Page 24 of Secrets & Desires
“Where?”
“Livia was at my Halloween party,” Nox said smoothly, but Livia heard an undercurrent in his voice. Was he embarrassed, or was he angry with Odelle? Shecouldn’ttell.
Odelle studied Livia. “No, that’snotit.”
Livia sighed.Just get it over with. “I work atLaChatNoir.”
Of course, there was a silence. “The chef?” This was from Mavis Creep…Creek,corrected Livia in her head. Amber was right, the woman was obsequious—she clearly knew Liviawasn’tthe chef. “No, I wait tables. I bring you your egg-white omelet,Odelle.”
She couldn’t read Odelle’s expression—the other woman simply nodded and turned back to her meal. Mavis Creek was sniggering to herself, nudging her partner, who rolled his eyes and tried toignoreher.
“Livia is a grad student at the university. She’s doing her Master’s degree, Mavis, and working to pay her dues. The stuff of good character, wouldn’t you say?” Nox’s voice was like ice and Mavis’s smirkdisappeared.
“I worked the graveyard shift at Home Depot during my college experience. My father wouldn’t pay for my tuition unless I worked too,” Sandor piped up. “I had to pay my own rent. Nothing wrong with working your waythrough.”
“What are you studying, Liv?” Amber jumped in now and Livia told her. Amber looked impressed. “That’sfantastic.”
“We need to hear you play, I think.” Roan joined in and she smiled at them all gratefully. Nox had good taste in friends. They had deftly diffused the situation she had been most wary of, and with class and good humor. Nox took her hand and squeezed it and Livia felt tears well up in her eyes. God, shelovedthis man. Who cared if they’d known each other less than a month? Sheadoredhim.
Sandor nudged her and she turned to smile at him. Sandor nodded at Nox. “He’s very smitten. It’s truly greattosee.”
“Thank you, Sandor. I’m crazy about him, really, trulycrazy.”
“I’m glad. He deserveshappiness.”
Livia studied him. Sandor, with his dark brown hair cut short and neatly trimmed beard, was handsome, his eyes merry, his manner calm and friendly. “What about you, Sandor? Anyonespecial?”
He grinned. “Confirmed bachelor, Liv. I was married about ten years ago but it didn’t stick. Shame, she was a nice girl, but I’m not good at sharing my life, I’mafraid.”
“I get it. Before I met Nox, I was all set for a life ofsingledom.”
Sandor looked skeptical and grinned. “Have youseenyourself, Liv? That would neverhappen.”
She blushed, but laughed. “Because I can’t take a compliment, I’m going to swiftly change the subject.” Sandor laughed as she grinned. “What about yourfamily?”
Sandor nodded. “Only child, mom died of cancer, Dad has Alzheimer’s. Some days he has full recall, but mostly he’s lostintime.”
“God, I’msorry.”
Sandor nodded. “It’s okay. It’s harder on me than him, but I can take it. He’s usually locked back in a world where my mom is alive. Yourparents?”
“My mom had cancer too. She died when I was young and my dad, well, I think of him more as just the sperm donor. He’s a mean-ass drunk and if I never see him again, it’ll be too soon.” Livia didn’t know why she was sharing such intimate details with this man, she only that she had liked him from the first. He had a warm manner, open and friendly, and she could see why he was Nox’s friend and business partner. “You know how I met Nox. Howaboutyou?”
Sandor grinned. “I was actually his brother Teague’s college roommate. But here’s the weird thing, my dad and Nox’s dad were actually old friends, although they’d drifted apart. When Teague and I became friends, they reconnected for a while. Until the tragedy, ofcourse.”
Livia nodded. “Heartbreaking.”
“Indeed. Still, I have to say, Nox looks happier than I’ve seen him in years, thankstoyou.”
After dinner,some of guests began to drift away until only Amber, Sandor, Roan, and Odelle were left. Odelle was looking antsy to leave, but Roan showed no sign of leaving. Amber sat sprawled across an armchair, her long legs crossed over the side of it; Sandor sat with Odelle, his arm around her shoulders, friendly, comforting. Livia sat on Nox’s lap, shoes kicked off now that the formal dinner was over with. She ruffled Nox’s curls and he grinned at her. She tickled his beard and rubbed her noseagainsthis.
“Did you have a goodtime,baby?”
She nodded. “I really did.” She lowered her voice. “I love your friends. I mean,mostof them.” She grinned as he laughed. “I have to say, I had pre-conceived opinions and I waswrong.”
“For the most part.” Nox nodded subtly at Odelle. “She means no harm,really.”
“Igetit.”
