“Me, I’m fine. But I’m glad we’re talking.”
“Look, I’m sorry about that, but we’re cool, right?”
“Yeah, we’re cool,” she said, not believing that to be the case.
“Only—you don’t look right, Sparkles.”
She knew she looked like hell. Did everyone have to keep reminding her? Anyway, what could she say, especially to Jake? I can’t sleep at night because the vampire prince invades my dreams and seduces me. Revealing the truth wouldn’t go down too well with him. And she had already stepped over the line, in his mind, interfering with Ella and Marcus. Trying to explain her situation would make matters worse.
“Look, I owe you a meal, Jake Meadows, and lately, well, everything has been shit. What with Steel being in a coma, Ella and Marcus at each other’s throats, it feels like what is going on is hitting us right here. How about after the meeting, you let me cook dinner, nothing fancy, but a meal for the two of us. What do you say?” She actually bit her lower lip, worried he might refuse.
“You cook, Sparkles? Sounds a bit desperate to me.”
He could be right. She didn’t recognize herself right now. She spun away to place her cup back under the machine and poured more caffeine.
“Take it or leave it, Jake. I’m trying to be nice, but my patience is wearing thin and if you want to continue to be an asshole, carry on.”
Isabella’s patience evaporated. With a trembling hand, she lifted her cup and sipped the strong, fortifying brew. She needed to be focused and alert this morning because both her sisters would be here, watching and judging her. They never missed a beat. She also knew Roman would be here any minute.
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea, Sparkles.”
Isabella nodded over her cup, holding it with both hands as she shivered. A sinking sensation told her he was probably right, but she wanted to slip in another kiss to check to see whether maybe this time she reacted differently. As she thought about pushing it, in strolled the elegant prince, dressed in his tailored suit and surrounded by his two bloodthirsty henchmen. They commanded attention wherever they went, with their detached, handsome allure and unflinching expressions as they glided along. Roman didn’t make his way to her, but rather he sauntered over to Marcus and Henry. As he passed her by, his gaze ran her full length and he frowned, as if displeased. He gave a curt nod at them and continued to walk away. Wow, that’s a first. Normally, he would have made some offensive remark. Standing next to Jake, the vamp usually wouldn’t have been able to resist himself. Instead, he did nothing. Maybe his interest in her had peaked and he had found a new playmate. It proved Roman didn’t have real feelings for her; she was nothing more than an amusement, something to pass the time with.
Aware she still watched the vampire, she pulled her gaze away and found Jake studying her, deep in thought.
“Preoccupied much?” he said.
“Look—I have to eat and so do you. That’s all my offer is: dinner and a chance to apologize.”
Jake shifted his stance and glanced over her shoulder. She didn’t need to look where his line of vision went, and she sighed. This was crazy. Taking two steps, she started to walk away, unwilling to keep trying to ease the situation between them. But Jake grabbed her arm, and she swung around to face him.
“Sparkles, like I said, we’re cool. What happened at dinner is already forgiven. To be honest, there’s too much at stake right now to focus on any sort of relationship, but you’re right, I need to eat. Are you any good at cooking?” His wide smile surfaced and she smiled back, glad they seemed to be back at being friends at least. Maybe that’s all they would ever be.
She nodded. “You betcha, and if anything doesn’t quite work out as it should, I can always wiggle my nose and hey presto, it will taste delicious.”
Jake laughed and she did too. The innocent laughter drew the attention of the rest of the people in the room.
“What will taste delicious?” The deep voice at her shoulder made her blood run cold. Or was it hot? She didn’t dare look as she didn’t need to. She knew Roman stood behind her, and his hand splayed in a possessive way on her right hip, which burned through the material. No one else would have the audacity to be so intimate.
Jake didn’t move but he spoke calmly. “We’re having dinner tonight. I hear Isabella is a great cook.”
The prince drew her closer to his side and although she didn’t meet his gaze, she knew he glanced at her profile.
“You have me there. I have yet to sample my fiancée’s cooking, but if it is anything like her other skills—you’re in for a treat. Of course, I would love to join you both, but tonight Marcus and I will be discussing our little venture into the Veil of Shadows. I will swing by before I leave as I know you will miss me when I’m gone.”
Isabella’s cheeks flamed at his comments. Damn the beast, he was the only man who flicked her crazy switch. His words were deliberately provocative, but his last words caught her, and she spun around.
“I’m confused—I’m going to the Veil too, so why will I miss you?”
The prince of vampires ran his gaze over her face, taking his time to examine every feature, and she blinked under his intense scrutiny. He swept several strands of her hair behind her ear before stroking her cheek. “You look tired, love,” Roman said.
The act of intimacy drove her crazy, especially in front of Jake, and she wanted to throttle him.
“Please don’t do that. Now,
