Page 125 of A Vicious Love

“I believe this is for tonight, Miss Bellemere.”

I looked at the box on my bed.

My heart did something embarrassingly hopeful.

Jamison had sent another dress.

He had kissed me in the back seat of his car four nights ago, then walked me to the door. I had replayed that night more times than I wanted to admit.

I had spent three years trying to understand Jamison Crow. Apparently, one drunken kiss had only made the confusion worse.

Still, the box made me smile.

I closed the bedroom door, untied the ribbon, and lifted the lid.

Darker champagne silk this time. Closer to liquid gold. A low draped neckline and thin straps that crossed over the open back. A slit ran along one side of the skirt, high enough to expose my thigh when I moved. It was elegant, but seductive in a way I usually avoided at dynasty events.

I touched the fabric carefully.

Jamison had noticed the last champagne dress.

His eyes had followed every inch of it before he kissed me, and the memory sent warmth over my skin before I could stop it.

A small envelope rested beneath the silk.

I picked it up.

My name was written across the front in neat black ink. I opened it.

For tonight. The colour belongs on you.

— Weston

I stared at the card.

Oh.

My fingers tightened around the paper.

For a second, I thought perhaps there had been a mistake. Crow styling might have mixed up the delivery or⁠—

No.

My name was written on the envelope. With a handwritten message.

I sat slowly on the edge of the bed.

Weston had been kind at the Tideglass Pavilion.

Flirtatious too, apparently, although I had not realized until Jamison pointed it out with enough irritation.

You’re leaving with me. Jamison had interrupted.

And I had gone.

Because Jamison asked so little from me that even his orders had started feeling like attention.

I looked down at the card again. Weston had chosen a dress for me.