Revelation (Private 8)

groaned and slipped a silver monogrammed flask from her beaded Marc Jacobs clutch.

"I think it's cute when you go all poetic," Daniel said, draping his arm across the back of Ariana's

chair. Ariana looked up at his chiseled profile, his auburn hair, his ridiculously long lashes, and felt

for the millionth time the triumph of having a boyfriend like him. They'd been a couple for more

than a year, and she still marveled that he had chosen her over all other girls at Easton. "And

Noelle..." He tipped his champagne flute toward her. "If you kill my girlfriend, you can kiss Dash

good-bye."

"It's Christmas. There will be no killing on my watch," Ariana said.

"Buzzkill." Noelle offered the flask to Dash, but he waved it off.

258

"I have an early day tomorrow," he said, checking his thick silver watch. He ran his hands through

his wavy blond hair and blew out a sigh. "I have to be in Boston at six a.m. to meet my father."

"Six a.m.? You are a saint, Dash McCafferty," Paige Ryan said as Noelle handed her the flask

instead.

Dash blushed, even with Noelle watching. Paige just had that kind of power over people. Her

great-great-grandmother Jessica Billings had founded Billings House more than eighty years ago.

Paige, with her auburn curls and glass green eyes, was Billings. The true leader. The girl who made

even Noelle pause with uncertainty. She was also Daniel's twin sister.

"So what did I miss?" Ariana asked.

"About ten minutes of your boyfriend talking about your Christmas vacation plans. It was lethally

boring--even worse than when you get into your Emily Dickinson moods." Noelle rolled her dark

eyes. A black-vested waiter silently reached over her shoulder, clearing plates and neatly laying

dessert forks over fresh napkins.

Daniel gave Ariana a quick kiss. "Vermont is going to rock," he said with a wink.

Ariana gave Daniel a tight smile, her heart suddenly leaden in her chest. She knew what that wink

meant. She and Daniel had long ago decided that they would lose their virginity to each other on

their one-year anniversary. But when said anniversary had rolled around back in November, Ariana

had chickened out. Of course, she hadn't let Daniel know she was scared. She had simply insisted

that she was not about to lose her virginity in a dorm room. Daniel had been disappointed but

understanding. The very next day he