“Sooo?”
“Yeah. Archer used to get around.”
“Tell me!Ya nikamu ne skazhy.” I say I won’t tell anyone.
“Stop it, Kat.”
I’m jealous now. I just want to know so I can figure out Archer’s taste in women.
My clutch on the table vibrates, and I snatch it irritated. There is a speck of hope in my chest that it’s Archer as I swipe the screen and read the message.
Dad: O’Shea’s son lives in the Emirates with his mother. And his mother is Tsariuk’s sister. Call me when you get this.
I stare at it, then reread it several times.
“Holy shit, Marlow.”
I elbow him and pass him the phone.
His eyes widen as he reads the message and looks up at me.
“Holy shit…”
He glides his hand over his hair, absently looking around, then freezes. “Guess who never comes out for parties. But here we are.”
I follow the direction of his gaze, and my knees go weak.
I forget all about the message. Because there’s only one man who looks that gorgeous. One man whose gaze locked on me across the restaurant can make my pulse spike.
Archer Crone.
I want to do something stupid right now, reckless, get drunk and flirt with all the guys around to make him jealous.
But I can’t escape his eyes or look away from him, dressed in all black, the sleeves of his black buttoned-down shirt rolled up as he cheers to me with a glass from across the room, and my knees go weak.
53
ARCHER
I felt like an outsider,for the first time in many days actually walking through Ayana instead of taking my bike.
And sure felt like an Outcast when the several faces I recognized by the restaurant entrance to Bacaro called my name and nodded, shock on their faces.
When I walk out onto the crowded terrace of Bacaro, all eyes turn to me. I used to bask in this feeling. I loathe it now.
Cece sashays over, looking beautiful. “Well, well, Buddha finally came down to the people.” She flashes her signature Hollywood smile.
I smile back, kissing her cheek. “Happy birthday, sweetie.” I give her a present.
“Oh, how thoughtful!” She opens the small thin box I gave her with curiosity, then squeals. “No way, a Domancier necklace? And you took the time to get it for me?” She looks around, her mouth O-shaped in surprise. “They said you weren’t well. I’m wondering if you lost your mind.”
There, the rumors.
I got the necklace for Anna Reich two years ago and never got a chance to give it to her. Cece will never know.
The waiter brings a drink. Cece says something, but I scan the crowd, looking for Kat. I know she is here with Marlow. Last night was a disaster. I just want to see if we can fix that. Iwantto fix that. She makes me angry but, fucking hell, I want this girl next to me.
And then I find her.