Lily rolled her eyes. “Am I to believe that neither you nor your father are armed?”
“I only have what I was permitted by my host,” Erik said, reminding her in his usual way that he was in a separate class from the rest of the guests. Daidí trusted no one as much as he trusted the Gaviria family, and the idea of any of them being unarmed was as likely as Lily leaving her room without a blade of some sort.
When Erik stepped back, he stared at her, and a prickle of nervousness slid over her, but then he nodded. They both took several steps toward the other. Erik lifted his left hand and simultaneously curled his right arm around her body. His hand rested on her back with a familiarity that the dance allowed.
She took his hand and wrapped her free arm around him as well.
“The rock star can’t take his eyes off of you,” Erik said as he pulled her closer to him.
She rolled her eyes. “Daidí hired him.”
Erik walked her backward, hip to hip. “I know you, Lily. You’re looking back at him.”
Lily followed Erik’s lead, the hardest part of the Argentine tango for her. Being passive, even in a dance, didn’t come easily. Her skirt brushed against him, and she felt the material swish as they moved, reminding her how close they were.
“He’s not one of us.”
Lily stiffened in his arms. If Erik knew that Creed was more like her than he was, it would be dangerous. Still, she refused to lie to Erik—or to admit things that could lead to trouble.
For a few moments, they danced in tense silence until Erik said, “I like you being in my arms like this, Lily. We could be more than this.”
She frowned. “I thought you were seeing that girl, Amalie or whatever.”
“She’s temporary.” Erik twisted his hips in a move a touch too familiar for in front of an audience. The speed of the music, Erik’s unexpected possessiveness, and the dance itself made for a display that revealed more about their relationship than she wanted. At least they weren’t alone on the dance floor now. People began to join them. It offered some degree of cover for the statement that Erik was apparently making.
“We were wrong to think we shouldn’t unify our organizations,” he murmured. “I think we should reconsider.”
“I haven’t even decided if I’m going on to university after I finish school or—”
“You could still do that,” he interrupted. “Get a business degree or pursue law. Father and I discussed it. I would handle the businesses for both families if you choose to go to school.”
“We wouldn’t suit that way, Erik,” she said softly.
“We could suit.” He dipped her backward, and when he brought her up, his lips were all but touching the skin of her throat.
“I can’t be like Se?ora Gaviria was. Your mother was lovely, but I’m not passive, Erik. Even if I loved you, I wouldn’t be able to be a silent partner. Daidí raised me to be in charge.”
“I know,” Erik said. “I’ve discussed it with Father. For you, I would write new rules. We would. Together.”
She stared at him as he removed her only logical objection. She wasn’t sure if she should be pleased or angry. Just then, she felt both in equal parts.
“Say you’ll be my wife someday, Lily.”
They danced for another few moments, and still she couldn’t speak. Finally, she managed to reply, “I can’t. I’m too young to think about this, and I’m not sure . . . of anything right now. I’m sorry.”
“Then say you’ll at least consider it,” he insisted as the song ended.
Lily wasn’t ready for the sort of decisions she was being asked to make. She wasn’t sure of where she wanted to be in the next year, much less forever. “I can’t even say maybe.”
“I can wait a little longer if you’re at least willing to think about it, Lily.”
The music switched to something that would be entirely wrong for a tango, even with Erik’s skill. Lily glanced toward the stage. Creed stared back at her, worry plain in his eyes, and she knew that the tempo change wasn’t an accident.
Before she got caught looking at the fae-blood singer, she rested her cheek against Erik’s shoulder and said, “Nothing fancy, Erik. Just dance with me for a minute like we’re normal people.”
Mutely, he complied, and they continued the next, much tamer, dance in silence. At the end of their second song, Erik leaned in and kissed the corner of her mouth, then he led her to her father’s side. No one—including their fathers or the fae-blood on stage—could have missed the possessive air of Erik’s actions tonight.
As she reached her father, Daidí gave her a curious look, but she merely smiled at him in reply.
Erik walked away, and she was left alone for a moment. There were guests to mingle with, smiles to wear, and myriad conversations she could join.
As Lily scanned the ballroom, she saw Shayla. She was almost to her when Creed’s speaking voice drew her attention. “I’m going to take a break, but the orchestra will keep you entertained during my pause.”
He hopped down from the stage with the sort of ease that made clear that ceremony wasn’t his habit. He looked graceful, but very much out of place in her father’s ballroom. It wasn’t that he didn’t have the wealth to wear what the most ostentatious of them did. It was that he didn’t seem to care—not about wealth or status or any of the trappings of it.
And right now, he was watching her with what looked like challenge in his eyes.
Lily, however, wasn’t going to change her path, despite the fact that he was now standing beside Shayla. She kept her smile in place and walked toward them.
“You were as wonderful live as on your albums,” Lily said as she reached him.
“I try.”
Shayla met Lily’s eyes and said, “He has one more set after his break.”
Then she abandoned Lily to her fate.
Once she was gone, Creed said, “I’d ask you to dance, but I couldn’t compete with your . . . what is he?”
Lily laughed. “You have a different girl with you in every picture. How can you possibly sound jealous?”
Creed shrugged. “None of those girls are my girlfriend.” He paused before offering, “I want to sing for you. Just you. Take me to your garden, and let me.”
Her back was to the rest of the guests, but Lily still needed the tension in the air between them to vanish. Erik had already noticed. So had her father, and undoubtedly, so had Shayla. She could see them all watching her, as were a lot of the guests.
Abernathy Commandment #14: Blending in helps you seem less memorable should you need an alibi at some point.
In a light voice, Lily said, “Is that what you say to girls to lure them away?”
His laugh was self-deprecating. “Most of them need no bribes. Only you have needed convincing.” He reached out for her hand.