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“Yes,” I said at last. “Lucian. Sarah thought I should meet him since he’s our new brother-in-law’s brother, or whatever. Then I lost my footing and almost fell into him, and it spiraled from there.”
“It did not,” Sarah insisted. “It was not that bad!”
She didn’t understand. At all. For someone like her, it’d be cute. For me... I shook my head. “I’ll talk to him later when I’m not so...” I made a vague gesture around me, hoping that explained everything. No such luck.
Nadia reached out and grabbed my hand. “I’m with Sarah on this one. Go and say hello to him. Talk, dance!”
“Oh, yes, dancing! That’s a great idea.” Sarah pulled on my arm to try to get me out of my seat. “Then you’ll be a little more relaxed. Small talk is always hard to get past, so maybe just skip it! I don’t think Lucian is into that anyway.”
Why were they being so pushy?
I looked back toward him, and he gave me a small wave, his eyebrows raised in an inviting fashion.
“Is there something I don’t know that you’re not telling me?”
“No,” they both said at once, making it even more suspicious.
After a brief moment of silence and one shared glance, Sarah spoke. “Dymitri seemed to think you and Lucian would hit it off well, and I agree. In fact, I heard he’s nervous to talk to you.”
“Seriously?” I didn’t buy it. A guy like that wouldn’t get nervous.
She nodded. “He’s...not exactly a people person. Kind of rough around the edges. I know you haven’t had a lot of luck with guys. but I wouldn’t suggest you two talk, if I thought it was a bad idea.”
“I feel really good about it too,” Nadia added. “Neither of us would lie to you or set you up for failure.”
They’d conspired against me! I couldn’t believe it.
That being said, Lucian was...wow. And I did trust them. They’d never let me down before. I just wish the set-up didn’t have to seem so desperate. Guys never found that attractive. But if he truly wanted to talk to me, then maybe I’d judged him too quickly.
“All right, I’ll ask him to dance,” I said. For the moment, I had my nerve, and I wouldn’t let my head talk me out of it.
Sarah subtly fist bumped and Nadia clapped.
I took a few steps forward, and Lucian’s eyes seemed to light up. He moved toward me, meeting me halfway in front of the buffet table where the night’s feast was spread.
“You seem to have practiced,” he teased.
I shook the joke off, my legs going weak again. I wouldn’t stumble any more. I would show him how confident and sexy I could be. “What can I say? I’m a fast learner.” I paused. “Would you like to—”
“I was just about to get something to eat,” he said. “I took a long journey unexpectedly and it’d be nice to replenish that spent energy.”
“Oh.” So much for my sisters steering me in the right direction.
“And I’d like you to join me,” he added. “Because after...”
“After?” I asked, gazing up into his eyes. Immediately, I was lost.
He smirked. “After, I’m sure I’ll have plenty of energy.”
Doubt tried to creep into my head. This guy was way too hot for me. But I shoved it aside. Trust. I knew I had to trust him. I couldn’t say how I was so certain of that fact, but it felt right. I’d never get anywhere if I always played it safe.
“Sounds perfect. I’m pretty hungry too, if I’m being honest.”
He walked me to the table, and we loaded up our plates. I followed my heart there too, not going crazy, but not sticking to only the veggies from the salad tray either. He wasn’t the only one who had to stock up on energy!
Soon, we sat down at a table together and tucked into our plates.
“You went on a journey,” I said. “Everything okay? I saw you missed the ceremony.”
