You can’t use the PAs for your personal errands.
Dante
Personal errands? Hardly. I’m helping our production’s leading star with her method acting. Besides, Casey and I go way back—he owed me a favor.
My stomach tightens at what he might mean byway back. Dante’s got a way with everyone—I see it on set. The crew, the cast, they’re always all over him, and that bothers me more than it should. No, this tightness in my chest must be because he’s asking me to sneak out again.
As if reading my mind, he texts:
Dante
My friends know how to keep secrets. The thing tonight is very hush-hush. No cameras, no gossip. Just good music and better company.
Reese
I really can’t have another tabloid scandal.
Dante
Promise.
The dress looks to be exactly my size.Of course it is.
This is a dress for someone who isn’t afraid to be bad. A slit up the leg, backless and daring in every way. Does Dante see me as someone who could pull this off?
Do I?
I pace the length of my bedroom, the mask dangling from my fingers. Would it be so terrible to try out being a woman who would wear something like this for one night? Just an hour ortwo, hidden behind silk and secrets. The mask would protect me. No one would know it’s Reese Sinclair underneath.
Besides, after what I did in the bath thinking about him…well, doesn’t that mean I’ve gotten it out of my system? That I won’t put myself in any compromising positions at whatever party he’s inviting me to?
Or maybe—and this thought makes my cheeks burn—it means I’ll want to make all those bathtime imaginings come to life.
Heavens, I don’t know anymore.
Before I can overthink it, I pull up my phone.
Reese
Ramsey has to come.
Dante
Don’t worry, he can lurk in the corner like he always does during our training sessions.
Reese
Fine.
Dante
I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Be ready, Reese.
A real night out—not a publicity stunt, not a carefully orchestrated photo op. Me, a mask, and the promise of something dangerous.
I drop the dress onto my bed next to the mask and notice something black peeking out beneath the tissue paper in the box. I pull it out.
Lingerie.
