I glanced out the window to break from his dancing blue eyes, and I froze when my sweeping gaze snagged on a darker shadow across the street. For a second, I saw the outline of a hulking man in a leather jacket, his unruly black curls tumbling over his brow to conceal his face.
Rage ignited in my chest. How dare Max continue to stalk me? It’d been too soon to call our connection love, but he’d still stomped all over my aching heart.
We’re done. His final, cold words cracked through my mind like a whip, lashing at me.
“Are you okay?”
I jolted at Niko’s warm voice, far too close and far too intimate. I flinched, my stomach twisting with something like guilt.
I sank into my anger, allowing it to consume that stupid twinge. I shouldn’t feel guilty for being with Niko. Max had broken what was between us. He’d broken me.
He had no place in my life or even in my thoughts.
My eyes narrowed on the dark figure across the street, but it was nothing. Just another shadow in the night.
I drew in a shuddering breath and tried to calm my racing heart.
Max hadn’t been there at all. I’d gotten angry for nothing.
Or maybe I’m just seeing what I want to see, a treacherous little voice whispered. Maybe that burning sensation in my soul wasn’t hatred or anger. Whatever Max had done to me, what we shared had been hot and bright and all-consuming.
I missed it.
I missed him.
I gave my head a little shake, as though I could forcibly push him from my brain. I turned my attention back to Niko, the impossibly handsome and charismatic man who actually wanted to date me. His smiling mask was back in place, but he’d allowed me to peek behind it. That should be more than enough for me: the gorgeous billionaire had made himself vulnerable with me, if only for a few minutes.
Niko was the kind of man I should be with. Our fathers were friends, we moved in the same social circles, and he was totally charming and attentive. For whatever reason, he was truly interested in me. I’d be a fool to pass up this opportunity to get to know him.
I put on a false smile of my own and tried my best to dazzle him in return. Niko was here with me, and Max wasn’t. I should want the handsome Russian.
Judging by the warmth in my belly, some entirely feminine part of me did want him.
I leaned toward him and reengaged with our conversation. I owed him my full attention, and I didn’t want to waste my time staring into the darkness. I didn’t want it to stare back.
ALLIE
A flash of light flitted at the edge of my vision, and my eyes flicked toward it automatically. My stomach dropped when I saw the guy holding up his phone, pointing it in my direction. He noted my gaze, grinned, and gave me a little wave. The light flashed again as he captured my shocked expression.
“Um, Isabel?” I said, my voice lilting on her name like a question. “I think that guy is taking pics of you.” I gestured in the man’s direction, and my stunning friend turned to search for him, her signature dazzling smile lighting up her face. Her bronze skin practically glowed beneath the golden lighting that illuminated our favorite wine bar.
With hundreds of thousands of social media followers, Isabel was a budding celebrity. Her recent off-Broadway play had garnered stellar reviews, and she’d already achieved influencer-status. I was used to her taking pics of us for her socials, but this was the first time a random person had snapped a photo from across a bar.
“Honey, he’s taking pics of you,” Davis informed me as the man shot me another broad grin. It nearly split his overly tanned features, and his lean-muscled body flexed beneath his too-tight white dress shirt.
Davis snickered. “I think he’s trying to impress you.”
“What?” I asked on a little puff of air. I broke from the man’s gaze and faced my friend, whose sea green eyes were dancing with mirth. “Why would he be taking pictures of me?”
“Because you’re Princess Alexandra,” he quipped.
“Davis,” Charlie admonished, her perfectly penciled brows drawing together. “Don’t tease her about that.” My fashionista friend slung an arm over my shoulder and hugged me tight against her curves. “Don’t freak out, but there was another article in the Times today. About you and Nikolai.”
I groaned and buried my face in my hands. My flaming cheeks burned my palms. Three glasses of pinot noir had melted my composure, and I couldn’t stop the reflexive reaction to the hot wave of embarrassment that rolled over me.
Charlie gave me a little squeeze. “It was a nice article. They complimented you. You picked a great dress for your date last night. That sage green is perfection on you.”