he guts to tell me to kneel and apolog

row. "What do you th

ounter. Ryder's departure had left the resta

style seemed to match her gloomy prediction. "I think he's going to write

r, a dire prophecy that s

Danielle," I warned, trying

ntinued chewing her gum,

pat, her anger still simmering. "I should

arm. "Don't you think that

efeat. "Now what are we going to do?" she

wed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the sound of soft music drifting from the living

?" she asked, concern

the day's events settle onto my shoulders. "You have no

Well, I think I know just the thing to take your mind

rigued despite myself. "W

ard about this amazing one downtown, and

t as I looked at Maya's enthusiastic face, I

le. Maya, on the other hand, had a different approach in mind. She slipped into a

r faces overwhelmed me. Maya, however, dove right in, greeting a

s been ages!" They chatted enthusiastically, reminiscing about old ti

I forced a weak smile. "And this is...?" h

, Ashley." Duke's handshake was warm and firm. "Nic

ied, feeling a

e. She opted for an alcoholic beverage, while I chose a juice. "So," I began, cu

in a high school play together. He was the Duke, and I was the Duchess." She grinned mi

days. My own experiences, on the other hand, were a different story. I had taken on a parental role, caring

eyes screamed one thing: he wanted to get close to her, very close. I rol

lled for your friend," a

the piercing grey eyes and d

I asked, curiosity get

f his vodka. "Honestly? They

row, taken aback

y blunt, aren't you

pretty straightforwar

Trust me, I'm

gued, and set his drink down

rying to place him. "You know, you look ve

crinkling at the co

figure out how I knew him. "You kn

avered. "But I lik

ow, surprised. "Ho

and...gorgeous." My dark skin hid the blush spread

e continued, his ex

What?" I asked, my vo

"Oh, I'm sorry, I meant my

get it," I

really like someone l

an eyebr

don't know, jus

ersation. "Oh, my wife is calling me,"

d, trying to process

"I should head home b

oughing. "It was nice meeting you," he

I managed to say,

to meet you. See you." Wit

home, its late, " I said looking at anything but them, " oh ok. Just give me a minute. " She said and I nodded and hurried out of there a

erson said, and I tu

lackwood standing before me, a

his voice dripping with sarc

spine as he gazed at me, his

here?" I asked, try

"I could ask yo