on.”
“Hold that thought.” Stefan disappeared through a side door, leaving her feet propped on his chair.
Why am I still sitting here?
He was being nice. Nice! What was she supposed to do with that? She felt mesmerized by him, and she didn’t like the feeling at all. A sigh filled with pure exasperation escaped her lips.
Stefan returned with a huge smile lighting his face, his dimples on full display.
Shit, shit, shit.
On a normal day he could make her heart race, but this new “nice, attentive Stefan” nearly gave her heart failure.
Oddly, he walked with one hand behind his back like he held a knife. Great, now she had visions of Stefan, the serial killer.
He toed his boots off and joined her in stocking feet. Then, as he reclaimed his chair and repositioned her feet on his knees, he brought his hand forward to reveal a pair of scissors. Before she could ask what they were for, he’d cut off a wide swath halfway around the gown’s hemline.
“What the hell are you doing now?” She tried to pull her feet back but he held her in place.
“Easy, now. I’m fixing the length of your dress. You can’t get those shoes back on and this way no one will even notice.”
“How am I supposed to explain that to your mother?”
“Mom? What’s she got to do with this?”
“Oh, never mind. I’m almost afraid to ask, but why did you take your boots off?”
“I can’t have you in stocking feet all by yourself so I’m joining you.” His dimples mocked her again as he finished the hem.
“I look ridiculous,” she whispered so no one would hear.
“You look magnificent. There, I left the hem long enough to cover your feet.” His eyes grew heated as they swept over her. “Absolute perfection.”
“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes.
“Is it really so hard to believe that I find you beautiful?” He looked confused.
When she didn’t answer, he took her hand and helped her to her feet. “How do your feet feel?”
“Much better. Thank you.” Surprisingly, she didn’t have a panic attack when he grabbed her hand. More than that, being nice to him and thanking him hadn’t been the bitter pill she expected. The therapy hypnosis must be working better than she dreamed.
Stefan led her toward the open terrace doors. A light breeze fluttered the decorative curtains, drawing couples into the darker, more private garden.
As he stepped from the historic mansion, the chilly night breeze blew his hair back and cooled his skin. Inhaling deeply, he closed his eyes and willed his pulse to return to normal. It didn’t. Not an iota of relief.
When he turned to face her, he looked…sad. She had never seen him behave like this. It was a bit unnerving to say the least.
Casting his gaze to their feet, he asked, “Am I really so offensive? You can hardly stand to be in my presence.”
He wouldn’t even look at her. Oh, this was bad. Now what should she do?
There was no way she was admitting her lifelong crush and disappointment. Or the degradation suffered in college. “No, I wouldn’t say offensive... and I prefer to not have this conversation in public.”
“Well, that’s something anyway.” This was going to be more difficult than he had imagined.
Chapter Seven
The Ball
There was no time like the present and he was determined to take on the challenge of winning his mate’s heart.
“It’s a beautiful night and the path is paved. I think we can risk it without shoes. Do you have your wrap? I’d appreciate it if you took a walk with me.”
A walk seemed innocent enough. She could manage that.
“Sure. Maybe it’ll help lessen the swelling in my feet if I move around,” she answered only half listening to the question.
There was something deep down niggling at her, something about his voice. She would figure it out if it was the last thing she did. She hated mysteries.
Halfway around the garden, he drew a deep breath and took her hand.
Instinctively El snatched hers back and
“Hold that thought.” Stefan disappeared through a side door, leaving her feet propped on his chair.
Why am I still sitting here?
He was being nice. Nice! What was she supposed to do with that? She felt mesmerized by him, and she didn’t like the feeling at all. A sigh filled with pure exasperation escaped her lips.
Stefan returned with a huge smile lighting his face, his dimples on full display.
Shit, shit, shit.
On a normal day he could make her heart race, but this new “nice, attentive Stefan” nearly gave her heart failure.
Oddly, he walked with one hand behind his back like he held a knife. Great, now she had visions of Stefan, the serial killer.
He toed his boots off and joined her in stocking feet. Then, as he reclaimed his chair and repositioned her feet on his knees, he brought his hand forward to reveal a pair of scissors. Before she could ask what they were for, he’d cut off a wide swath halfway around the gown’s hemline.
“What the hell are you doing now?” She tried to pull her feet back but he held her in place.
“Easy, now. I’m fixing the length of your dress. You can’t get those shoes back on and this way no one will even notice.”
“How am I supposed to explain that to your mother?”
“Mom? What’s she got to do with this?”
“Oh, never mind. I’m almost afraid to ask, but why did you take your boots off?”
“I can’t have you in stocking feet all by yourself so I’m joining you.” His dimples mocked her again as he finished the hem.
“I look ridiculous,” she whispered so no one would hear.
“You look magnificent. There, I left the hem long enough to cover your feet.” His eyes grew heated as they swept over her. “Absolute perfection.”
“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes.
“Is it really so hard to believe that I find you beautiful?” He looked confused.
When she didn’t answer, he took her hand and helped her to her feet. “How do your feet feel?”
“Much better. Thank you.” Surprisingly, she didn’t have a panic attack when he grabbed her hand. More than that, being nice to him and thanking him hadn’t been the bitter pill she expected. The therapy hypnosis must be working better than she dreamed.
Stefan led her toward the open terrace doors. A light breeze fluttered the decorative curtains, drawing couples into the darker, more private garden.
As he stepped from the historic mansion, the chilly night breeze blew his hair back and cooled his skin. Inhaling deeply, he closed his eyes and willed his pulse to return to normal. It didn’t. Not an iota of relief.
When he turned to face her, he looked…sad. She had never seen him behave like this. It was a bit unnerving to say the least.
Casting his gaze to their feet, he asked, “Am I really so offensive? You can hardly stand to be in my presence.”
He wouldn’t even look at her. Oh, this was bad. Now what should she do?
There was no way she was admitting her lifelong crush and disappointment. Or the degradation suffered in college. “No, I wouldn’t say offensive... and I prefer to not have this conversation in public.”
“Well, that’s something anyway.” This was going to be more difficult than he had imagined.
Chapter Seven
The Ball
There was no time like the present and he was determined to take on the challenge of winning his mate’s heart.
“It’s a beautiful night and the path is paved. I think we can risk it without shoes. Do you have your wrap? I’d appreciate it if you took a walk with me.”
A walk seemed innocent enough. She could manage that.
“Sure. Maybe it’ll help lessen the swelling in my feet if I move around,” she answered only half listening to the question.
There was something deep down niggling at her, something about his voice. She would figure it out if it was the last thing she did. She hated mysteries.
Halfway around the garden, he drew a deep breath and took her hand.
Instinctively El snatched hers back and
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