Page 68 of Wilde and Deadly

“Keep poking and I’ll start asking about you and Dom.”

Vivi’s eyes flashed, but she quickly masked it with a breezy laugh. “Touché. Let’s focus on dressing you to kill instead, shall we?” She unzipped another garment bag, revealing a deep red gown. “Try this one. I have a feeling.”

Rowan slipped into the dress, the silk sliding against her skin. As Vivi zipped it up, she caught sight of herself in the mirror and froze.

She barely recognized herself.

The deep, blood-red silk was smooth and liquid-like against her skin. It clung just enough to be dangerous, the fabric pooling elegantly at her feet. The neckline dipped, but not too much, the cut sleek and devastating in its simplicity. A daring slit ran up her right thigh, revealing just enough leg to be tantalizing without compromising her ability to move—or fight, if necessary.

Vivi’s smile was knowing. “Thereshe is.”

“Holy shit.” Rowan exhaled, smoothing her hands over the fabric. “Not bad.”

Vivi laughed and once again walked a circle around her. “Not bad?Darling, Davey’s tongue is going to roll straight out of his mouth.”

Rowan scoffed, but heat crept up her neck. “I highly doubt that.”

Vivi smirked and motioned to the bedroom door. “Go show Sabin. See what he thinks.”

Rowan hesitated, suddenly self-conscious. She wasn’t used to being on display like this. Give her a sniper rifle and a target any day over parading around in a fancy dress.

But Vivi was already opening the bedroom door, calling out, “Gentlemen, prepare yourselves!”

Okay, she could do this. She squared her shoulders and strode out of the bedroom, chin held high. She refused to let a dress intimidate her.

The conversation in the living room cut off abruptly as she entered. Sabin’s eyebrows shot up, a low whistle escaping his lips. Even Dom looked impressed, his usual smirk softening into something more genuine.

“Well, well,” Sabin drawled. “Look who clean up real nice.”

Rowan rolled her eyes but couldn’t entirely hide her pleased smile. “You sound surprised.”

“Non, not surprised,” he corrected. “Just... damn,cher. Davey’s not gonna know what hit him.”

From the couch, Dominic nodded in agreement. “That dress is a weapon.”

Vivi, hovering by the bedroom doorway and admiring her handiwork, turned toward him sharply. Her nose wrinkled in distaste. “Likeyouwould know?”

Dominic’s gaze flicked to her, and his smile returned, but it wasn’t a nice one. “You used to wear weapons just like it, baby. I peeled you out of enough of them to know.”

Sabin buried his face in his hands. “Mon Dieu.”

Rowan watched, slightly horrified, slightly intrigued, as Vivi’s entire demeanor shifted again. Something icy and dangerous slid into place behind her eyes. And, holy shit, speaking of weapons, the smile she aimed in his direction was sharp enough to draw blood.

“You lost the right to call me ‘baby’ a long time ago, Dominic.” Compared to all of Vivi’s sugarydarlingsandhoneys, the way she said his name was downright glacial.

Rowan shifted on her feet. Was this how others felt when she and Davey fought? Uncomfortably and slightly voyeuristically dirty?

Dom’s jaw tightened, a muscle ticking. “Viv?—”

“Don’t,” Vivi cut him off. “Just don’t.”

Sabin cleared his throat loudly. “Okay, let’s take it down a notch, yeah?”

Rowan turned toward him and swung her arm toward the pair, who were still glaring daggers at each other. “Do I even want to know the history here?”

Sabin groaned. “Absolutely not.”

Vivi sniffed. “It’s ancient history.”

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