lott

otte," my mom declared, her arm linked with my dad's. "You

reement, his gaze w

ecrets. You deserve a love that

was completely eng

stroking her knuckles, a small, i

od ran

and suffocatin

e that throbbed with every glance,

d calculated, simmered beneath

n do this? Eras

e can get a

h, a dangerous spar

oice clear, cutting throu

for anyone right now," I began, a sweet smile pla

sphere around us

d. Conversat

h had been stroking

ffortless, became rigid, a

es wide, a silent warni

u dare,

gh bubbled u

, Alberto. I a

ing the subtle tremor in his posture. "A successful a

esperate search for an escape rou

cloud his usual

ake his head, a silen

ted, the humiliation, was

a, my gaze locking with

beat against my ribs, but a strang

ng my words. "Very kind. Very attentive. And best of all,

face drain

around Daniella's,

satisfaction, a da

et, Alberto. This

had been constant since I saw him kiss her, i

nied by a flicker of so

him, my gaze sweepi

al shrug. "So we're just enjoying getting to

ibly sagged

ers eased, and a faint fl

h he hadn't realiz

ne rang, pulling him aw

ll outside," he said, giving m

she called after him.

ous fiancée, turned to me,

you like us to drop you home?" she of

mach c

th them, breathing the same air, pretend

plied, my voice cool. "I'll be

er the controll

his touch sending shivers

firm, leaving no room for argument. "It

mly towards the exit, his gr

ed with hope, was quickly