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“Maybe you should ask the pompous man himself if he invited a stalker.”
Stalker.
There was that word again.
“Right,” I snorted and tossed the note onto the desk. Then I yanked open one of my desk drawers, tossing it inside. There was no reason to be anything but flattered, yet the heebie-jeebies were crawling all over me. “The senator will ask me the reason why since he noticed a spark between me and the masked man. What am I supposed to tell him?”
“A spark, huh?” she teased, frowning when I gave her a hard look. “Tell him the truth. I’m sure he’ll love it since he purchased one of the hack’s paintings for more than my car cost.”
I threw her another nasty glare. “Talon isn’t a hack.” As I returned my gaze to Zorro’s painting, my eye twitched. “Talon hasn’t been painting for long, but there’s significant interest in his work.”
“Well, my advice to you, sugar, is that you book a huge gallery event for this Zorro instead of the hack. I’d purchase the painting. It’s provocative in a way that alludes to the dark side of sexual sin without losing the intense passion.”
Who the hell was she trying to kid? There was no allusion of anything.
“And where would you put it?” I asked, giving her a hard look.
“Over my bed, silly girl.”
The thought gave me butterflies. Maybe that’s what he wanted, to have the painting over my bed as a reminder of what he would do once I surrendered. No. I was going to shove the damn thing into a closet.Why does it bother you? How many presents have you ever gotten from sexy, dark, and dangerous men in your life?
The answer was too many. I’d been given expensive jewels and other trinkets in an effort to appease the man who’d kept my fortune locked away, pretending as if he knew what was best for me. What bullshit. The suitors were trying to win my hand in marriage, which continued to horrify me.
My inner voice wasn’t helping.
“Come on, girl. Live a little. The man obviously finds you attractive. Maybe he’ll drop by. Relationships have started over crazier things than an erotic painting.”
“Sure they have, but I’m not ready for a relationship. I barely have time to clean my apartment.”
“So true,” Jasmine teased then laughed, which allowed me to chuckle nervously. “I’m serious. I think this was a lovely gesture. Just date him for a few months. Maybe indulge in a little kinky sex. It’ll do your mind and your surly attitude some good.”
I narrowed my eyes as I glared at her. “You’re heartless. Besides, he’s a visitor.”
“Even better. Some hot sex, able to indulge in delicious fantasies then poof, he’s gone. What do you have to lose?”
“You mean other than my integrity?”
“You’re living in the dark ages. Just think about it.”
“No. I’m not. Why did you stop by again?”
She rolled her eyes. “Have it your way. I wanted to see the reason you got the invitation to the swanky party, darling. And don’t forget about tonight. Wear another sexy costume.”
“Halloween is over.”
“Not in this town. It’ll be fun. I’ll pick you up at eight-thirty so we can grab a table.”
I waved her away, barely able to keep my mind on anything but the painting. The portrayal screamed of possession.
An unbridled need that couldn’t be explained.
A desire so intense that everything else could be forgotten.
Why did I believe we were destined for something else?
Why did I have a feeling there was more than just a sexy hunk hiding behind his silk mask?
And why was I certain I’d fall into a darkness that had no light?
