Chapter Five

After putting on my dress and shoes, I glanced in the mirror one last time and smiled at my reflection. This was definitely one of my favorite dresses so far and, as silly as it was, I hoped Leo thought so too. It irritated me how much his opinion mattered to me, especially considering that we weren't anywhere near being a couple. Someday, I would stop caring. Someday, I would find someone else to love and I would finally put these feelings for Leo aside. Someday, I would be smart and let him go. Just not today.

As it was, I suspected he would just tell me to put on a jacket, too.

With a shrug, I tossed my hair over my shoulder and went into the adjoining room to find Ava. She was standing in front of the mirror, mesmerized by her appearance.

“Holy crap. I do good work,” I said, taking her in. Stunning didn't even come close to describing her. The dress was even better with her dark hair freshly curled and pulled back with a golden comb.

“You look gorgeous, Charlotte,” Ava replied, her eyes barely leaving the mirror to look at me.

“What? This old thing?” I teased, walking around to take a better look at her. “Sebastian's going to lose his mind when he sees you.”

“You're sure he'll be happy to see me?” she asked, pressing her knuckles into the lace at her stomach. Her cheeks were flushed but the rest of her was pale. I hoped she wasn't going to throw up from nerves.

“He's been the moodiest, most grumpy man I've ever had the misfortune of being around since you left. He hasn't even gone out paddle-boarding in the mornings. Just keeps talking about the dark.” I shook my head, not really understanding the man I called brother. Heartbreak was not an emotion Sebastian dealt well with.

“I'm just nervous. I don't want to screw this up again.” Ava's voice was barely above a whisper as she stared at the princess in the mirror.

I took her hands in mine. “He has been a mess without you. A broody, heartbroken, lovesick mess. He's going to be overjoyed to see you. I promise.”

Ava stilled. “You know Bastian and I had a fight, right?” Her hands shook slightly in mine.

I reached up and fixed a stray strand of hair, pulling it from her eyes and tucking it back where it belonged. “Yes. I know.”

“I said some terrible things...”

“He loves you,” I assured her, taking her hands in mine again. “I know Sebastian. And I've never seen him the way he was with you. He was happy. And this past week...” I shook my head, remembering just how moody and grumpy he'd been without Ava around. The entire staff was on tiptoes and I was fairly certain his secretary was about to have a nervous breakdown. “This past week has been a nightmare without you.”

“How could I have been so stupid?” Ava asked, her voice breaking and eyes starting to water. I hadn't meant to upset her, but apparently I had. I needed to work on my fairy god-mother skills.

“Don't you dare cry,” I warned, knowing that in ten minutes the two of them would be happy lovebirds again. “It may be waterproof mascara, but I will not have you messing up all the work we just did.”

“Sorry,” Ava apologized. She sniffed and looked up at the ceiling, blinking rapidly and waving at her eyes in an attempt to make the tears go away.

“Sebastian Belrose loves you. I think he was smitten from the moment he saw you.” I smiled, remembering the way he lit up around her and how he softened whenever he said her name. I'd never seen him do that for anyone else. If that wasn't love, then I was a crazy person.

“I don't think it was that fast. That first moment, I was kind of a jerk,” Ava said, trying to joke about how she had basically told him off.

I laughed. The fact that she stood up to him was probably part of the attraction. Anyone who could stand up to Bastian and not give into his brooding dark eyes and charming words was rare. “This is going to work out. I promise you. Just come downstairs.” I smiled and checked the delicate silver watch on my wrist. “You ready?”

I didn't even wait for her answer before pushing her out the door. It was time for magic.

The hallway was quiet as we made our way to the top of the double staircase. The closer we came, the louder the murmur of voices and music became. Ava slowed and then tried to step back, but I wouldn't let her.

She balked harder and I followed her gaze to a man in a tacky knock-off suit. Chad the Auctioneer. I really needed to put feeding him to sharks on my to-do list. Or at least talk to Eli, Bastian's head of security, about having an “accident” occur. Given Eli's impressive military history, I had a feeling he could pull off something appropriately dark.

“No running,” I whispered, pointing her toward Bastian instead of her evil ex. “Bastian's right there.”

Ava shook like a leaf, but as soon as she saw him, I knew she wasn't going to back down. Strength went into her spine. I gave her a gentle push, more to get her moving than anything. The two of them deserved one another and I wasn't about to let them miss a moment.

Ava stood at the top of the stairs while Bastian stood in the main foyer with Gabe and Leo. Bastian nodded occasionally to his business partners, but it was easy to tell that he wasn't really listening to a word they had to say.

Ava took the first step and it was like watching a movie. As Bastian's head turned, his eyes widened and his mouth dropped at her beauty. The two of them glided together as if on magnets, their eyes bright and full of hope.

He met her at the bottom of the stairs and I saw her blush and say something. I was too far away to hear their conversation, but at least they were both smiling.

Bastian's hand moved through the air, and I knew he was going to draw her in for a kiss, except he paused and then stopped. His face went cold and his eyes distant.

I looked behind Ava to see Chad ruining my perfect romantic moment. This was not the happy reunion with kisses I had anticipated and it was all Chad's fault. I was so calling Eli.

Bastian's hand went back to his side and his eyes were guarded. Ava blushed and looked like she might faint at any moment. Which, given that I knew Bastian would catch her, wouldn't be the end of the world, but definitely not the moment I had imagined for them.

I took the first step of the stairs, determined to get my brother and my new friend their fairy tale moment, even if it meant killing the auctioneer before the auction. On the second step, Bastian clearly asked if they could go speak somewhere else and my hopes rose slightly.

I was paying more attention to where Bastian and Ava were going than I was to the stairs and tripped on the last step. Luckily, Leo was there to catch me. His hands were warm on my bare arms as he made sure I was steady before letting me go. I wished he had held on for just a moment longer.

“Thanks,” I said, feeling a little silly for almost falling. My heart was pounding in my chest, and not just from nearly eating it. Leo looked amazing. His dark suit brought out the blue in his eyes and accented the strong lines of his shoulders and trim physique. Even his normally messy hair was brushed back and sleek. He looked every bit like a billionaire playboy and it had my body responding.

Damn him. I needed to concentrate on Bastian and Ava, not how good he looked in a suit. But, he just looked so good.

“What's up with them?” Leo asked, motioning toward the receding outline of Bastian and Ava as they headed toward the back porch and away from the party.

“Come with me,” I said, grabbing his hand and pulling him along behind me as I followed my brother and his girlfriend. I needed to make sure they kissed and made up without that stupid auctioneer's words really ruining everything.