Page 132 of Seducing Hope (The Hope Legacy)

I don’t react; having spotted him earlier, I knew he would talk to me at some point. Instead, I don’t look away from the, as yet, unidentified pink layer, not wanting to drop it on my dress.

“Why would I ever stop, Dalton?” I chirp, popping the pink layer in my mouth and scrunching up my face. Salmon, yuck! Nothing good ever came of whipping fish into mousse. I take a sip of my champagne, the light fruity bubbles cleansing my mouth. I eye the final brown layer with suspicion and promise retribution should it let me down like its predecessor. Taking it between my lips carefully, I find it’s crunchy—oh, cracker! I pop the rest in my mouth and frown. A salmon cheesecake? And Aaden thinks they pay chefs top money to put flavors together? Maybe I’ll steal one and demand he taste it.

I look up and quirk an eyebrow at Dalton. “Oh, you’re still here.”

“I didn’t want to interrupt you and your date.” Dalton waves a hand toward the other canapés I’ve perched on a table next to the window.

“Thanks for your understanding. As you can see, we haven’t finished making out yet.”

I pick up the next one, a ball encased in pastry. I lift it to my lips with the intention of nibbling the pastry off first.

“Listen, Natia, we need to talk.”

With a sigh, I put the pastry ball down, frustrated at the delay of finding out the mysterious filling. I wipe my hands on a napkin as he moves to sit on the seat at my feet. I push my legs out, blocking him. His jaw tics. Maybe he’ll get the hint and go away?

He grits his teeth. “Natia.”Didn’t think so.

“Dalton.”

“Me and Jessica, we’re over.”

“I’m aware.”

His eyes widen. “Why haven’t you come to see me?”

His ego knows no bounds. I look at him for the first time; his gray eyes are boring into mine. I used to find them attractive—now, they look cold and flat. I can’t help but compare them to the complex depths of the golden eyes that haunt my dreams. He’s dressed in the obligatory black tux; he’s filled out, but kept his body fit. I have to admit, he still looks good—too bad for him, I’m no longer interested. Raising my gaze to his face, I find him wearing a smug smile, believing I’ve just checked him out. Channeling my inner Archan, I arch an eyebrow. Dalton narrows his eyes.

“I’ve been busy… washing my hair.”

He pushes his hands in his pockets and grins. I realize with some satisfaction, he does nothing for me—literally, no sadness, no longing, no lust, no anger. Nothing. “But you came tonight knowing I would be here.”

The eye roll I give him is like a strong reflex. “Are you confused? You came to my ball, not the other way around.”

He chuckles. “Your smart mouth has gotten sassier. I like it.”

I snort. “Nothing I’ve done or become is for your approval, Dalton. Find some brainless twit who will forgive the fact that you love yourself more than you love them.”

His lips quirk up. “And you’re wearing my favorite color because…?”

“Because the dress code is black. That must mean every woman here is dressed to get your attention—you’re that much of a catch, way too good for me. Now take your cheating ass away from my corner and go and chat up someone interested.” I raise my glass in the direction of the room and take a sip.

“Cheating? I didn’t cheat—you left.”

Spitting the champagne back in the glass to avoid choking, my eyes widen as he remains serious. I tilt my head, wondering if he’s had his memory tampered with or if he’s just this stupid. His eyes flash in satisfaction. Ah, he’s goading me into an argument—apparently a shared technique among men to get women to speak to them. Except, for it to work, you must have some passion for the man demanding that attention in the first place. Dalton’s mistake is I don’t even feel hate for him—there’s nothing, nada, zilch. It’s freeing in a way I didn’t understand, realizing that part of my heart has healed.

The smile that grows across my face matches the intensity of the scowl on his. “What’s the problem, Natia? Have you forgotten what it’s like to be fucked by someone who makes you scream out their name?”

“No, but I’ve finally found someone who can.”

He clenches his fists and scoffs. “I see… Sure. And where, may I ask, is this man?” He surveys the room, challenging me.

“Right here,” a deep, smooth voice purrs. My head snaps up to Archan, my mouth parting slightly.

Shit. I had no idea he was here.

He offers me his arm. “Care to dance?” I give him a huge smile as I initiate our mental link.

“Your timing is impeccable.”

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