Page 5 (1/2)

"Hey, Char," I said, squeezing her back "How’squite the two-and-a-half-year-old, Olivia believes she is a debutante and is very disappointed she can’t go to her aunt Merit’s party tonight But she is very excited about being a flower girl And she’s been practicing"

"Oh my God, I bet that’s adorable"

Charlotte put a hand on her heart "Granted, she’sI’ve ever seen"

"I’m sure she’ll toss those petals with aplomb"

Charlotte nodded "If she remembers to toss them, yes So far, it’s been more of a petal-free sashay"

Sounded entertaining either way

The woman who’d opened the door, ore a dark, fluid tunic over dark leggings, walked to the table and pulled out the center chair I glanced back at Mallory, who nodded

"Go for it, sister," she said and, when I was seated, took the chair next todinner?" I asked her I’d actually grabbed a bite before leaving the House, to lay the foundation for what I assune

"Not exactly," Mallory said, and gestured toward the doorway that led to the back of the building The moment ere all seated, a bevy of waiters in black button-downs and jeans walked through, do of practiced dancers, they each walked to a spot at the table and si the domes in place

"The first course," the hostess said, hands clasped in front of her, and the waiters whisked away the do white plates dotted with a rainbow of fruit around a pretty cube of chocolate cake, a small dish of what looked like chocolate mousse, and solanced at Mallory as the wootI should have trusted that these tould do it right

"It’s a chocolate-tasting table!" Mallory said, hands clasped together at her chest like a kid with a burning secret "Five full courses!"

I wiped away an iuys"

"Dalass "To my immortal sister from another mister, and the future wife of the hottest damn vampire in the United States"

"To Merit!" Lindsey said, and everyone raised a glass "Now, for God’s sake," she said, "let the girl eat!"

• • •

I had to give the chefs credit--and sent my compliments back I’d had my own chocolate stash once upon a time, but I still hadn’t realized how diverse chocolate could be in the hands of a talented person There was chocolate soup, chocolate foa chocolate, smoked chocolate Chocolate with pistachio cream, chocolate with Scotch bonnet peppers, chocolate with bacon (a personal favorite), raspberries injected with chocolate, and a dozen more

So, I decided even my immortal body couldn’t hold any uests and watching Mallory The worry I’d seen earlier hadn’t dissipated Either they hadn’telse was bothering her