Love at Stake (Entangled Covet)(26)

Forbidden things. But no matter what her body longed for, Lucian was not the man for her.

“I like him,” she said, admitting the damning fact aloud for the first time. “I like how I feel when he looks at me.”

Chloe’s eyes were understanding. “I don’t mean to keep harping on your human status, but you know what this is.”

She sighed. “Yeah.”

“Personally I think you’re a far better candidate for him than anyone we’ve been serving up.”

“But I’m not supernatural.” She said the words they were both thinking.

“A vampire of his stature has needs…”

“I know.” He needed someone as magical as he was, and that was one bill she’d never fit.

Chloe looked as upset as she felt. “I wish there was something comforting I could say.”

Her lips twisted. “I’m not talking about emotion, here, Chloe. This is all about sex, and I’d be a fool to fall under his spell.”

She shrugged. “Maybe, but what a way to fall.”

Abbey chewed her lip. “I’m ruining our chances, aren’t I?”

Chloe didn’t deny her words.

Hell.

“All right,” Abbey whispered. “I’ll end it.” Give him up and let him play his games with women from his own world.

“How?”

That was the million-dollar question. She could take herself out of the game. Offer Jessie or Chloe up in her place and tell Lucian their business was done. Unfortunately, she doubted he’d accept such an easy out. No, there was no avoiding the conversation that needed to take place.

“I’ll talk to him tonight,” she said. “If he comes to get me before the thirty-minute mark, of course.”

“He’ll come.”

Her heart jumped at the surety in Chloe’s voice. Yes, he’d come, thinking they were going to spend the evening together.

Where should she have this conversation? And when? Before his date? He might balk, refusing to see the woman they had set up with him tonight, and that would be disastrous for Fated Match’s reputation.

Afterward, then. But bars were so crowded and the street was too public.

Her place? She didn’t particularly want him to know where to find her outside of work hours.

Which left his place. Dangerous idea.

Alluring temptation.

“I’ll handle Lucian,” she said resolutely. “After tomorrow, I won’t be a problem anymore.”

Chloe sighed. “I’m sorry. I wish this could play out differently. It’s just who he is. In our society he’s—”

“The crème de la crème.”

“Yeah.”

And she was a university dropout. “I get it.”

“This doesn’t reflect on you,” Chloe said.

“The hell it doesn’t.”

“I mean, as a person.” Chloe’s hands twisted in her flowing skirt. “I might not have very many human friends, but I know a good one when I see her. You can’t take this personally. There are others in our world who will want more than your body.”

“Thanks, Chloe. I’ve got a few files to deal with if you wouldn’t mind.”

The witch nodded. “Let me know if I can help,” she said before leaving the room.

Abbey watched the door swing closed behind her. The click of the latch echoed through the small room.

One more night with Lucian. That was all she could have, and she had to make sure he understood that. Her fantasy romance was coming to an end and even though she knew she was dodging a bullet, she wished she could have played in his world just a little longer.

…

Abbey seemed distracted tonight. She’d been waiting when he’d arrived, treating him as professionally and courteously as always. She’d pushed a pink box across the desk for his inspection before laying out the file of his current date. Everything had gone as it had the last six nights. Except there was an unexpected tension in her. Her sentences were stilted and prosaic. Not his normal, vibrant Abbey.

The drive to the restaurant had been interminable. He’d turned on all the charm, but she’d seemed caught up in her own head. That he hadn’t been able to engage a woman’s interest was a hard blow to his ego.

They’d pulled up at the restaurant and proceeded as always. Abbey had made the introductions and stayed to smooth out any first-meeting tension. Once they’d been at ease, she’d moved to slip away.

Before she’d left, however, he reminded her. “Thirty minutes.”

The look she gave him was measured. “I’ll be there,” she replied before heading off.

He’d stared after her like a lovesick swain. Hell, she was wrapping him around her little finger. Six nights she’d eluded him, making him chase after her as he hadn’t pursued anyone in decades. Every night he swore he’d seduce her, and every night she evaded his pull. It was frustrating. Infuriating. And strangely exhilarating.