Page 71 of The Kiss Of Death
His towering height bent toward me, his eyes dropping to my lips. “Is that an offer?”
“If I’d have to give myself to someone, you’ll be the last person on my list.”
“Be careful with your words, Dalia, or I might kill them all off from your list so I can quickly climb to the top spot.”
“You’ll be too busy withEveline.”
“It has always been only you, Dalia, but you didn’t appreciate that.”
“You’re using me, and I’m sure you’ll stab me in the back any chance you get,” I attacked. “So, no, it doesn’t matter that I was jealous, I won’t—”
I bit my words. I had just admitted to him what he wanted to hear. He pulled back, straightening his spine and adjusting his tweed blazer like a businessman satisfied with his transaction.
“I have terrible taste in men. Don’t flatter yourself,” I said before he could interject. “You’re not the kind of boyfriend I’d ever introduce to my family.”
He raised an eyebrow. “We’ve already been introduced, and I must say, I made quite an impression on your father.”
“I need to meet back with my friends; they’re the kind of people you’ll never be.”
“Thank god for that. Who would want to be Sylas?”
“What’s your problem with him?” I gritted my teeth.
He shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets with a sigh. “He’s a coward, a puppy on a leash.”
“No wonder you have no friends.”
“I have friends.”
“You mean pawns,” I nearly shouted. “Anyway, I just came here to tell you that I analyzed the second score, but since you’ll be busy, I’ll just keep that info to myself.”
He jerked his head back with a low chuckle. “Are you blackmailing me, trying to hold me back? I’m impressed.”
He was right, I was, and I didn’t even know why. I couldn’t want him, right? “Do you know why the second music score is a piano one?”
“I have my ideas,” he said.
“Care to share them with me?”
“All in good time.”
I inhaled sharply, wishing I had my fencing foil with me to rip his heart out. “Okay, then, I believe this piano music score and the violin one forms a duet. They’re connected. If we play them both at the same time, it could create the final melody she composed.”
“Fine.”
“Fine?” I repeated. “Where are you going to find someone who plays piano, and—”
“The old opera house. Tomorrow.”
“The old opera house?” I screamed. “First, it’s closed and forbidden! Plus, in the afternoon, I have a rehearsal for the gala. Even though I’m only a backup, you have to be more precise than—”
But he was already gone, leaving me alone in the deserted amphitheater.
“Jerk,” I muttered.
My fingers traced the black bustier dress that hung on the rack like a hidden treasure, but my father’s disapproving voice echoed in my mind. He’d call it too sophisticated, too provocative.
“Okay, I think this is the one,” Yasmine’s voice echoed from the fitting room.
