Page 87 of Shattered Chords

“A little.”

“She hasn't eaten anything since breakfast,” Camille whispered, resting her delicate hand on her daughter’s shoulder.

“Why would you do such a thing?” I inquired.

“The dress wouldn’t fit,” she murmured.

I surveyed her, confused. The piece did look a bit too snug now that I could actually see it better in this light. “Why not buy a different size?”

In the corner of my eye, I saw Camille making a strange face. Like I’d asked the most preposterous thing.

“This was the last one,” Ally explained indignantly and jerked at the hem to straighten the fabric.

“Why not get a different one in your size?” I pressed, really wanting to hear the reasoning.

“Okay, that’s not a question you should be asking a stubborn fifteen-year-old girl,” Camille whispered in my ear, her palm sliding across my back as if she was trying to pacify me. It felt nice, the slender fingers pressed to my spine, burning through the black satin of my shirt.

“I liked this one,” Ally said, her chin lifted. “Now are we going to mingle or what?”

“Okay, Hendrix,” I agreed, examining the room. “Let’s go feed you and introduce you to some people.”

Heads started to turn as we strolled through the crowd toward the back terrace overlooking the ocean, where I spotted Cassy.

She was talking to her brother, a tall, lanky guy with a mop of honey-blond curls, who was wearing a tux. I felt the cool, salty breeze on my cheeks and neck, flowing in from the water. It was refreshing after the heat of the mountains.

“Dante! You’re here.” Cassy finally took notice of me. Others did as well, but they seemed to be terrified to strike up a conversation. They smiled and greeted me stiffly and I wondered if Frank had informed his guests about my being included on the guest list.

Or that we were actually talking to each other.

Because it seemed that only our lawyers were aware of the fact. Not the rest of our friends.

“How are you, darlin’?” I offered Cassy a cheek for an air kiss as she rushed over, her sharp gaze darting to Camille at my side and then to Ally.

“I’m glad you came.” She beamed.

“This looks like a fun party. Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” I shifted, my body drawing closer to the woman I’d brought with me tonight. I wasn’t sure why I hesitated to reveal her name. Perhaps keeping it to myself ensured she was only mine and no one else’s, but in my heart, I knew that even if we did get together, she’d never fully be mine. Ally would always come first.

“This is Camille, my date,” I finally said. “And this is Ally.” I paused for a second, my hand finding Camille’s. “She’s my... I guess protégé sounds about right.”

“Pleasure. I’m Cassy.” She smiled. “I’m so happy you could make it.”

Some small talk followed, which was interrupted by Frank’s appearance a couple of minutes later. He’d snuck up on us, all dressed up and chiseled and satisfied. Like a huge cat.

Ally was starstruck. She shook his hand for what seemed like a good hour. When Cassy finally whisked her and Camille away to show them the house, we retreated into Frank’s study.

Here, away from the noise of the party, he braved a question, “If I didn’t know better, I would’ve thought she was your long-lost sister. Since when are you dating women over twenty-five?”

“Careful, Frankie-boy,” I warned him, feeling a little offended. “You’re not the only one who gets to have a wholesome relationship.”

He looked me over, his keen blue eyes alert and serious. “She seems nice.”

“She is.”

“What does she do?”

“Wedding dresses.”

Frank laughed. It was a deep, hearty rumble. “You’ve changed.”

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