Page 38 of Violet

“Your eyes are a pretty hazel, green, brown, and is that gold? I bet they’re spectacular in the light.” My heart squeezes and my stomach flips. He comes closer, his mouth so close. “And to answer your question, I’m definitely not a gentleman.”

For the first time in my life, I might faint, and it’s not from a panic attack. I’m not wracked with anxiety. I’m…excited, and?—

“You still owe me a dance, Violet.”

“I-I don’t dance.”

“The princess lies?” He fakes surprise. “I know you do. Don’t forget I saw you all sweaty after you raced down an alley from a dance studio. I’ve seen you in your workout clothes.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say but smile. “I’ve never met you before tonight.”

“Fall from your princess perch already?” Amusement dances in his eyes. “I get it. It wouldn’t have been proper for us to be together like that, alone. At night. Kind of like we are now.”

Panic suddenly grips me.

He’s absolutely right. We are alone, in the dark. An Omega and Alpha participating in the Season without a chaperone. People will talk. My chances at finding a mate could be ruined.

What was I thinking!

I jump to my feet, glancing around wildly for any passersby. My stomach somersaults. I have to leave. I have to go, right now, before someone sees us.

“Wait.” His hand snatches mine to stop me. His touch burns in, imprinting itself on me. “I didn’t say that to scare you.”

“It’s true, though. We shouldn’t be here. Together like this.”

Even though my heart is pounding, his grip on me is soft, no pressure, the kind of thing I can fall into. It grounds me in place.

“I don’t want you to go,” he says, voice lowering. “Not yet.”

I know he’s just being nice, but still… The slight plead to his words makes tingles race along my spine.

“Can I at least have that dance, Princess?” He pulls out a mini pad.

The light hits his face, and I peek at him. So handsome, I could swoon. And his eyes are a rich brown.

My purse shakes and pings. I pull out my own tablet, and there’s his name on my dance roster.

Stephan Ashford.

I glance at him again. “Really?”

“Really.”

His handwriting, even digitized, is strong.

“I can change it to my stage name, if you like.”

“I don’t think anyone else sees the mini pads.” I bite my lip. “You don’t have to be kind to me because of Heath.”

“Actually, I prefer to give Heath a hard time over anything else.” He catches my chin again and brings me to him. My breath is shallow, uneven, and my pulse poundshard. “If he knew I was here right now, talking to you, he’d kill me.”

“What? Why?”

“He already warned me to stay away from you.”

He did?

Stephan brings me right in, and I know he’s going to kiss me. “Don’t worry. He doesn’t have to know.”

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