Page 101 of Thin Lines (Donati Bloodlines 2)

Emma wished he hadn’t asked that question. Her answerwasn’t a simple one. She never would have been able to marry him without hatingher father for making her do it.

So, she lied.

“A couple,” she said.

“Did Cynthia mention anything else about this … school?”

“It’s a four year program—bachelor in arts. She’ll beable to focus on dancing while she earns her degree,” Emma explained.

“I’ll consider it,” Affonso said.

Emma would take it.

She wouldn’t push him for more.

“Another dress?” she asked.

“Yes, another.” Affonso reached for his discardedphone and turned it on. “Also, about tonight.”

“What about it? Calisto invited us to the opening ofhis new club. You’ve known about this for weeks, Affonso.”

Her husband didn’t look up from his phone. “I’m not inthe mood tonight.”

Emma had been looking forward to it. Since Christmas,she hadn’t been able to see Calisto, let alone be close to him. It saddened andirritated her in a way she couldn’t explain.

Her heart was missing home.

“That’s too bad,” Emma said, trying to hide thedisappointment in her voice. “I was looking forward to doing something.”

“As long as you have your enforcer with you, I don’tcare what you do.”

Emma smiled. “Oh?”

Affonso still hadn’t looked up from his phone. “Go.Have fun. Give our well wishes for my nephew’s opening.”

Your son, she corrected silently.

It didn’t even matter.

Emma was too happy to worry about all of thatnonsense.

A night out where she could be with Calisto withoutAffonso?

Perfect.

“Does that work for you?” Affonso asked.

“It sounds fine.”

Emma couldn’t have hidden the elation if she tried,but by the time Affonso had discarded his phone again, she was already in thedressing room.

“Oh, wow,” Emma said.

She watched from behind the safety of one-way glass asbodies swarmed the hardwood dance floor. Lights strobed and flickered, makingthe patrons look like shadows moving slowly. They were actually dancing quitefast. Sharp, hard bass pounded at the floorboards.

It was an amazing sight.

“It’s something else,” Carter said beside Emma.