what it is, but I think this is the first day since I’ve known you when you haven’t sent flowers or rainbows or some cute little furball skittering around the house.”
She was right.
The adorable expressions of Tiffany’s repressed magic had been practically bursting from the seams the moment Vance had shamed her into the darkness. But today was the first she could remember when nothing like that had happened. Nary a bluebird feather had issued from her all day.
“Huh.” Shrugging it off with a bright smile, she was determined not to let an odd little detail like that shake the good feelings whirring inside her. If anything, it amplified her joy.
“Ooh, look at you.” Nathan came sauntering into the sitting room, his usual dry tone rendering him almost unreadable. The tiniest glimmer in his eye told her his appreciation was genuine though.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he nodded sincerely. “Who’d have thought you could look like a real girl.”
“Oh, stop it,” Kelly smirked from the couch. “She looks fantastic.”
“Cut it out, you guys.” Tiffany reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Kelly may have been offering overt flattery, but something far more complimentary lay in Nathan’s approval. Possibly because he was so sparing with anything resembling praise. Even tucked in a joke, she heard what it meant.
“I’m not gonna cut it out,” Kelly said, clambering to her feet and pulling out her phone. “In fact, I’m gonna take a picture. Ronun is gonna have to see this. Besides,” she looked over the top of her phone with a wink, “if things go the way you think they will, you’re not gonna be back tonight to show yourself off to him.”
“That’s enough of that,” Tiffany cried in pretend shock. Not-so-secretly, it was exactly what she was hoping for.
“So,” Kelly plopped back on the couch, “what time is Romeo coming to get you?”
“We’re meeting.” At her roommate’s too-blank reaction, that tiny little prickle in her stomach reared up again, and she felt the need to defend her future fiancé. “He’s coming straight from work.”
“If you say so,” Nathan mumbled.
“I hope it’s everything you want it to be, Tiff,” Kelly spoke over him with chipper glee. At that precise moment, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it. I should start walking anyway.” Which was why she’d chosen shorter-heeled ballroom style shoes.
Turning into the foyer, the lights suddenly dimmed around her. Sconces sprang from the walls, each hosting a brace of candles to lend the walls a romantic glow. Ever so faintly, the sound of a string quartet wafted down from somewhere in the house.
Even Hollow House wants to send me off in style.
Nero stood on the doorstep when she opened the door, and he almost seemed to reel when he caught sight of her. No doubt he was expecting Nathan to open the door. Shaking his head, he released a delighted laugh.
“Wow,” he exclaimed in surprise before his face settled into something more sincere. “You look positively Stunning.”
“Thanks!” Even if they hadn’t known each other very long, his compliment was exactly the boost she needed. She was much more accustomed to people regarding her with confusion rather than appreciation, so she basked in the attention.
“Tonight’s the big night, I suppose.”
“It is,” she said, only a little put off that her expectations seemed to be on everybody’s lips. Then again, if she had wanted to keep things quiet, she would never have told Kelly.
“Is it presumptuous if I offer you just a little bit of advice?” He tipped his head inquisitively, and something in his gentle tone filtered into her core. When all was said and done, Nero might be the only one whose advice she’d really ever listened to.
“Please.”
He took her gently by the shoulders, and she settled easily into his touch. “It’s easy to get nervous. Just take a couple of deep breaths and be yourself because, Tiffany? You’re absolutely perfect just the way you are.”
She tried to swallow, but her heart had lodged itself in her throat. How was it that Nathan’s guy always knew exactly what to say? It was maddening!
“Thanks, Nero,” she managed at last. Then, going up to her toes, she planted a kiss on his cheek. Sparks leapt between them, and Tiffany started back with a laugh, raising her hand to cover her mouth.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!”
Nero met her reaction with an easy chuckle. “It’s okay.”
“Ugh. This house sometimes,” she shook her head. “Static electricity all over the place.”
“Maybe something to do with the new top,” Nero