old-school Sinatra crooning ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ over the surround sound system. Waiters are passing trayed hors d'oeuvres as they move unobtrusively around the room in head-to-toe black.
The ballroom itself is stunning, set up for a soiree more than a gala, though I could see fancy gowns swirling over the marble floor. But tonight, there is a variety of seating areas, plush couches and cozy armchairs set up on Persian rugs, giving an air of intimacy to the formal space.
It’s mighty Roman, the academic in my mind whispers, and I have to hide my chuckle. It does look mighty Roman, like someone had taken the idea of a Roman dinner party, an evening of entertainment thrown by a senator and updated it to the twenty-first century.
Nathan is quite obviously the man of the hour, smoothly gliding from one group to the next, with greetings and conversations that make me think he’s had his fair share of practice at things like this too.
I’m surprised. I figured from what Claire said that he’d be rougher around the edges, but if he’s even half as adept with a rifle as he is here, I’m sure the battlefields of the world are glad he’s gone. They’re safer now.
Through it all, he takes me with him, including me in the conversation and laughing at my light jokes, even teasing me here and there. It feels oddly comfortable, like there’s a knowledge between us that’s developed over time, not just two people faking it for the duration of a party.
If I’m honest, I can see the dark charisma lurking under the polite façade Nathan wears. It’s not a slick charmer persona like Caleb has, single-minded in its purpose of pursuing pleasure.
Nathan is colder, pragmatic, but the magnetism is there, pulling me in all the same. Like a spider to the fly, he’s creating a sense of safety, of connection, of desire.
Though that may be just on my side as he’s been nothing but professional. But every time he touches the small of my back, directing me this way or that, a buzz runs through me. And once, when his touch was the slightest bit low, I had hoped he was going to cup my ass. But he hadn’t, and I’d mentally yelled at myself for being a stupid hormone-controlled idiot and forced myself to refocus on Claire’s assignment.
So far, I’ve got nothing though. Beyond a bunch of names, some minor squabbling between the Stone brothers, and a peek behind the veil of Stone Manor, I’m drawing blanks on intel.
The air in the room changes. A big, burly beast of a man enters loudly, asking, “Where’s Stone?”
Even if Claire hadn’t shown me Nikolai Romanov’s picture, I would’ve known not to mess with this man. There’s a brashness to him, from the suit that’s just a touch too loud to be considered polite or fashionable to his eyes, just a bit wild, and his carelessness for societal norms bordering on uncouth even though he’s rather attractive in an odd way with high cheekbones and full, dark hair. But mostly, you can sense the danger rolling off him. No, he’s a man I should leave alone. Definitely.
But I’m disappointed when Nathan doesn’t lead me over for an introduction, knowing that though my mind screams no, this is exactly what Claire sent me here for.
“If you’ll excuse me for a moment, Kitty. I need to speak to Mr. Romanov.”
He lays a chaste kiss to my cheek, more French goodbye than personal, but my cheek burns where his lips touched my skin. And a dark, deeply sensual space in my core clenches as well, wanting more of his kisses.
Suddenly bereft, I make my way to the bar, ordering a tonic and lime. As I wait for the bartender to make my drink, my eyes scan the room, following Nathan and Nikolai. They’re sitting in a vignette across the room, and though their conversation seems friendly enough, Nathan has a slight tension to him that wasn’t there earlier.
I need to know what they’re saying. It’s the whole reason Claire sent me to this party. The reason I’m undercover as Kitty the Hostess. But how can I do that when Nathan so obviously dismissed me?
An idea strikes, and when the bartender delivers my drink, I ask for another. Taking a chance, I order a scotch this time, and when he pours me a few fingers’ worth, I take the glass, carefully and slowly making my way closer to Nathan and Nikolai. I