One Night with Morelli(68)

                She had fallen, deeply, for a man who was everything she had spent her adult life avoiding, and they weren’t even in a real relationship. But the important thing was, it was on her terms.

                She squeezed her eyes closed as she experienced a moment of scalding self-disgust. At least Mum had been honest. On her terms, indeed…!

                In reality this meant she wasn’t available when Draco clicked his fingers, even if she was. Even if this meant she spent some really miserable nights when she could have been sharing his bed lying alone. She repeatedly told herself it was worth it, because it meant that she was in control.

                She recognised the self-delusion but she wasn’t brave enough to admit it.

                ‘And I can’t remember the last time I saw you with your hair loose. I hardly recognised you,’ continued Hannah.

                ‘I hardly recognise myself these days,’ Eve admitted quietly as the two women left the room.

                With cameras recording every inflection and under the glitter of chandeliers Hannah gave the speech on her husband’s behalf with charm and dignity. In fact, she was so good that for about ten seconds Eve even stopped wondering about Draco.

                What was he doing?

                Who was he talking to?

                What would he have thought of her in this dress?

                * * *

                Draco was putting in a token appearance towards the end of the evening because Kamel was a good friend and he had always despised men who forgot their friends the moment they became romantically involved—and he wasn’t. Eve and he had a civilised relationship; while it was different from his other liaisons in many ways, it was still not permanent.

                Josie having recently opted for the weekly boarding option at school was the only reason Eve slept over at his place, though not quite as often as he would have liked. Eve had a life he wasn’t part of; he had a life she wasn’t part of… He was just telling himself how well this situation worked for him when these worlds meshed.

                It was totally unexpected. He simply turned his head to see what the titled blond-haired guy he had been introduced to when he arrived was staring at, and it turned out to be a who. His Eve, looking totally at ease, smiling, charming, in a red dress that was slinky and sexy and… He felt his core temperature jump as his eyes followed the sinuous curves of her body. This was not an outfit she should be wearing outside the confines of their bedroom!

                Not even conscious that he had blanked an ambassador who had been approaching him with his hand outstretched, Draco strode across the room.

                ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ he thundered in Eve’s ear.

                It was Hannah, standing beside her friend, who blinked as her gaze moved from Eve to the tall figure who stood there glowering like some dark avenging angel.

                Eve’s shock gave way to indignation. ‘Is there any reason I shouldn’t be here?’ she retorted with deceptive calm.

                ‘You might have mentioned it to me.’

                Her feathery brows lifted. ‘You’re here; did you mention it to me?’ She lifted a hand to cover her mouth and said softly from behind it, ‘There’s a film crew here tonight, Draco. Do you really want to broadcast this to the world?’ Removing her hand and raising her voice, she added brightly, ‘You know Hannah, of course.’

                Draco tipped his head, his eyes not leaving Eve as he said, ‘Princess. I am sorry to hear Kamel is unwell.’ Then to Eve, he added, ‘I’m going home. Are you coming?’