon?” she asks before peeking down at my midsection.

My temper flares. I want so badly to shove in her face that her soon-to-be husband most likely knocked some other girl up, but I keep it locked away. I need Vincent on my side right now, and I’m sure he wouldn’t be keen to help me if I shared his secret with everyone. “I think I’ll eat double, actually,” I tell her, waving her off.

Leo’s already walking ahead of her, and she goes scrambling after him when she notices. When she finally reaches him, she attempts to wrap her arm around his, but he pulls away from her, which makes me chuckle.

If that’s what it’s like to be getting married soon, I don’t want any part of it. Within six months, they’ll have their own flings on the side, and it’ll be a never-ending cycle of cheating and arguments.

No, thank you.

My parents walk in, and I immediately rise to hide from them. It’s not that I don’t want to see them, but I don’t want to get distracted either. From a spot in the corner next to a man with those delicious hors d’oeuvres, I scan the crowd for Vincent again but come up empty.

Since my parents are safely on the other side of the garden, I walk inside, wondering if he’s alone in there somewhere.

The kitchen is a flurry of activity with servants coming in and out with either full or empty trays of food and drink. I walk in the opposite direction, rolling my eyes at all the splendor in this house. I’ve never seen the interior of the actual White House, but I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that this really is the same inside and out.

Retreating down a long hallway, I keep my ears open when I finally hear a man’s voice. I stop just outside the door, practically pressing my ear to it when I recognize a familiar giggle. “Come on. Think of it as an amazing wedding present. Another ride on that glorious cock. Just one last bit of fun, watching your tattoos ripple.”

Jealousy spikes again, and my suspicions are confirmed in the next sentence. “My cousin would hate that.”

It’s hard to tell because the voices are muted, so I don’t know if Leo is into this or not.

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