A Million Different Ways to Lose You (Horn Duet 2)

“I said it was a Black and White ball.” The Armani gown was a cascade of silver, the entire dress hand beaded with delicate paillettes that captured the light and returned a soft glow.

“I didn’t want you confusing me with all the other women in the room.” The guilty expression that crossed his countenance warmed my chest. At least, his moral compass was still working properly.

My eyes took him in like a junky finally getting a fix. The streaks of pale gold in his hair reflected the light from the massive crystal chandeliers overhead. He’d gotten a haircut. It was neatly combed back, not a hair out of place. Something about it bothered me. It did nothing to hide the dark circles under his eyes though. “You look like you haven’t slept in weeks,” I stated, both my voice and my expression concerned.

He frowned. I wanted to smooth the lines of worry etched on his face away. “It’s work.”

“I know I haven’t,” I added, ignoring his dismissive attitude. His gaze slammed back into mine, assessing me closely. I seized my opportunity. “I miss you. I miss you so much.”

He averted his eyes, his jaw clenched as tight as a vice. I’m surprised it didn’t shatter. I was getting through to him. I could read it on his face. The indifference he’d hidden behind all his life never worked on me. Cracks were appearing on the walls of his fortress, and I was prepared to take it down brick by brick with my bare hands if I had to. “Don’t you miss me?” I pressed softly. When I touched his arm, his eyes lifted once again, the conflict present in his burning gaze. He was about to speak when Caroline stepped closer to him and interrupted.

“Sebastian, I need to introduce you to one of Daddy’s old friends,” she said, her bright blue eyes shifting nervously between Sebastian and me. The current between us was unmissable––I’m sure she felt it, too. She smoothed her hands down the sides of her gown, a black strapless with a long train, beautiful in its severity.

“In a minute,” he answered, his eyes never leaving mine. “Caroline, you remember my wife?”

A flimsy smile nearly broke her tight face in two. “Yes…hello, Vera.” Not even bothering to extend a hand, she added, “It’s nice to see you again. I mean, last time we met you were still working for him, I believe.” Her feigned ignorance was pathetic, so was the veiled insult because she thought I was ashamed of my past.

“Yes. That was back when I was working as his housekeeper,” I said, smiling brightly, nothing genuine about it. “Could have a moment with my husband?”

Her eyes nervously shifted to Sebastian. When he neither looked at her nor disagreed, she stepped away.

“Are you still working at the clinic?” His tone and demeanor told me the spell had been broken. He was back to being an ass.

“You know I am.” Bear was practically living in my shadow. I was certain he was reporting back every detail of my life. Not that there was anything to report––even if Sebastian was still under the false impression that I had slept with Alek. “Look––I don’t know what you think you saw in those pictures, but you should know that nothing happened.” Eyes narrowed, his gaze shifted to a point beyond me. “He tried to kiss me––” The rest of my sentence was swallowed up by the fierce scowl directed my way again.

“What did that motherfucker do?”

I hurried to explain. “He tried to kiss me, but I pushed him off. I told him how much I love my husband, and that he needs to move on with his life.”

Somewhat mollified, he breathed out sharply and rattled the ice in his glass. “This isn’t the time or place to discuss this,” he murmured.

“Then what should we discuss? The fact that you’re drinking?” His haunted gaze was on the move again, back to a faraway point. “And what are you doing with her.” My tone was less careful this time, my possessiveness getting the best of me. His expression hardened, meeting mine in full force.

“That’s my business,” he growled. The fact that he didn’t answer my question didn’t worry me––I knew he had less that zero interest in that woman––it was his anger that did. He was still so furious. My shoulders fell on a deep sigh. It was impossible to reason with him when he was like this.

“I love you,” I said in a last ditch attempt. My words missed their mark and fell to the ground.

“You sure have a funny way of showing it,” he bit out.

“Sebastian––” I implored in the most pathetically dejected voice.

“People are waiting on me. I’ll see you later.” With that, he walked away, leaving me standing in a crowd of strangers to nurse my aching heart.