Oh my god. I’m really doing this. With a man I just met. Am I crazy? No, you’re not. You’re not overthinking it. You’re not going to let this opportunity pass you by. You’re going to go for it. This is really happening.

She looked unlike herself. Younger, different, and it wasn’t just the makeup. She felt a youthful giddiness inside she hadn’t felt since . . . well, she couldn’t remember. Probably before she married Evan.

Reaching into her bag, she reapplied her lipstick, dusted powder on her shiny nose and forehead, and straightened the gold mask around her eyes. Then she felt her earrings and made sure they were properly clipped on. Her chest was flushed. Her eyes went down to the sparkling diamond, resting just above her cleavage. She started to pull up the lace trim so she could be more respectable, then stopped herself. Everything was covered. She looked good. Darn good. And there was nothing wrong with using a little sex appeal.

So instead of trying to cover up, Diana ran her hands along the sides of her ribcage and lifted her breasts in the corset so that they were higher. Now, the diamond’s bottom dipped almost into her cleavage. She turned to the side, held her shoulders back, and inspected herself. Not bad. You almost look like one of the daring ones.

Which reminded her . . .

It had likely been at least four minutes since she’d left Luc. If she didn’t hurry, he might think she chickened out and leave. She imagined him in his dashing mask, leaning against a pillar, waiting in the darkness for her, and her heart thudded. This was like something out of one of those tawdry bodice-ripper romance novels. She could almost imagine the back-cover blurb: a chance encounter with a masked nobleman changed her life forever . . .

The door opened. A few ladies came into the stuffy bathroom just then and started their preening, so Diana quickly made her exit. Every step she took on the marble floor echoed hollowly in her ears. Trying to keep her breathing even, she backtracked to the doors Luc had pointed to, and slipped out through the first set of double doors to the vestibule.

From there, she could see the balcony through the next set of doors. The railing was adorned in white fairy lights, but just as Luc had promised, the vast marble portico was full of little nooks and alcoves made by various fountains, sculptures, and pruned hedges. A few people milled about, and shadows were everywhere, fooling her eyes. She hesitated there, wondering where among all the hidden places she’d find him. What if he was only teasing her? What if he’d never intended to meet with her?

Don’t be silly. You’re both adults. He’s not some young, silly man, playing games.

She swallowed, thinking of what Lily would say: You’re going to go out in the dark with some stranger, Mom? Some stranger who could be an axe-murderer. Really smart! Aren’t you the one who made me carry a rape whistle everywhere I went in college?