ble-checked my hair and gave myself a quick powder, blush, and lip gloss makeover. "Finally I get to meet the famous Dash McCaf-
ferty. Is he as big a bitch as his girlfriend?" Sabine asked. I rolled my eyes, shoved my feet into my shoes, and walked unsteadily out
to the living area of our suite, my ankles teetering thanks to the thick carpet and my nerves. Noelle was halfway to the door. London
was just about to open it. Vienna came tearing out of my room behind me, phone closed
now, and rushed to London's side, all smiles.
What the heck were those two up to? Not that I cared much at the moment. All I could think was that Dash was behind that door.
What would he say to me? What would I say to him? Would Noelle be able to tell what had happened between us?
London whipped open the door and everyone froze. The guy standing on the threshold was not Dash McCafferty. He was, in fact,
Dash's physical opposite. Tall, sure, but tan. Dark. Lean. With long black hair that just skimmed the bottom of his earlobes. Dominic
Infante. Dominic Infante and a single purple orchid in a white ceramic pot. He glanced around at each of us, dotted as we were around
the room, and stopped on me. "Reed. You look lovely," he said, holding out the orchid. Whahuh? "Look what we imported just for
you!" London announced. She and Vienna flanked the door like a pair of game-show models showing off the latest prize. Noelle
glanced back at me over her shoulder, amused. "Guess someone else has a date tonight," Noelle said. Realizing it was my turn to
speak, I took a few steps forward. "You came all the way down here from school just for me?" I asked Dominic.
He looked me up and down, his eyes lingering on my legs, my hips, my chest, and then my face. "Wouldn't you?" My heart actual-
ly fluttered. "Damn. Good answer," Noelle said behind me. Dominic handed the potted orchid to me, and London whisked it right out
of my hands. "Shall we?" Dominic said, stepping aside to make room in the doorway. I looked at London and Vienna and their insane
Cheshire grins and knew there was no way I could turn this down. Not without a fight. And why would I want to? Why not get out of
here before the torture of seeing Dash and Noelle together could occur? Why not hit New York with a gorgeous Italian maybe-prince?
This weekend was supposed to be about distraction. About getting away. I could think of no better method of escape. I smiled and
grabbed my coat. "I guess we shall."
PART OF THE FAMILY
"This place is incredible," I said to Dominic, laying my long, flat menu aside. When we had arrived at the small restaurant, tucked
away in the West Village, it hadn't looked like much. Just a brick basement in someone's brownstone. But once inside, we had been
ushered through the small, cozy dining area and out onto this even cozier patio, where only a dozen intimate tables were placed among
the trees that grew right out of the brick beneath our feet. There were heat lamps placed around the periphery to ward off the Novem-
ber chill, and white twinkle lights were strung from the tree branches overhead. I couldn't believe places like this existed in Manhattan.
"I'll tell my cousin you said so," Dominic replied. "Your cousin?"
"Yes. My cousin Antony owns this place," Dominic said casually. His accent really was alluring. "There is usually a long wait list
to get in, but when I told him of your beauty, he managed to clear a table for us."