One hundred percent without a doubt Cortez had lied when he said he didn’t want her. Blind nuns could have seen through him. He’d tried to project indifference, but every part of him had betrayed his true feelings. A slight flinch, an audible swallow, a clenched fist, the false note in his voice, the pain in his eyes. Oh, he wanted her a great deal, but the idiot was going to deny himself because of some dumb rule he’d placed on himself? It didn’t make any sense. There had to be more to it than not wanting to date someone who worked for him. He’d determined she needed to sing, but she could easily get a lesser paying job somewhere else. Hell, she’d sing on a busy street corner for change if it meant they could be together.

She spent most of the next day preparing. Step one, make herself drop-dead gorgeous, even more so than yesterday, all stops pulled out. If he really didn’t want her, it shouldn’t be a problem for him. Step two, figure out how to seduce a male...or maybe that should be the first step. Seduction had never been her thing. Cortez had been the one to sweep her off her feet, beguile and bewitch her. She just had to do what he did, only in reverse.

She’d unpacked all her new clothes and had taken inventory of her sexiest outfits. Cortez had sent her away with an arsenal to be used against him. She wore a black, gauzy piece with an elegant open scoop back that was aloft by a set of delicate spaghetti strap bows at the shoulders. Pull the strings and the whole thing would come crashing down.

Along with her provisions, she’d also picked up a large bouquet of roses, red, of course, with a risqué note that read: I wanted to thank you for everything, but since I can’t have my mouth around your cock, I went with flowers instead. xoxo—friends forever.

She felt diabolical.

Her cell rang. Cortez’s name flashed on the screen. She waited a couple rings and then answered with a saucy purr in her voice. “Hello?”

There was a brief silence. Had she thrown him? “Cole just fed. Would you like me to send a car?”

“Oh, yes, please.”

Another short silence. “Donovan will be there shortly.”

Hanging up, she snickered.

When she met Donovan at the door, he eyed her outfit, her makeup and the vase stuffed with flowers. His lips twitched. “You ready for round one?”

“I’m going for the knockout.” With any luck, Cortez was going to be blindsided. On the ride over, however, doubt crept in. “Donovan?” she asked just as they pulled up to the front entrance.

“Mm?”

“I could be about to make a huge fool of myself, so I’m asking you honestly. Should I just let him go?”

Donovan met her gaze in the mirror. “Are you kidding? After last night, I put a grand on you for the win.”

“You did not.” She laughed, but then his eyes turned serious, and she decided he was telling the truth. “You’re gambling on our relationship?”

He nodded proudly. “Best entertainment we’ve had in a while. And when he sees you in that dress, you’ll have him by the short and curlies.”

Another laugh burst out of her, the kind that ran amuck and took one’s breath with it. After a minute, she sobered. “So, you’re okay if I get back together with him? You don’t hate me?”

“For what? Trying to get us all annually flogged by Dante and the VEA?”

She cringed.

“Nah. You were duped, same as us. I don’t like that it had to go down the way it did, but if you work the boss like I think you’re going to, then maybe things worked out the way they were supposed to.”

“And if I don’t?”

“I’ve seen the way he is with you...and how he is without you.” Donovan glanced up at Ever Nights. “He’s better with you. Whether Cortez wants to admit it or not, you two have something very rare. You don’t just give that up without a fight.”

She nodded, mentally donning her boxing gloves. “Got any tips for me?”

A sly grin spread across his face. “He had a new camera installed yesterday. Aimed at the Whitlock Stage.”

So he could watch her perform? “Doesn’t want me my ass,” she muttered under her breath and then stepped out of the car.