Page 75 of Her Dark Salvation

“Yes.”

He stared at me, waiting for more explanation than my one-word answer. I really needed that champagne.

“I’m working for Mr. DeVita as a consultant. Unfortunately, I can’t share more details than that. NDA.”

“Ah.”

I nodded.

He rocked onto the balls of his feet and back down.

Someone, anyone, please, beam me up.

He leaned forward. “I didn’t think you’d actually take an industry job. I figured you just needed a break to recharge your batteries before the fall semester.”

I bit the inside of my cheek for the second time that night and gave myself the moment I needed to remove the edge from my voice. “You figured wrong. I meant what I said in your office, and so far, the experience has been everything I hoped it would be.”

He grunted, his expression landing somewhere between skepticism and scorn. “No, something is definitely different.”

“Well.” I looked down at my hands, clasped in front of me, and nodded. Maybe it was time to throw a punch instead of just keeping my guard up. I met and held his eyes. “Turns out, I do have the temperament to work in corporate finance, and you may have gotten the chance to see that if you hadn’t passed me up for the Deloitte partnership.”

His jaw dropped, and my fake smile turned genuine with my small victory. “Have a wonderful night, Tim,” I said and resumed my quest for champagne, leaving a stunned Dean of Finance in my wake.

The bartender handed me a glass of champagne, and I downed half in one long drink. Not the most elegant move, but better than throwing back a shot. With my empty stomach, the bubbles immediately went to work. Perfect. Now to find somewhere I could fade into the background for a long minute.

“Hey, stranger.” Siobhán’s sultry voice cut through the din of the lobby, and my shoulders relaxed. I spun to face her, and my mouth hung open like it was on a broken hinge.

Her short blonde hair was smoothed into perfect pin-curl waves and cinched by a silver bandeau around her forehead that highlighted her sharp cheekbones. The silver threads of her fringed flapper dress and long strands of white pearls shimmered beneath the lights and hung on her body in a way that accentuated her lithe frame.God, what I wouldn’t give for legs like hers.They went on forever before ending in a pair of spike heels with t-straps, the past meeting the present in a style quintessentially Siobhán.

Heads turned as she sashayed to meet me, several men ogling her so obviously they might as well have had tongues lolling out of their mouths like cartoon wolves.

Her teeth gleamed white behind bright red lipstick, and she held out her hand. The other carried a half-full martini chock-full of olives.

“Anna!” She took my hand and gave me air kisses. “That dress! Girl, you look absolutely fabulous!”

“Thank you. But not as fabulous as you. Jesus, Siobhán.”

Her lilting laughter danced above the music and chatter. “Come on, now. What I wouldn’t give for curves like yours. Gorgeous! I, on the other hand, look like someone bombed a beanpole with glitter.”

I shook my head, laughing at her ridiculous assessment of herself. “The 1920s vibe really does suit you. You look like an Old Hollywood movie star.”

She waved a hand at me and sipped her martini. I followed suit with my champagne. We found an empty high top, set our clutches and drinks on the table, and stood facing the crowd.

“So,” she said in a low voice. My eyes darted to her. She wore a wicked smile, and one of her eyebrows was cocked in gentle judgment. “I saw you and Marco come in.”

Across the lobby, Marco stood with Vinnie and Mayor Kelson, his laughter and smile a mask of public persona. He glanced in our direction, and his dark eyes held mine for a moment before turning back to the formidable group.

“Have you slept with him yet?”

My head snapped to face her, and my neck and cheeks burned so hot, they probably matched my dress. “What? No!”

She laughed. “Could’ve fooled me the way he paraded you around like a trophy. That man was sending a message.”

“Ugh.” My shoulders sank like that might help me fade into the background. “He can be such a caveman.”

“I told you to be careful,” she said with reproach. “Too late now, though. That man has made up his mind.”

I huffed. “I’d like to think I have some say in the matter.”

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