DOM PACED in Lana’s living room, waiting to try to talk her out of this madness. Terry was more at ease, lounging on the sofa watching the television with the sound turned off. Colin was there in spirit only, because he had a dinner booked for that evening, but he had told Dom not to do anything he wouldn’t. Dom took that to mean he could not actually chain Lana down and forbid her to go. Colin was always more temperate in his approach.
Lana pulled back the curtain that guarded her bedroom and came out to show herself off. She wore a dress of floaty chiffon. The neckline was daringly slit to the waist, but her chest was mostly concealed by wispy layers of silk draping in soft pleats gathered in at the waistband. A chunky necklace with faceted glass gems of greens and blues hugged her throat, and her hair was twisted into an updo, loose curls framing her face. The skirt swirled gracefully around her legs like sea-foam when she gave the dwarfs a spin. “Do you approve?”
“Of how you look, yes. Of what you’re doing, no way.” Dom cracked his knuckles loudly enough to make sure everyone within a two-block radius heard the crunch.
“I like the contrast of the hardness of the necklace against the softness of the fabric.” Terry used the remote to turn off the TV.
“Dopey, did you just offer an unprompted editorial fashion comment?” Lana raised her hand to touch the necklace. “Don’t tell me Martine has you hooked on fashion.”
Ignoring her question, Terry stabbed an accusatory finger at the neckline. “However, you’re showing far too much skin for a first date.”
“Prude.”
“It’s the latest trend, Terry, but we’re not here to discuss the pros and cons of her outfit.” Dom frowned at Terry and then he turned on Lana. “This date is another story. Have you gone off your trolley? Showing that much skin on a first date?” Dom threw his hands in the air in disgust. “Back up, wait, wait, wait. Don’t even bother to answer that. I don’t care about your dress. What the hell are you thinking even having a first date to begin with?”
“Barmy.” Terry circled his finger at his temple. “She’s living in a fairy tale.”
“I’m simply going out for dinner.” Twisting around, Lana angled to see her reflection in the mirror over the fireplace. She adjusted the necklace so it lay flat. “We’ve both agreed that nothing is going to happen.”
Dom blocked the door as if she was going to make a break for it. “Men always want something to happen. If you think nothing will, you’re out of touch with reality.”
“That is sort of the definition of a fairy tale.” Terry spoke in an undertone.
“You don’t know anything about him.” Dom’s voice rose.
“Neither do you,” Lana pointed out. “But by all means, come along. I already told Daniel to expect it. As long as I can come along on your next date with Gilles.”
“Whatever for?” Dom stared.
“You cockblock me, I cockblock you. It’s only fair.”
Terry looked at Dom. “If we’re there, she can’t do the nasty.”
“That’s the definition of cockblock. And I can’t do it even if I wanted to. I didn’t shave my legs.”
“Oh, so that’s why you offered. And here I thought you were being nice to Dom.” Terry bent and raked his hand up her leg. “Good thing she’s wearing stockings. She ain’t lying about the gams. Stubble city.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Dom rolled his eyes in exasperation.
“Right, you’re a poofter, you wouldn’t know this. Tell him, Lana.”
“Birth control device for a first date. If you don’t shave your legs, you won’t take off your clothes.”
“Knowing you didn’t shave makes me feel a little better.” Terry blew out a soundless whistle from between pursed lips. “What makes me feel worse is that you even thought of it. That means you’re thinking of it, and once the thinking about it starts, safety flies out the window.”
“What is with you guys? First Colin tries to sign me up on a dating site and you, Terry, tell me not to give up hope, and now you’re having a cow over one date?”
“I’m having second thoughts. It’s easier to cheer you on when the date is hypothetical, but this is the real thing,” Terry said. “I’m starting to hyperventilate a little.”
“Deep breaths, Ter.” Lana patted him on the back.
“Did you tell this guy yet?” Dom narrowed his eyes at Lana, although he found it hard to keep up the menace factor. She looked so pretty.
“His name is Daniel.”
“And did you tell him?”
Lana turned away from Dom to look at herself in the mirror again. “Maybe I shouldn’t go after all.”
“So that’s a no.” Dom knew her well enough to know that. She never could figure out a way to do it. Not that there was an easy way.
Lana picked up her evening bag and played with the clasp. “I could tell him when I show up.”
“Right, that’ll fly. Hi, fella, thanks for the invitation to dinner. By the way, I’m a guy pretending to be a girl. Shall we dine?” Dom threw up his hands in disgust. “What could possibly go wrong after that?”
Lana giggled at that scenario. “Maybe I’ll try to clue him in a bit more subtly.”
Terry suddenly relented. “You never go anywhere but Colin’s. You haven’t even been out to dinner with us in a proper restaurant in over three years.”
Exasperated, Dom glared back and forth at both of them. “Back to the business at hand, please. Lana, you’re an adult. Much as I’d like to lock you in your room and throw away the key until you’re seventy, I can’t forbid you to meet this guy. But I’m asking you as a friend who worries about you, after everything we’ve said, are you still going to meet him?”
“Yes.” Finally Lana stopped playing with her bag and looked up, her mouth set in a mulish line. “I know I’m taking a chance, Dom. I know this whole thing is my fault for being different. I’m under no delusion that Daniel is going to ride in on a white horse and sweep me off to a castle and we’ll live happily ever after. I could be wrong, but I don’t think he’s going to harm me if he finds out. I don’t plan on telling him tonight either. I just want to go out on one date. One date! Is that too much to ask? He doesn’t know my last name. I didn’t give him my phone number. I just want one night with a man who looks at me as if I’m the most beautiful, desirable woman in the world. And after Cinderella gets back from the ball, she’ll put on her designer rags and go back to her fashion drudgery without complaint. Sorry, Happy, I’m going.”
“It’s not your fault. You’re fine as you are, it’s other people who are crazy.” Dom wished she could have everything she wanted, but he was still afraid. He gave her a reluctant smile. “I get it and I hope the date turns out as you wish, but if you’re going, we’re going too. We’ll be right behind you, so don’t do anything you don’t want us to see you doing.”
“Yes, Mum.” Lana’s cheeks turned pink. “Still going.”
“This is no laughing matter, Snow White.” Giddy. She was just plain giddy and not thinking straight, but that’s why Dom tried to talk her out of it. His little arguments hadn’t worked, and now it was his job to keep her safe. “We’re not trying to spoil your fun. You know we’re on your side.”
“Always have been,” Terry said. “Even if it doesn’t always sound like it.”
“Daniel may already know too much.” Dom’s frown creased his forehead. “We may have to kill him.”
“That’s a bit extreme, isn’t it?” Terry stuck a finger into his collar and swallowed audibly.
“Grow a set,” Dom snapped. “I wasn’t speaking literally. We’ll do whatever it takes to—”
“You murder him before I meet him and you will curse this day for the rest of your lives, got it, dwarfs?” Lana pointed at each of them in turn and gave them a stony glare.
“Let’s hope that’s the only reason we curse this day.” Dom caught the hint of steel in her voice. Even worse, Lana glowed with anticipation, and he hadn’t seen her like that for a long time. He didn’t want to be the one to snuff it out. “If you’re going to show off that dress, we should go, then. I have a taxi waiting downstairs.”
Lana laughed. “So you knew I was going anyway?”
“I know you better than you think, Lana. You be careful or I will never forgive you.”
“I’ll be careful. I promise.” Her smile faded. “Dom, I know what you’re trying to say. Yes, he followed me, but he apologized for it. He didn’t do it again. When I talked to him, I looked into his eyes.”
“So he’s got nice eyes,” Terry muttered.
“He does, but if you don’t trust him, you can trust me,” Lana said. “I can take care of myself now.”
“I hope so, Lana.” Dom was only slightly comforted by the hug Lana gave him.
KNOWING TWO of the dwarfs were dogging her footsteps as she reached the rendezvous did help Lana’s confidence. Daniel was waiting outside, leaning against the brick building. What he wasn’t doing was checking his watch and looking around nervously. In fact, he looked self-assured, altogether too much so to suit Lana. She decided to let Daniel wait a bit longer to pay him for that.
Daniel’s casual pose did nothing to showcase his obvious athleticism. He looked quick, like he ran or played sports, but the times she had been close to him, Daniel had moved his hands with deliberate care, and he stayed outside the invisible circle she’d drawn around herself. That sensitivity increased her level of comfort with him.
Every time Lana saw him, she liked him more. Even with Daniel’s face in repose, he always looked as if he were smiling or about to. If only they were already lovers so she could leap into Daniel’s arms and beg to be taken back to his place as he’d suggested. Even though the thought of putting on such a show for the dwarfs made her snicker, Lana would not be going to Daniel’s place any time soon. Especially now, as the dwarfs would probably dart out of the shadows, latch onto her, and refuse to let go. The idea of them all roiling about in a slapstick tussle made Lana giggle again.
Perhaps Dom was right after all. This meeting with Daniel was contrary to the rules she lived her life by. A shiver of fear chilled her, and she pulled her jacket tighter. She could still change her mind, go home, and hope Daniel got the message. The dwarfs would celebrate. She could probably even get them to pay the cab fare. After all, Daniel had said that if the answer was no, he would go away and eat worms.
What madness had driven her to come? Lana looked down at her dress and sighed. Was it really as simple as Dom had suggested? A desire to show off this outfit? Of course not. Whatever drew Lana to this man was potent enough to override a lifetime of caution. Might as well go through with it now that she was here. Maybe the euphoria bubbling up inside would die down after more contact with Daniel. If absence made the heart grow fonder, what was the opposite? Familiarity breeds contempt?
The smell of grilled steak reminded her how hungry she was. Finally, Lana took a deep breath and prepared to meet her fate. She stepped out of the shadows and went to meet Daniel, painfully aware of the dwarfs watching her every move.
THE LATER she was, the more importance this meeting took on. The last time Daniel had asked a person out with no motive other than attraction had been very long ago. Chances were that Lana wouldn’t show up. That she had agreed at all surprised him after her statement that she didn’t date. He dared to hope that perhaps she was more attracted than she seemed.
A glimpse of one of the dwarfs trying to conceal himself in the shadows while ignoring the light shining on his feet alerted Daniel to Lana’s presence before he saw her. First came the click of her heels on the pavement, and then he breathed in a whiff of her scent before turning to face her.
“Bonsoir.” Lana smiled at him.
“Bonsoir.” In her heels, she was as tall as he, so they stood eye to eye. “I hope you’re hungry.”
The comment hung in the air between them, full of unasked potential.
“I often am at this time of the evening.”
“I like your outfit,” Daniel said.
“I do too.” She smoothed the fabric of her skirt with one hand. “Merci.”
“I reserved a table. They’re holding it for us.”
“Really? They never do that.” She allowed him to guide her into the restaurant.
“I was very polite when I asked.”
She laughed. “I’m certain you were. It probably had nothing to do with a certain number of euros changing hands.”
Daniel grinned. “Not at all. Should I have gotten a table for your friends?”
“We’ll let them manage on their own.”
When Daniel caught the concierge’s eye, he smiled and came to lead them to their table.
Daniel held Lana’s chair for her and helped her remove her jacket. Then he rounded the table and sat facing her. “Shall I order wine?”
“Are you hoping to get me drunk?” Lana picked up the menu and peeked at him over the top.
“I shan’t need to. When you say yes, I want you sentient, alert, and completely willing.”
“So far I’m in no danger of succumbing.”
“I’ll win you over.”
“That sounds cocky.”
The waiter came over with a wine menu and asked what they wanted to order.
Daniel consulted the menu. He looked at Lana, eyebrows raised. “Do you have a preference for red or white?”
“Red would be fine.”
Daniel made his selection and handed the menu back to the waiter.
“Not cocky. Confident.” He smiled at her. “What have you got to lose? At the very least I will treat you to a nice meal, even if the conversation flags.”
The smile left her eyes and her chin went up defiantly. “And then you plan to collect in return for the price of the dinner?”
“You’re in the driver’s seat. If you tell me to go away, you’ll never see me again,” he reminded her gently. “Besides, you’re worth more than that.”
The dimples in her cheeks quivered into existence. “Yes, I am.” She touched the choker at her throat.
“That is a magnificently decadent necklace. Is it real?”
“Real costume jewelry. Alas, the crown jewels are in the wash.”
Her fingers trembled a bit. Daniel pretended not to notice. The waiter returned and poured the wine for Daniel’s approval. He took a sip and nodded.
After the waiter ecstatically described the choices for that evening and had taken their orders, Daniel waited a moment before saying, “You should be decked out in emeralds and rubies and gold, with your coloring.”
“Not on my budget.”
“You never told me what you do for work.”
“You never asked.” Lana took a sip of her wine and smirked at him.
“I’m asking now,” Daniel said when it became clear she wasn’t going to offer the information unprompted.
“I work for a fashion magazine.”
“Editor in chief? Stylist? Photographer?”
A note of derision sounded in her laugh. “The very subbest of subeditors.”
“Do you like it?”
A fire of enthusiasm lit her eyes. “Fashion is my life. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
“I could tell. You have a certain je ne sais quoi that is beyond beauty,” Daniel said.
Her eyes widened in surprise. “What a lovely compliment.”
“It’s only the truth. And what does a subeditor do?”
“I bring the coffee and occasionally contribute a paragraph of musings upon the fashionable vagaries of socks.”
“Socks can be very important.” Daniel tried not to laugh. In his wildest dreams, and he’d had some about her, he’d never pictured them discussing socks on their first date.
“When you consider socks are almost invariably covered by shoes, their impact is greatly diminished. Even more so under boots. But it was charming of you to say so.”
“Not at all, when you consider socks are the gateway to shoes. And besides, we all take our shoes off at some point, displaying our socks to the world. When we get home, we kick off our shoes and sigh in relief. Shoes can be uncomfortable, but socks generally are not.”
“Unless your toe is poking through a hole.” Lana’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Socks can be a decorative statement and come in a vast variety of colors and patterns. They can be chic or amusing or practical or all at once. Or completely impractical, for instance, toe socks. Colored socks with suits are very in for men right now.”
“Already you have persuaded me to question my own sartorial choices in socks, so you may consider yourself influential in your field. Until now, I have tended to stick with dull neutrals. What should I wear to impress you?”
“That is supposing we should ever reach terms where I am in a position to evaluate your socks,” Lana said.
“When,” he corrected her and then stretched out his foot. “See? Plain black.”
“Oh, but neutrals don’t have to be boring. Recently I saw a men’s sock in tones of gray with a subtle contrasting line of navy running vertically up the outside of the leg, displaying three discreet turquoise circles judiciously spaced at pleasing intervals along the line.”
“Your attention to detail fascinates me. Clearly you’ve made a study of the subject. Do you knit the dwarfs socks for Christmas?”
Lana threw her head back and laughed. “No, I usually find a nonfiction book for Happy, because he’s a journalist, and a bottle of wine for Dopey. For Bashful, whatever the latest food trend dictates: a chateaubriand or perhaps a white truffle from Italy. He is a chef.”
Score one on the reporter who followed him, although not for the reason he’d thought. Daniel gave himself a mental fist pump. “I would have thought the wine would go to Bashful.”
“I wouldn’t dare choose wine for him and earn his unending contempt if I guessed wrong.”
“And what does Dopey do for work?”
“He’s a real estate agent. He works mainly with expats.”
“Wish I’d known him when I moved here.”
“You don’t know him now.”
“True.” Daniel straightened his tie. “Do you dress yourself?”
“What?” Lana stared at him in surprise.
“Your appearance is so incredibly soignée, I find it difficult to believe you’ve been relegated to meditations on the lowly sock. I mean, you certainly are knocking mine off.” He gave her an appreciative glance. “But your attention to the color and fit of your clothing and accessories is superb. And you’ve mastered proportion, one of the most difficult elements of dress that seems to elude many women.”
Lana raised her brows in surprise. “It’s not often I meet someone who understands and values proportion.”
“Does that mean I get a reward for noticing?”
“What have you in mind?”
“Tell me what you really do.” A flutter of nerves beat a tattoo in his palms. Maybe she would reveal one of her secrets at last. He found it hard to believe anyone as intelligent could remain a subeditor for long.
She laughed in capitulation. “Clever of you. Actually I’m a stylist. I analyze garments and accessories such as shoes, jewelry, and bags. Then I come up with a concept and direct the photo shoots for the magazine. I work with the hair and makeup people, choose the models, and make sure the garments are fitted to them. But I did get my start as a subeditor, and my first assignment really was about socks.”
“I bow to your credentials. Could I ask you to direct me to a purveyor of socks interesting enough to meet with your approval?”
“That I could do.”
The waiter arrived with their food.
THE QUIET street was both a relief and a danger to Lana when they emerged. The restaurant had been too crowded for any but the most surface conversation. She had enjoyed their verbal jousting, but now what?
She rubbed one stubbly leg against the other to reinforce that there would be no going back to either place, no matter how comfortable she might feel with this man. Horrified that the thought even occurred to her, Lana remained silent. She should probably say good night and go straight home.
“Could I entice you to join me in a walk by the river?” Daniel asked.
“What a perfect suggestion.” Shocked at her own words, Lana bit her lip. What was she thinking? Nothing was more romantic—or more perilous—than walking by the Seine at night in spring. The air was a bit cooler tonight than was comfortable, and she should have used that as an excuse to refuse. Instead Lana buttoned her jacket. “I should like to, although I would rather not hike all the way there in these.” She turned her foot to show off the heel. If she had to run later, better save her feet now.
“We’ll grab a taxi. There’s a stand around the corner.” Daniel led the way and opened the door to the first car in the lineup.
After they got in, Daniel spoke to the driver. “Un moment, s’il vous plaît.” Then he twisted to look out the rear window.
“Why are we just sitting here?”
Daniel pointed through the window. “Waiting for the dwarfs to engage a cab for themselves. I thought of reserving one for them, but then I thought they might suspect me of directing the driver to take them somewhere else.”
“It is only polite to wait for them.” Lana turned around and tried not to smirk when she saw her friends bundling into the next taxi. “You don’t mind them tailing us?”
“Not at all. If it amuses them, it doesn’t bother me. My intentions are strictly honorable.” Daniel reached for Lana’s hand but then checked himself.
Pretending she hadn’t noticed, Lana took a mirror out of her bag and touched up her lipstick. Her heart was pounding.
“Ah, we are all ready now.” Daniel leaned forward to address the driver. “Allons-y, s’il vous plaît. Pont de l’Archevêché.”
Lana held up her mirror to catch sight of the cab tailing them. “Only two of them are on duty. Colin works nights.”
“My loss is his customers’ gain, I’m sure.”
“He is a very fine chef.” Lana put away the mirror and lipstick. “His dinner parties are very exclusive, and reservations are out three months.”
“Perhaps we should go sometime,” Daniel said.
That idea gave Lana a fit of the giggles. She pictured Dom and Terry attending and glowering over the table at her and Daniel….
The taxi ride was a short one. When they arrived, Daniel paid the driver and asked him to wait.
Obviously a quick learner, Daniel offered his hand instead of simply reaching for Lana’s. Thankful for the barrier of her gloves, Lana took Daniel’s hand. The minute she did so, she realized her mistake. The heat of Daniel’s hand burned through the thin leather and set her on fire. Suddenly Lana was grateful for the camouflage of her skirt, something she usually didn’t have to worry about. She tried to focus on the glint of moonlight on the water. And how a cold shower would feel right now.
Daniel swung their clasped hands slightly as they walked, while keeping to a pace suitable for a person in very high heels.
“I love Notre-Dame at night.” Lana hoped Daniel hadn’t noticed how fast she was breathing. “The way the lights reflect off the surface of the water and the boats float by slowly on the river.”
“I love Paris in the springtime,” Daniel started to sing softly. He had a good voice.
“An American in Paris,” Lana teased.
“Awkward lot, aren’t we?” Daniel gave her a smile of agreement.
“So far you have put the lie to the myth of the ugly American.”
She was relieved when Daniel started to hum again so they didn’t have to talk. Lana suddenly remembered the dwarfs were watching them. Devoutly hoping that they wouldn’t feel impelled to rescue her at the sight of their clasped hands and start a brawl, Lana kept walking, even though street brawls could be fun and she knew how to run in heels if the gendarmes showed up.
When they reached the center of the bridge, Daniel paused to lean against the stone railing. He turned to face Lana. “I would like to paint you.”
Lana took a step back. “As in, take off my clothes to model for you?
“Your face. Your beautiful face.”
The way Daniel studied her with no judgment in his eyes was new for Lana.
“I’m staring because I love to watch the way your face changes. You turn your head a little and you look very different.”
His considered answer calmed Lana. “Sorry. I thought it was just a cheap come-on.”
“Haven’t you realized yet I’m not like other men?”
“So far you have behaved yourself rather well,” Lana admitted. “Next you’re going to say you don’t want to fuck me, and that we shall just be friends.”
Daniel grinned at her choice of words. “Oh, I do want to fuck you. I most definitely do. But not for bragging rights after storming the citadel. This isn’t about conquest. I want you to be sure when you say yes.”
“You seem certain it’s going to be yes.” A bit miffed by Daniel’s presumption, Lana almost turned to go, but curiosity got the better of her. “How were you planning to seduce me?”
“I would listen to your voice when you tell me stories about how you grew up. Maybe go to a museum or on a picnic. Or maybe we could picnic in the museum and get kicked out for irreverence. Sing love songs to you. Visit old bookstores and search for books on art and fashion. I would eat garlic whenever you did so we could kiss anyway. I would fall on my ass to make you laugh. And then I’d take you to Henri’s to remind you that we went out for coffee when we first met.”
“Are you always this silly?”
“Before I met you, I pretended to be a surly, misunderstood bad boy. Worked like a charm.” Ditching his perfect posture, Daniel slouched and put his hands in his pockets. He gave her a sullen scowl.
When Lana laughed, he laughed with her. “What a droll man you are.” Dangerous how much she liked him. “What would you sing?”
“A song that only you can hear because only you make me want to sing it.” Daniel started to hum and held out both hands in invitation.
Against her usual instinct of immediate flight, Lana stepped into the circle of Daniel’s arms and swayed with him, wishing she could see the romantic picture of them dancing by the river. The scent of early lilies and grass wafted over them as they danced in the moonlight.
Daniel held her loosely. Lana knew she could escape if she wanted to—but she didn’t want to.
When Daniel leaned closer, Lana stiffened for a moment and felt him hesitate. Curious as to what he would do, she forced her muscles to relax. Daniel closed his eyes and leaned in closer. Even though Daniel’s breath was warm on her face and something hard and wonderful was impressing its shape against Lana’s thigh, she backed away.
Daniel opened his eyes. His chest rose and fell quickly, but his arms were relaxed and he made no attempt to constrain Lana. “Would it be okay for me to kiss you now?”
The brief moment of elation dissipated. Lana realized she couldn’t wait any longer to make her revelation.
“Wait, Daniel, I need to tell you something first.” Her heart racing, Lana was about to blurt out the truth when another taxi pulled up to the curb behind theirs and the horn sounded sharply.
Lana twisted in Daniel’s arms to look. “The dwarfs.”
“Seems like your coach has arrived.” Daniel released Lana and stepped back. His face was flushed with arousal, but he was smiling.
“I’d better go before it turns back into a pumpkin and the mice get restless. I hate to run in glass slippers. They tend to shatter.”
“I wouldn’t want you to get splinters. I hope that’s regret I hear in your voice.”
Conscious of the dwarfs’ beady stares, Lana took a step toward the taxi. Was that frustration in Daniel’s eyes or something else? “It wasn’t so bad for a first date.”
“Does that mean there will be another?”
“Are you asking?”
“It’s an open invitation.” Daniel shifted his gaze when the door of the taxi swung open.
Dom hopped out with a scowl on his face, but it wasn’t directed at her. Instead he started aggressively toward Daniel, taking up a stance between him and Lana. “Time to go, Lana.”
Hands raised in a placating gesture, Daniel backed up another step. He appeared more amused than angry. “I won’t stand in your way.”
Speaking quietly so Daniel couldn’t hear her, Lana muttered, “Dom, you’re a dick.” She turned back to Daniel. “I need to go with my friends now. Thank you for a wonderful time tonight.”
“Will you call me?”
Her irritation with the dwarfs melted at Daniel’s obvious eagerness, and she smiled. “Perhaps.”
Dom backed up, bumping into Lana and herding her toward the taxi where Terry waited outside, never taking his gaze off Daniel.
“Au revoir.” Daniel took a step forward.
“Adieu.” Lana felt a tug on her jacket and turned to give Terry the finger. He made a face at her and gestured for her to get in.
Lana seated herself in the taxi and swung her legs in. Before she could say another word, Dom and Terry piled in next to her, squeezing her into the far corner and slammed the door shut.
Terry leaned forward to speak to the driver. “Allez.”
As they drove off, Lana twisted around to look at Daniel through the back window. He stood there watching for as long as she could see him.
“WHAT THE hell were you thinking?” Dom forced the words out past his clenched teeth in English, hoping the driver didn’t know enough to follow.
“What the hell were you thinking?” Lana’s answer was a snarl of resentment.
“We told you not to kiss him!” Terry was outraged.
“Well, you were there. He may have attempted to score, but our lips did not touch, remember?”
“But the rest of you was. He had his arms around you!”
She spoke through clenched teeth. “I did not get in this cab because of anything you did or might do. Don’t flatter yourselves that you came storming to the rescue. I panicked, all right? I was just about to tell him when you guys rolled up at the wrong time and screwed everything up.”
Dom was skeptical. “What were you going to say?”
“I hadn’t figured it out yet. You distracted me.”
“Maybe you could do it by text.” Terry’s voice was nervous. “Then you wouldn’t be right there where he could reach you when he found out.”
“Brilliant, Terry. Then it’s in print and he can tell the world.” Dom’s anxiety died at the anguish on Lana’s face. “I’m not sure there is a great way to deliver this kind of news, but at least if you just say it, the words are only air and gone in a breath.”
“I never thought it would come to this.” Tears welled up in Lana’s eyes, and she brushed them away. “I thought I could have fun for just one fucking night, just one!”
Leaning forward across Terry, Dom touched her arm, but she pulled away. “I guess we overstepped a little, but we worry about you. We love you, Lana. We don’t want you to be unhappy.”
“It’s kind of hard to tell from this angle, boys.” Lana stared out the window. “I was happy. For a little while.”
“But we also don’t want you to be dead.” When she wouldn’t look his way, Dom retreated into his corner. Maybe he could write out something for her to say, but there really was no good way to reveal this secret. She was upset and pissed. At them. Mostly him, if he was honest. And Terry was glaring at him too.
LANA REFUSED to kiss the dwarfs good-bye when they dropped her off. She was furious, both for the interruption and for the warnings that reinforced that she was a freak that no one could ever want. For once they were tactful and didn’t insist on accompanying her upstairs.
Safely inside her flat, Lana hurled her bag across the room and choked out an angry sob. She was a freak, by “normal” standards, and nobody could want her, but the dwarfs were supposed to be on her side.
And what about her instincts! They should have been telling her to run from Daniel as fast as she could, but they seemed to be malfunctioning. She couldn’t believe Daniel meant to harm her, but the consequences for guessing wrong were dire.
Daniel didn’t know the truth, and who knew how he would react when he found out. That was why the dwarfs had tailed them tonight.
Without forcing his way and in the most charming manner possible, Daniel had already managed to invade Lana’s perfect, lonely little world. After a lifetime building thick walls to hide behind, somehow Daniel seemed to have already stormed the castle. The thought terrified Lana—and thrilled her. How had she allowed this to happen?
The feel of Daniel’s arms around her, the intent look in his eyes when he leaned in for a kiss—a kiss that Lana wanted desperately…. She wrapped her arms around herself and held on tightly. Her throat was tight as she fought her tears. More than attention, Lana needed someone to want her.
Looking down, Lana took a swat at the cock tenting the skirt of her dress. Frustrated by her body’s betrayal, she tore off her clothing and fled into the bathroom. She turned on the cold water in the shower and leaned against the wall, goose bumps popping out on her skin. She cried in silence over a man she really didn’t know and couldn’t have.