Page 27 of I Summoned A Demon For A Date?!
To my shock, Jan stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. Her pale blue eyes, so like Stephany's yet somehow warmer, held genuine remorse.
"Rosalind, I want to apologize sincerely for my daughter's behavior yesterday," her voice quiet but steady. "There's no excuse for how she spoke to you. It was cruel and completely unnecessary."
I blinked, momentarily stunned into silence. In all the years Jan had been married to my father, she had never once taken my side against Stephany. Not once.
"I, um, thank you," I managed, unconsciously leaning into Aldaine's solid presence beside me. His arm slipped around my waist, supporting me effortlessly. "I appreciate that."
"We're just glad you stayed," Dad added, glancing approvingly at Aldaine. "Both of you. It wouldn't be the same without you here, Rosie."
I swallowed past the unexpected lump in my throat. "Thanks, Dad."
Jan offered me a tentative smile. "You look lovely, Rosalind. That color is perfect on you."
Another first, a genuine compliment from my stepmother. I was beginning to wonder if I'd stepped into some alternate dimension.
"Thank you," I repeated, feeling oddly off-balance. "Everything looks beautiful out here." I gestured to the elaborate setup, the twinkling lights, the elegant landscaping.
"Stephany wanted fairy tale perfect," Jan replied with a small shrug, though there was something in her expression I couldn't quite read. "You know how she gets."
Oh, I certainly did. My stepsister had always needed everything to be the biggest, the best, the most impressive. Nothing was ever enough.
"Well, she certainly got it," I commented, keeping my tone carefully neutral.
A server passed with a tray of champagne, and Aldaine smoothly snagged two flutes, handing one to me. His fingers brushed against mine, lingering just a moment longer than necessary, sending a shiver of awareness through me.
"To family gatherings," he toasted with a hint of irony only I could detect.
I clinked my glass against his, taking a sip of the crisp, bubbly liquid. "And to surviving them."
I almost choked on the champagne.
Dad chuckled, clapping Aldaine on the shoulder. "I like this one, Rosie. He's good for you."
If only he knew just how unusual my relationship with Aldaine truly was. The contract, the soul debt, the mind-blowing sex that was definitely not part of our original agreement. I hid my flush behind another sip of champagne.
"He certainly is," I glanced up at Aldaine's perfect profile, the warm chestnut skin glowing in the golden hour light.
Jan and my father were soon pulled away by other guests arriving, leaving Aldaine and me to wander through the party. The string quartet played softly in the background, the music weaving through the gentle hum of conversation and occasional bursts of laughter.
We found a relatively quiet spot near a beautifully sculpted topiary of some animals, and I let out a long, slow breath,some of the tension finally leaving my shoulders. Aldaine's hand found the small of my back again, his touch grounding me.
"See? Not so terrible," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear.
I looked up at him, taking in the way the dying sunlight caught in his dark eyes, turning them almost amber. My heart gave a traitorous flutter. "The day's still young. Plenty of time for disaster."
His laugh was rich and deep, the sound wrapping around me like velvet. "Such optimism, little minx."
"I prefer to call it realism," I countered, but I couldn't help smiling in response. "Whenever Stephany's involved, there's always a catch."
"Yet here you stand, looking delectable, and… eatable," his gaze sweeping over me in a way that made heat pool low in my belly. "The most beautiful woman at this entire event."
"Now you're just earning your contract fee," I teased, though the words sent a pang through me. Because that's what this was, wasn't it? A business arrangement. No matter how real it felt when we were alone together, when his hands were on my body and his lips were claiming mine.
"Am I?" His voice dropped lower, taking on that rumbling quality that never failed to make my pulse quicken. "Perhaps I simply speak the truth."
Before I could respond, he continued, "Though I must admit, the benefits of this particular contract have far exceeded my expectations." The heat in his gaze left no doubt as to exactly which benefits he was referring to.
I laughed, the sound bubbling up from somewhere genuine and unguarded. "Exceeded mine, too, if I'm being honest."
