Page 2 (2/2)

With h, I stepped into the ballroom full of the crealance, and I was hardly surprised I was a nobody, plucked froree, no breeding, no style or standing Miss Unremarkable indeed

Even in a gown that had cost an eye-watering aenerous with hiselse—and shoes that had cost more than a month’s rent on my apartment once upon a time, I knew I looked the same Dull-as-dishwater Daisy Campbell, born in the sticks of Kentucky, who hitched a ride to New York as a starry-eyed dreamer and soon wised up

Imy chin up and my shoulders back with effort Three years on a remote island hadn’t accustomed me to this kind of scrutiny Back on Amanos I had learned how to be confident I was sure of my place there, because I’dfelt different I felt different—more like the nervous country-ainst the urge to ask someone if they needed a refill

I needed to find Matteo as soon as I could, before I melted into a puddle of nerves or broke an ankle in these wretched shoes

I wasn’t under any illusion that he’d be thrilled to seehe wouldn’t be too put out We’d had an agree tiuish on A, precisely, but I needed to move on with my life

I’d given Matteo what he wanted Noas his turn to give me what I wanted

‘Good luck with that,’ I ive me a hard stare

I’d always had the slightly odd habit of talking to myself, and three years on a reer a sunny smile and forced myself to move on

Where was my husband?

Then I saw him and wondered how I hadn’t before He was in the centre of the roo half a head taller than any other man My steps slowed and nificent in the flesh than I remembered

I stood there for ahim, because he was so beautiful I didn’t want him to be, because I knew that his cold, hard beauty would distract and unsettle —a dark and powerful knight in his tuxedo, the expensivehis long legs and impressive chest Even frolinted like silver, and his mobile mouth captured my fascination as he spoke

We’d never kissed, barely even touched, and yet in that netism and intense charisma, as if we shared a physical history As if I could actually remember the way he felt and even tasted, when I knew I couldn’t

I hadn’t let s, because our e had never been like that Matteo had been clear on that point right froht of some—and I’d told myself I didn’t mind, because I didn’t want to be touched

I took a deep breath and started forward ‘Matteo’

My voice came out more loudly than I’d meant it to, and several people turned I heard whispers, titters, as their gazes raked over me So the dress didn’t work, then I’d suspected as ed into h, as I had all my life, no matter what it had thrown at me—and it had thrown a lot

‘Matteo’

He turned, his eyes narrowing to silver slits as his lushline Clearly he wasn’t pleased to see ed to feel hurt, although I tried to hide it

The woreen cat’s eyes glinting with h to carry, ‘Oh, dear, Matteo, it looks like someone has a little crush on you’

A crush? Hardly

‘We need to talk,’ I told hi to be intimidated by the woant crows and he was their carrion Except, of course, Matteo was all predator and no prey

‘Talk?’