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TWENTY-FIVE
Seraphina drew a deepbreath and let it out slowly. Her hand pressed to her midsection to still the jitters. Months. She’d gone months without seeing Rook but they’d commed one another. Frequently in the beginning while the investigation of Jarad’s death was going on. Rook encouraged her to remain hidden and quiet.
During that time, she sold her property, saying goodbye to the struggling garden she’d created and watched flourish beneath her hands. She stockpiled her credits in various specialized accounts available at the click of a button in case of an emergency.
Then Rook’s comms tapered off. Her fears of being alone again plagued her nights. He still refused to speak on what he did or who he worked for and she respected his need for privacy.
It wasn’t as if they’d had some grand love affair despite what they’d said that fateful night. Honestly, if she thought about it, they’d known each other for...she frowned and did the math.
The Ice Ball. Last years Ice Ball.
For an entire year, her life had gone from her dedicated focus on avenging Coco to wondering what she’d do now.
That didn’t negate the fact that she missed Rook. Missed his warm smiles on the holo screen, his husky laugh when she said something silly. At the end of every comm, he’d raise his hand to the screen and remind her. “I’ll see you soon.”
Fear at being disappointed kept her from agreeing. She wanted this so much she didn’t know how to curtail the rapid beat of her pulse.
In her heart, she hoped they could find a compromise, a way to be together. At least that’s what she thought this was all about. Their conversations were often short and light. Getting to know one another with a heavy dose of flirting. She didn’t want to count how many times she’d brought herself to orgasm after those comms.
Sighing, she smoothed her hand again down the line of the sleek white dress she wore. She didn’t know what the future held in store for her but hopefully tonight would answer that question.
With heavy handed maneuvering and sucking up to Vesta, she’d secured an invite to the annual Ice Ball under her current identity, Bella Callim, life partner to Roarke Callim.
At the time, she’d found it funny but now she wasn’t sure. What guarantee did she have that he’d show? What if he changed his mind?
Their last comm was two months ago. He could have moved on by now. Found another to catch his interest. Someone more worthy of being with him.
The military soldier and an assassin. She huffed a sound of disgust. That wasn’t a romance in the making, it was a nightmare waiting to explode in her face.
***
Rook gazed around theguests at the Ice Ball. It was nothing to have his alias, Roarke Callim, reactivated in order for him to receive an invite to attend. He’d arrived early in hopes of seeing Seraphina and whisking her away. That was over two hours ago.
He didn’t see her. Disappointment crested. She wasn’t here. Maybe she’d changed her mind over the last few months, decided he wasn’t worth the effort or the trouble. They’d been a storm of epic proportions after Jarad’s death. ERS frantically worked to use what they had to close several open cases.
It seemed most of the key leads Jarad had given them were actually viable. The Alliance shrugged his death off. They dropped the retrieval order on Tempest with their asset out of the picture and clearing the way for Rook to bring her in his life.
If she wanted.
Every time he wanted to contact Seraphina and reassure himself that nothing had changed between them, Ghost Unit was sent out. She’d probably moved on by now. Old wounds opened and he forcibly slammed his mind closed on thoughts of rejection.
“Tell me he didn’t crash and bomb already,” Kjar joked.
“It’s not like we’d know if she was there,” Hahn responded.
The team continued their humorous commentary in his comm. They were here as unofficial support though Rook hadn’t told any of them where he was going. They’d shown up right before the shuttle took off from Enotia.
“We couldn’t let you leave without us.” Kjar had smirked as he followed Dorian and Hahn into the shuttle.
Rook ignored their banter and walked around the room again. Unlike the last time he was here, he paid more attention to the décor. The dripping faux icicles hanging from the ceiling, a machine in the corner blowing snow flurries in the air to create the “ice” portion of the Ice Ball.
He’d dressed more appropriately in an all white jacket, shirt and pants, wanting to blend in. Servants offered drinks and food but he waved them all away with a sigh. If she didn’t show soon, he’d have to leave. Kyele expected them bright and early for training tomorrow morning.
“Someone told me to meet them here.”
The soft comment sent relief crashing through Rook. He turned slowly. Seraphina walked toward him in a sexy glide. Brown hair with moon dark streaks of red swung free about her shoulders. Eyes a familiar shade of hazel never wavered from his face. His favorite look on her.
As soon as she was within reach, he pulled her into his arms, etiquette be damned, and kissed her. She kissed him back. Short kisses, teasing tongue.
