Flawless Ruin

“It was a gift from my boyfriend,” she continues, checking her reflection. “A trophy for his trophy.”

My heart sinks. “Your boyfriend… Caleb?”

Her eyes narrow in suspicion. “No. I think you have the wrong person,” she says with a flip of her dark hair. “Excuse me.”

I only realize I’m blocking the exit when she slips past me, leaving me in a cloud of thick perfume. I try to shake off my unease as I wander back to the table. The necklace had been for auction at the gala, I reason with myself. That boyfriend of hers must have bought it. Nothing strange about that.

But before I make it back to the table, I catch sight of the woman again. She’s rejoined her table, and is sitting across from a man with dark hair, wearing a black suit. He looks up to beckon the waiter, and I see his face—strikingly handsome, but with a brutal edge: A nose that’s been broken in a fight, once upon a time; the faint outline of a scar along one cheekbone.

I shiver. There’s something magnetic about him.

Something memorable. Something… Dangerous.

And I know in an instant, I never saw him at the gala. Because I’d remember him, because for months, I haven’t been really fascinated by any man since Caleb came into my orbit.

Case in point, David.

As I return to our table, and David smiles at me, the thought solidifies in my mind.

This is pointless.

Hoping that somehow David will say or do something to start a spark and I’ll fall madly in love with him? That’s just foolish wishful thinking.

My heart, and my attention, still belongs to Caleb.

I slide into the seat to find David’s already poured me a glass of wine. I gulp it, watching the man and his girlfriend, together. The jewel at the center of the choker glitters in the candlelight.

How did they get their hands on it? And why do I feel like it has something to do with Caleb’s secrets?

“Everything all right?” David asks me.

“Oh, yes.” I tear my eyes from the couple and force myself to concentrate on him. “Why?”

“You just seem distracted.”

“I’m not.”

Liar.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the woman and the striking man get up to leave. I need to find out more, so I quickly wrack my brains. “You know what?” I blurt suddenly. “You’re right, there is something wrong. I’m…

Umm, getting a migraine. I get really spacey when they’re coming on,” I add quickly. “It’s like a warning sign things are going to get rough. I’m so sorry, the timing is terrible, but I should get home and take my medication before it hits.”

It’s not bad, for a split-second excuse. My mom used to get migraines when I was a kid, so I know the drill.

Luckily, it works. “Oh no.” David’s face creases with concern. “Why didn’t you say so? We’ll just take a rain check, and do this some other time.”

His easy-going, even-tempered, laid-back attitude makes me feel even worse for lying to him. “Thanks for understanding,” I say as he asks for the check, keeping one eye on the couple as they head for the exit. “I’ll go find us a cab.”

I hurry after them while David settles up. Luckily, it’s started to rain, and they’re still in the lobby of the restaurant, avoiding the downpour as the woman complains loudly about ruining her hair.

I take a deep breath. Just being around this guy is setting my spidey senses tingling, but I have to know more—especially after Caleb was being so suspicious about the necklace at the gala, before everything hit the fan.

I casually approach them. “Oh, hi again!” I exclaim, like it’s a total coincidence I’m here. I turn to the guy. “I was just admiring your girlfriend’s necklace earlier. It’s sooo pretty. She’s a lucky woman, having such a generous boyfriend!”

OK, I’m laying it on thick here, playing the ditz, but I want to get them talking. I beam, “Where did you get it, if you don’t mind me asking? I need to give my man some clues for my birthday!”

The man stares back at me, coolly assessing. I inhale sharply as his gaze slides over me, almost predatory.