Page 17 of Mane Attraction
The waiter appeared with perfect timing, and Lev ordered for both of them before pouring glasses of the deep red Sidaii wine. The liquid caught the light like rubies, and the fruity aroma made Xelene’s mouth water.
“Take it slow with that,” Lev warned, his voice carrying genuine concern. “It’s potent for humans.”
I may need more than one glass if I’m going to pretend to be this man’s girlfriend,Xelene thought desperately.
The very idea of maintaining such an intimate charade with Lev made her feel like she was standing on the edge of a precipice, one wrong step away from falling into something dangerous.
Their food arrived with theatrical presentation—dishes that looked like works of art and tasted even better. The flavors exploded across her palate in ways that made her close her eyes in appreciation.
“This place is truly special,” she murmured, savoring another bite.
“We take a lot of pride in our kingdom,” Lev replied, his voice warm with genuine affection. “I’m glad you’re finding it welcoming.”
Lev leaned back in his chair with that easy confidence that seemed to be his default setting.
“I laid my soul bare on that paper in your purse. So now it’s my turn to get to know you.”
Xelene blushed, realizing just how invasive her standard client assessment was. “Fair enough. What do you want to know?”
“Janice mentioned you’re afraid of commitment. What’s that about?”
The direct question hit her like a slap, and she found herself reaching for her wine glass. “It’s nothing really. My parents went through a nasty divorce when I was twelve. Playing mediatorand watching it all unravel was pretty tough. I got a crash course in how love can turn destructive, and I don’t want that to happen to me.”
Lev’s expression shifted, the practiced charm melting away to reveal something genuine and open. His voice gentled as he leaned forward. “When you find the right man, love won’t be destructive. It will be freeing. I have confidence you’ll find him someday.”
Something about his words unsettled her on a fundamental level. She took a larger gulp of wine, feeling the immediate buzz as the alcohol hit her system.
Lev chuckled, the sound rich and warm. “Take it easy. I wouldn’t want you getting tipsy on your first day here.”
“Yeah, that would probably leave a bad impression,” she agreed, though the wine was already making her feel looser than she’d been in months.
“Why do you care so much about impressions and what people think?”
The question caught her off guard with its directness. “It’s my job to care what people think. I’ve always prided myself on being put together and in control for my clients.”
Lev’s gaze intensified. “Maybe around me, you don’t have to be so controlled and perfect. Just be yourself.”
The suggestion terrified her more than she cared to admit. She’d never allowed herself to simply exist without the armor of competence and control, not even with Janice or her parents. The thought of lowering her guard around a man who seemed perfectly designed to destabilize her felt like stepping into free fall.
“I’ll try,” she said finally. “But no promises.”
“I’ll take what I can get.”
As dinner progressed, Lev’s hand found hers across the table during their conversation, his thumb tracing gentle circlesacross her knuckles as they maintained their couple charade. Each touch sent sparks through her body, and she found herself reaching for her wine glass more frequently, trying to calm the butterflies rioting in her stomach.
This is just pretend,she reminded herself desperately.You’re acting for the benefit of his people. None of this is real.
But the way Lev looked at her, the genuine interest in his questions, the protective way he angled his body toward hers—it all felt disturbingly authentic. By the time they finished their meal, Xelene realized she’d consumed three glasses of the potent Sidaii wine, and the world had taken on a soft, dreamy quality.
When she tried to stand, the room tilted alarmingly, and she gripped the edge of the table for support.
“You definitely overdid it with the wine,” Lev observed, rising smoothly to steady her with a strong hand on her elbow.
“I did,” she admitted, grateful for his solid presence as they headed back to the limousine.
The drive back to the castle passed in a wine-hazed blur of sensation. Lev’s body heat seemed to wrap around her like a living thing, and before she knew what was happening, she found herself resting her head on his shoulder, seeking relief from the spinning in her head.
It’s just to stop the dizziness,she told herself, even as Lev’s arm came around her shoulders, pulling her closer against his side.This doesn’t mean anything.
