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We’re both thinking it.
I was an animal that night, wasn’t I?
Heat roars through me, and I have to look away from her again.
“Hate these things.” I clear my throat, tugging at the band around the neck of my tuxedo.
“Then why wear it?”
“It’s a must for these stuffy-ass events. Full black-tie formal.”
Elle makes an odd sound that’s half scoff, half giggle. “Sounds like you don’t want to go.”
“I don’t.” At least, not for the reasons that have anything to do with more political BS.
“Huh.”
I feel something prodding my arm and look down.
Elle pokes the crook of my elbow.
Over and over again, like she can’t keep her hands still and has to occupy them doing something.
Pretty little weirdo.
“If you don’t want to go,” she asks, cocking her head and still poking me, “why are we going?”
“I thought—” With a growl, I stop and catch her hand, holding her fingers firmly. “I thought you might enjoy it more than annoying me.”
Elle’s grin says I’ve played right into her hands. Or played her hand right into mine.
Whatever.
“I won’t have any fun if you’re miserable, August. Can’t say I’m much for big speeches either.”
“So what? That’s every day of the week that ends in y.”
“Liar.” Laughing, she twists in the seat, but somehow she has her back against my side, my arm wrapped around her, my hand still her prize. She tilts her head back against my shoulder, looking at me upside down.
Again, I’m awestruck by both her frailty and her warmth—and the way my body burns everywhere for her slender, sleek curves. “Where would you rather be tonight? If it was just you, and you’d skipped the fundraiser ... what would you be doing?”
“Hm.” I run my thumb idly along the side of her hand as I think.
“Reading at home,” I conclude. “Watching the moon over the waves.”
“Then let’s go do that! We’ll watch the waves all dressed up, and you can read to me.”
I cock my head. She can’t be serious.
“That does sound like a better way to spend a beautiful evening,” I admit slowly.
“So what’s stopping you?”
“An overdeveloped sense of responsibility, for one.”
The kitten’s eyes glitter with mischief.
“Dude, live a little. Play hooky with me.”
