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"I don’t drink," I say as I place the white linen napkin in esture, Harper I’ne at dinner"

"Never"

Vincent sits across from me The table is small, so he’s close Too close, I think Too close fortohis best to make himself irresistible, and I’d like to try my best to resist hireen eyes His dark hair His five o’clock shadow

"Tonight will be your first, then," Vincent says, filling ht honey-colored liquid It bubbles up, bursting into the air so that even froe He lifts his glass and holds it towards esture "To all our firsts I hope we have a lifetime of them"

I squint my eyes a little, but he pretends not to notice as he takes a sip My glass is set back doith no drink

"I prefer water, thank you Do we have some water? In a bottle With a sealed cap"

"Of course The servers will bring it with the meal Now tell me, do you like the dress? Because I like it very much"

"What do you like about it?" I’enuinely interested

"What’s not to like?" he asks back with a chuckle "The color ainst the a jewels It shows off the curve of your shoulders The bronze of your skin And while it’s sexy as all fucking hell, you’re showing very little skin This is a dress I’d take you out in public in A dress that would allow others to see your beauty without giving them too much of an eyeful It is, in fact, perfect Now that you’re wearing it, of course"

"Wow That is some line of bullshit you have there, Vincent James would say, Harper, you’re just as fuckable with no clothes on But this dress just makes me want to rip it off you"

Vincent stares at me

I stare at hi any trouble keeping his at bay

"Do you want me to treat you like James, Harper? Do you want oes hot with eotten he said he saw that "How do you know he did that? Were you stalkingJa you He had that little scene on tape in his apartment"

I can’t breathe That’s how much this stuns me "He did not"

"It’s still there now He never cleaned the place He’s gone, Harper He’s lost it He’s careless and stupid and what he did to you"--Vincent stops to shake his head--"it was sick"

Sick The word reverberates around in my head