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Mia has beennothing short of impeccable tonight. As I expected, there were plenty of people eager to meet her, and she greeted them all pleasantly and respectfully, managing to avoid eye contact with every single one. Even while dancing, drinking champagne, and laughing with Kat and Joey, she has obeyed my rules to the letter.
I’m escorting her back to our table when a familiar voice stops me in my tracks.
“Lorenzo Moretti,” she says, her voice a sultry purr. “It’s so wonderful to see you.” Oh, fuck! I hoped she wouldn’t be here tonight.
I turn with my arm locked around Mia’s waist, and she’s forced to turn with me. “Dahlia,” I say with a weak smile. “It’s nice to see you too.”
Mia keeps her gaze averted from Dahlia’s, but I see her appraising the other woman, taking in her perfectly styled dark hair and elegant black gown, as well as the diamonds dripping from her neck.
Dahlia lifts her eyebrows expectantly. My discomfort at seeing my old girlfriend is no excuse for forgetting my manners. I slide my right arm from around Mia’s waist and grasp Dahlia by the shoulders, giving her a kiss on each cheek. “You look well.”
She runs a manicured fingernail over the lapel of my suit jacket. “And you are as handsome as ever. I’d almost forgotten what that face looked like.”
I force a laugh and return my hand to Mia’s hip, pulling her toward me again. “This is Mia.”
“Mia?” Dahlia extends her hand. “Delightful to meet you.”
Mia extends her hand and smiles widely, being careful to avoid eye contact. Dahlia shoots me a knowing look and touches my arm. “It truly is wonderful to see you back out here.” She gives me a kiss on the cheek and says goodbye to both Mia and me before disappearing through the crowd.
With my hand on Mia’s back, I guide her through the crowd, searching her face while we make our way to our table. She continues smiling, her eyes sparkling with delight as she looks around the huge ballroom with wonder, despite having already been here for three hours. But then she glances at me, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip.
“Something you’d like to say?” I ask her.
She nods, avoiding my gaze.
I sigh inwardly. I knew she was too good to be true. She’s going to bitch about me talking to Dahlia. “Then say it.”
“May I look at you?”
“Yes.”
Her hazel eyes appear green tonight, sparkling under the bright chandeliers. “Your friend was so lovely. Did she know Anya too?”
I scan her face and don’t find a trace of jealousy or envy, only genuine curiosity. “Why do you ask that?”
“It just seemed like she did, from the way she spoke.”
My heart constricts. “Yes, she knew Anya too. Although it took them a long time to become friends.”
She tilts her head to the side, regarding me with curiosity. “Why?”
“Dahlia and I used to date. She was my first sub.” I narrow my eyes, waiting for the inevitable change in her demeanor.
Mia’s eyes widen, shining with delight and intrigue. “That’s…wow, I love that,” she says the last part softly as she scans the crowd.
“What?” I ask her with a frown.
She blinks at me, as though the answer is obvious. “She was so nice. It makes me feel like I know a little more about you is all.”
I continue watching her for any sign that she’s bullshitting me, but she remains her usual happy, heart-on-her-sleeve self.
I arch an eyebrow at her. “You only met her for a few minutes, how can you know if she was nice?”
“Her whole vibe was good.” She shrugs, but then she gives me a wicked grin, running her hand over the buttons of my shirt. “Are you telling me she’s not nice? Are my spidey-senses off?”
“No.” The corners of my mouth tug into an unexpected grin. “She’s a good person.”
