The Dragon Billionaire's Secret Mate(12)

"I didn't know you did make-up," Samuel had said, surprised. She'd tailored his suits for years, but make-up hadn't ever come up.

Sue had laughed. "I worked at the theater for a decade, honey. I did everything."

She'd twisted Theresa's hair up in an elegant knot, with a few curling tendrils falling softly around her face, and done something with make-up that made her eyes look huge and luminous. Together with the dress, the full effect was spectacularly beautiful.

But Theresa had been beautiful with her hair tousled and her cheeks reddened by the wind, too. What really made the whole effort worth it for Samuel was the look in her eyes when she saw herself in the mirror for the first time, the shy, startled pleasure on her face.

On the stage, Tosca was bent over the dead body of her lover, singing her anguish. Theresa was looking down at the scene, rapt, her eyes damp. Samuel reached out and caught her hand. Theresa squeezed back firmly.

There was a cocktail reception after the end of the opera. Theresa hooked her hand into the crook of his arm again, beaming at him with her eyes still damp and reddened.

"That was... I don't even know what to say. Thank you so much," she said.

"I'm glad you liked it."

They shared a bottle of water standing by the bar. "Seriously, thank you again," Theresa said. "I loved it. The costumes alone, and the music..."

"It's really something, isn't it. I've seen it performed four or five times before, but I never get tired of it," Samuel said.

The back of his neck was tingling. When he turned his head, a dark shadow at the other end of the room resolved into Severin's slender figure.

Severin was watching them intently. When he caught Samuel's eyes, he gave an ironic little salute with his glass.

Samuel turned away, taking a deep breath. He'd expected Severin to come. Their taste in opera was one of the few things they still shared, and moreover, Severin would know he'd be coming with a woman. Samuel knew he was being watched; he'd known Severin would be curious. Better to let him sate his curiosity now, when Samuel could see him coming.

Theresa excused herself to the bathroom, and Severin immediately seized his chance to come over, Vivienne by his side. They made a striking pair, him all in black, tall and slender as a dagger, and her in a dress the color of glacier ice, her long blonde hair tumbling halfway down her back in artful curls.

"Severin. Vivienne," Samuel said, inclining his head in greeting. They all knew this wasn't a friendly talk, and yet of course it was unthinkable to be anything less than polite in public.

"Little brother," Severin said, giving him a smile full of sharp white teeth. Vivienne held out her hand to be kissed. She'd grown up European royalty, from one of the few human families that had known of the existence of dragons for centuries, and liked to make a show of her courtly manners.

Samuel was aware of people's eyes on them as he kissed her hand, knew Vivienne was aware of the scene she'd created: The two brothers with their almost identical dark looks, her in her striking pale dress; the old-fashioned, courtly greeting. She'd always enjoyed being the center of attention.

"Did you enjoy the show?" Severin asked.

"Immensely," Samuel said. "Ms. Carmelo has really grown as a soprano, don't you think?" If Severin wanted to pretend they were having a polite conversation between brothers, he was willing to play along.

"She's gotten quite impressive," Severin said. "And I couldn't help noticing what a beautiful companion you brought along tonight."

Ah. So they were finally getting to the point.

"Her name is Theresa," Samuel said, volunteering nothing else, just for the pleasure of seeing Severin grit his teeth in annoyance.

"Well, I certainly hope you know what you're doing," Severin said, and this time the threat was blatant in his voice. "Maybe I should have a little talk with her."

"You could do that," Samuel said blandly. "Just don't take up too much of her time. I'm paying her by the hour, after all," he added, and had the rare pleasure of seeing Severin truly startled for once.

"Are you," Severin said slowly. "My do-gooder little brother. Really."

Samuel sternly reminded himself that nothing good could possibly come from punching Severin's face in, no matter how much he wanted to. Showing that he cared would only give Severin a reason to try and chase Theresa off.

"You're always telling me I ought to blow off some steam," he said.

Severin watched him for a long moment, a flicker of distrust in his sharp cold eyes. And then he laughed and slapped Samuel on the back, hard enough to stagger him. "Good for you. A man's got needs."

Vivienne was watching them with her mouth twisted up into an exaggerated pout. "You men are disgusting," she said.