Steel & Silk

ivide time in half, befor

new how to t

ious, but with enough liq

e white marble pillars of the ballroom, watching p

hiny rings. Em

ground for the weal

roll in late. He always did. Fashionably cha

. Untouche

pression unreadable. But I could see it. That tightness in his jaw. That

new

ery goddamn second

e owned it. But everyone knew better. She

nk just as I heard it.

et J

rd

is voice was unmistakable. That slow, dragged

did

wed his lin

when I

Wolf

, Jesus

. Short, fluttering just above the knee, hugging her waist

chable style. Not tonight. Tonight it was loose, wild, tumbl

h they were prac

he color of bl

rowd like she was a

nd of beautiful t

that made you for

?" Jordan asked beside me, his voi

friend, is probably the one woman y

y. "That's an invitati

cutting him a look.

olded, studying her with a glea

Wolfg

as if tasting the sylla

e i

d. "I like

"She's got claws, teeth, an

is gaze slightly.

nd. Keeps things professional. Strategic. But she's.

That was the thing about Jordan. He didn't need to ask m

" he asked finally, still watching her l

"Not off

ani

one. Probably the only person who knew how to get under that ice

ut

epped back. Didn't make a scene. Didn't cry. Just... v

harlotte, nodding at someone's speech with a h

ooks like he swa

up

led low. "Po

," I added. "Made some excuse. We all th

she

ly to her. Alexander, her brother, and Adam

ghtly. "So she's here. Bea

. "You're plann

out smiling. "

on

y n

tly. "You're looking for trouble. And

oftly. "I don't l

, slipping into the crowd with that easy, slow gait

ff. Smoothed his a

ate in a b

t even l

and tossed back th

ing to be a