Page 106 of Burn for You

“You heard Isla. She’s just running late.” I nod as we walk through the doors.

Some people have taken up seats, and others stand, mingling and admiring the space around them. My team is floating through the room, handing out champagne. It’s perfect. Almost perfect. It’s just missing one thing.

“It truly is beautiful, Rafael,”Arianna gushes. “You’ve done such an amazing job.” She rests her hand on my arm affectionately, but it feels cold. I look down at it and it looks all wrong. I shrug her off, but she doesn’t seem deterred.

Arianna is someone I used to see on a casual basis, but she moved out of town, and I haven’t talked to her in over a year, but that doesn’t stop her from acting like she was in my bed only last night.

She looks me up and down. “Somehow you’ve gotten even better looking over the last year.”

Oh god.

Before I can respond, I see a swish of blonde walking straight towards me. May’s face is like thunder as she comes up to me, her heels clonking against the wooden floor as she does.

May grabs a hold of my collar and yanks me down, pulling me into a kiss. A forceful, possessive kiss. I’m breathless by the time she pulls away.

She turns around to face a blanch-faced Arianna. “Oh my god! I am so sorry, I didn’t see you there,” she says, her voice that sickly sweet tone that she used to reserve purely for me. She links her fingers through mine. “Rafael, who’s your friend?”

Oh, she is evil, and Iloveit.

Arianna answers for herself. “I’m Arianna.” She swings herdark hair over her shoulder. “Rafael and I have known each other for a long time.”

Oh, here we go.

“Really?” May looks back at me before casting her gaze back on the woman in front of her. “He’s never mentioned you.”

Arianna’s eyebrows draw together. “And who are you again?”

I squeeze May’s hand in mine. As much as I’m loving this, I don’t need a fist fight at my reopening.

May hesitates, and it gives Arianna the extra second she needs to look at me and say, “She looks like she could be half your age, Raf. If you were that desperate, you just needed to pick up the phone.”

Just when I think May is about to lunge, she just laughs. “Gotta keep ‘em young, don’t we? Have a good night.”

Arianna bristles at the clear dismissal and her eyes meet mine. “Call me.”

“He won’t.” May smiles and waves as Arianna walks away.

I wrap my arms around her waist and lean down, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. “A little possessive, don’t you think?” I echo her words from weeks ago.

She turns around in my arms, linking her arms behind my neck. “Outrageously. But I’m sure she’ll spread the word to all your previous hookups that you’re now occupied.”

“After that interaction, I’m assuming she’ll say a bit more than that,” I chuckle.

“That’s fine.” She presses a kiss to my lips. “They should all know who they’re messing with.”

“You’re adorable when you’re jealous.”

She frowns. “I amnotjealous.”

I kiss her again. “No, I like it. You’re right, everyone should know about my little spitfire.”

Heat blooms on her cheeks, and she snuggles her head into my chest. I chuckle. Truly adorable.

It’s only now that I take notice of what she’s wearing. A deepplum dress hugs her body, accentuating every curve of her figure. Her hair is curled into waves, and she looks absolutely divine.

I pick up her hand and raise it above her, prompting her to spin around for me so I can really admire her.

“You look unbelievable,” I say as I press a kiss behind her ear.

---