Page 51 of Love Bites
Because she felt beautiful.
Ignacio had a way of making her feel beautiful, not just of feeling it, but believing it.
The prom-style dress hugged her frame. Thin black straps connected to a silver bodice that formed a heart-shaped neckline. The waist was belted by black frilly material that wrapped around to her lower back where a ribbon bow hung. The black skirt puffed outward and ended at her knees. It was neither too long or too short, just the perfect length to emphasize her petite frame.
But now, she felt nervous and tugged at it self-consciously.
She’d taken forever to finally arrange her hair in a suitable style so she didn’t look a total mess. She wore it over her left shoulder where it hung in a fire of curls. Any loose strands were held in place with glittering crystal hair pins. She wore crystal earrings but no necklace or bracelets.
Katheryn had thought about wearing heels, but the ones she had were uncomfortable and pinched her feet. Instead, she’d donned a pair of dressy flats that looked nice, but kept her feet from squealing in pain with every step.
Her makeup was just enough to highlight her features and bring out the color of her eyes. All in all, she’d say she looked pretty damned good.
She stared up at Ignacio’s house, her nerves fraying with every breath she took. Tonight was different from other nights, she knew that with certainty. Because tonight was the night they would confess their love for each other.
Neither of them had said it yet, but the feeling was there, clear as day. It felt right. Meant to be. Like everything in her maelstrom of a life had finally fallen into place. For once, the looming future didn’t matter and she wasn’t worried about her family, her job, or even Hunter.
“Katheryn…”
The sound of her name startled her. The voice familiar, like a ghost of her past come to haunt her. Then came the softest click of shoes hitting the sidewalk.
Shock was too tame a word for what Katheryn felt as she slowly turned and saw him emerge from the darkness.
Hunter looked little different than the last time she’d seen him—except this time, he wore clothes and didn’t have some blonde bimbo straddling him. His hair was perfect as always and he wore one of his designer suits.
Once upon a time, Katheryn would have screamed at him, call him a lying, cheating bastard and chuck a shoe at his smug face. But a mixture of shock, and the fact that she had been in her own little world of bliss with Ignacio and had completely forgotten him, kept her quiet.
Hunter and his designer clothes and rich lifestyle had seemed worlds away. Looking at him now, she realized it was a world she didn’t belong in and wanted no part of.
“Katheryn,” he repeated coolly. His tone set her nerves on edge. He took a step forward, eyeing her from head to toe. He smiled. “You look well.”
Katheryn narrowed her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“You really didn’t think you could hide from me forever, did you?” His lips pursed and his eyes shone in a way that should have looked teasing, but were really superior.
“I wasn’t hiding,” she defended. “I needed to get away from you, and I thought I made it clear we were done, so I don’t know why you’re here.”
“I let you have your fun for weeks, Katheryn, but it’s time to come back to the real world. Your little adventure with the vampire? It ends now.”
Anger surged through her body at the commanding tone. It was the same tone he’d always used on her. The same one she’d let him beat into her until she was his meek little bride-to-be. He’d taken all of her fire and snuffed it with that fucking tone.
Well, not anymore.
“You’re delusional if you think you can tell me what to do. We’re done. I made the clear when I pelted the lamp at your head. How did you find me, anyway?”
A pale eyebrow rose. “You really thought, with my reach, I wouldn’t be able to find you?”
The way he said it sent a slice of fear down her spine. She took a step back just as he took two forward.
She tried not to let her fear show. “What do you want?”
His lip curled in a half-sneer, half-smile. “Why, to take you home, of course.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. She wouldn’t go with him. Not matter what he said, she wouldn’t leave with him.
Katheryn shook her head. “I’m not going with you.”
Hunter laughed. “Is it because of that foreigner?”
