Page 49 of The Art of Ruin

A humorless laugh almost escapes me.

Watch me, asshole.

Another one arrives almost instantly.

I made a mistake.

Hell yeah, you did.

A woman beside me reaches for a bundle of mistletoe while I stand there staring at the screen like it might suddenly explain how someone can claim to love you and lie to you in the same breath.

I type three different responses.

Delete all of them.

Then shove the phone back into my bag again.

“Casey!”

The tiny missile hits my legs before I even process the voice.

I look down just in time to catch Letty as she wraps herself around me at full speed, nearly sending both of us crashing into a table of hand-finished baubles. “Well,” I laugh, crouching automatically to steady her. “Hello to you, too.”

“You disappeared.”

“I went to buy a few Christmas presents. It’s very important work.”

“That’s what we’re doing. Daddy is helping me buy presents for my friends at school.”

I fight the urge to glance up at the man in question because, seriously, he’s helping her buy gifts for her friends. That’s seriously sweet, and I’m immune to sweet men who look devastating in a suit, or at least I’m trying to be. “That sounds fun.”

“It is, but Daddy says I can’t buy them a pony even though Josey really wants one.”

I roll my lips between my teeth to hide my smile. “Your dad is right. A pony is a big responsibility. Maybe get them some crayons so you can all color together.”

She grins at me, all teeth and confidence, and some of the tightness in my chest eases despite myself. “That’s a good idea, Casey.”

I hear a masculine scoff above me.

Then I straighten and find Adriano watching us closely.

Of course he looks unfairly good for a Saturday morning.

Dark jeans instead of tailored trousers. Black Henley, black wool coat looking effortlessly chic, and yet still carrying that air of danger. Sunglasses hooked into the collar instead of covering his eyes. Normally, I’d get the ick from sunglasses in winter, thinking it is pretentious, but I know for him it’s just sense. The winter sun is bright today, the air cool and crisp.

Relaxed, but still somehow precise.

Like even his casualness is expensive.

“Crayons?” he asks mildly.

“It’s a good choice.”

“It’s an excellent choice and I’ve been trying to persuade her for over an hour. One word from you and she capitulates.”

“That’s kids for you. You’re her dad. It’s natural she wants to push back. In fact, it’s a great thing. It shows how safe she feels with you.”

“Jesus,” he says dryly. “Stop. You’re going to make me weep, and I have a reputation to uphold.”