at myself for feeling uncertain, and so on and so forth.
I’m probably putting way too much stock into the importance of dinner. But then again, Hugh is coming. Jeremy’s father. And although this has nothing of a ‘meet-the-parents’ vibe, it’s still very much unsettling.
I’m probably guarded and on edge because of all that Jeremy told me about Hugh. The way that he presents a certain danger to me. The way that he likes to operate from the shadows, unseen and out of harm’s way. The fact that, as far as I know, he was the one responsible for Jeremy’s mother losing her hearing. That’s me making a pretty big assumption, but what else fits? I know he beat his wife.
That could be the root cause of my discomfort. Tonight, I’m going to be having dinner in the company of two very volatile, very destructive men. Even if I feel that Jeremy is on my side, he still has that obvious capacity for violence that I can never forget.
I check the clock. Fifteen minutes left. “Fuck this,” I mutter, grabbing the next red dress I see. As least I don’t have to worry about it fitting.
Ten minutes later, almost precisely at seven, I glide down the stairs, affecting the demeanor of one completely in control and self-assured.
In reality, I‘m anything but.
Jeremy is waiting for me at the foot of the stairs. “Five minutes early,” he says. “Impressive. In my experience, you give a woman ninety minutes to get ready and she’ll stretch it out to the final seconds.”
“Maybe that’s not so much a blanket description of our gender,” I answer sweetly. “Perhaps, it’s more a testament to your poor choices of former companions.”
He laughs. “You do look marvelous, though, Lilly. I’m impressed.”
“Why, thank you, Jeremy.” I give him a slight, mocking curtsy. “You don’t look half-bad yourself.”
“I try hard now that I have you to keep up with.”
I eye him sideways. He laughs again.
“What’s the plan for tonight?” I ask. “Why’d you invite your father here?”
“Oh, that?” Jeremy’s eyes glint with mischief… or maybe something a tad darker, a bit more perverse. “ That , you’ll have to wait and see for yourself.” He checks his watch. “Don’t worry, now. It won’t be long.”
We enter the dining room together. Jeremy separates from me and takes his usual seat. I take mine across the table from him.
There are four sets of cutlery.
I look at Jeremy. “I thought only Hugh was coming.”
“I invited Rose as well.” Jeremy picks up a glass of ice water and takes a sip. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“I—no,” I stammer. “Why would I mind?” I remember that thing Jeremy screamed out in the midst of his night terror. I sit up straight. Maybe I’ll finally get some answers. “In fact, I think that’s a marvelous idea.”
“Do you, now?” Jeremy muses. He leans toward me. “Why?”
I shrug and make something up on the spot. “The three of us haven’t had a chance to be together in one room since—Jesus—since Christmas dinner when you pulled me out of the dark.”
“Hmm.” Jeremy appears satisfied with my explanation. “Remember, Hugh will be here as well.”
Footsteps announce the arrival of a third person. I look up and see Rose. She’s dressed impeccably. I’ve never seen her like this. She’s wearing a tea length, lavender dress with lace detailed cap sleeves, with her hair down. Silver waves curl around her neck. She has a beautiful pendant at her throat, and two stunning diamond earrings.
What the hell is going on?
“Mr. Stonehart,” she says, smiling at Jeremy. “Miss Ryder.”
“Rose,” Jeremy makes an expansive gesture in welcome. “Please, won’t you sit?”
“It will be my absolute pleasure,” she says. “Thank you, for inviting me tonight.” She glances my way, and surprises me with a wink. “Though I must say, I feel a little ridiculous in these clothes.”
“Nonsense,” Jeremy smiles. “You look both elegant and
I’m probably putting way too much stock into the importance of dinner. But then again, Hugh is coming. Jeremy’s father. And although this has nothing of a ‘meet-the-parents’ vibe, it’s still very much unsettling.
I’m probably guarded and on edge because of all that Jeremy told me about Hugh. The way that he presents a certain danger to me. The way that he likes to operate from the shadows, unseen and out of harm’s way. The fact that, as far as I know, he was the one responsible for Jeremy’s mother losing her hearing. That’s me making a pretty big assumption, but what else fits? I know he beat his wife.
That could be the root cause of my discomfort. Tonight, I’m going to be having dinner in the company of two very volatile, very destructive men. Even if I feel that Jeremy is on my side, he still has that obvious capacity for violence that I can never forget.
I check the clock. Fifteen minutes left. “Fuck this,” I mutter, grabbing the next red dress I see. As least I don’t have to worry about it fitting.
Ten minutes later, almost precisely at seven, I glide down the stairs, affecting the demeanor of one completely in control and self-assured.
In reality, I‘m anything but.
Jeremy is waiting for me at the foot of the stairs. “Five minutes early,” he says. “Impressive. In my experience, you give a woman ninety minutes to get ready and she’ll stretch it out to the final seconds.”
“Maybe that’s not so much a blanket description of our gender,” I answer sweetly. “Perhaps, it’s more a testament to your poor choices of former companions.”
He laughs. “You do look marvelous, though, Lilly. I’m impressed.”
“Why, thank you, Jeremy.” I give him a slight, mocking curtsy. “You don’t look half-bad yourself.”
“I try hard now that I have you to keep up with.”
I eye him sideways. He laughs again.
“What’s the plan for tonight?” I ask. “Why’d you invite your father here?”
“Oh, that?” Jeremy’s eyes glint with mischief… or maybe something a tad darker, a bit more perverse. “ That , you’ll have to wait and see for yourself.” He checks his watch. “Don’t worry, now. It won’t be long.”
We enter the dining room together. Jeremy separates from me and takes his usual seat. I take mine across the table from him.
There are four sets of cutlery.
I look at Jeremy. “I thought only Hugh was coming.”
“I invited Rose as well.” Jeremy picks up a glass of ice water and takes a sip. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“I—no,” I stammer. “Why would I mind?” I remember that thing Jeremy screamed out in the midst of his night terror. I sit up straight. Maybe I’ll finally get some answers. “In fact, I think that’s a marvelous idea.”
“Do you, now?” Jeremy muses. He leans toward me. “Why?”
I shrug and make something up on the spot. “The three of us haven’t had a chance to be together in one room since—Jesus—since Christmas dinner when you pulled me out of the dark.”
“Hmm.” Jeremy appears satisfied with my explanation. “Remember, Hugh will be here as well.”
Footsteps announce the arrival of a third person. I look up and see Rose. She’s dressed impeccably. I’ve never seen her like this. She’s wearing a tea length, lavender dress with lace detailed cap sleeves, with her hair down. Silver waves curl around her neck. She has a beautiful pendant at her throat, and two stunning diamond earrings.
What the hell is going on?
“Mr. Stonehart,” she says, smiling at Jeremy. “Miss Ryder.”
“Rose,” Jeremy makes an expansive gesture in welcome. “Please, won’t you sit?”
“It will be my absolute pleasure,” she says. “Thank you, for inviting me tonight.” She glances my way, and surprises me with a wink. “Though I must say, I feel a little ridiculous in these clothes.”
“Nonsense,” Jeremy smiles. “You look both elegant and
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