“Okay. My agent’s over there. Set it up with him.” Duke then shifted his attention to Angel, pointedly ignoring Frank until he bumbled his way off the dais. “I’m surprised Gabriela didn’t come with you, to protect you from the big, bad man.” He unfolded his lanky body and held out a hand, helping her up the three steps to the platform. She liked the courtliness of the gesture, considering the flimsy nature of the black heels she’d changed into. She was also pleased he wasn’t hiding behind a baseball cap, even if it was so he could offer up his face to the press. Her heart tripped when his green eyes crinkled in a smile.

“I forgot to ask earlier, how’s the studying? How are you? Besides being mad at me, of course.”

“I’m fine.” Dr. Collins is going to stop giving me Jose’s medicine, fail me at my practicum, and tell the press where I live if I don’t have sex with him tomorrow, but, yeah, I’m fine. “I’m not really mad at you, you know. I shouldn’t have been so harsh, pushed you away like that. I tried to find you yesterday, to tell you I understand the video wasn’t your fault.”

“I saw your texts. But I could also see you wanted to separate yourself from my crazy. I get that,” he said lightly. Then he let his glance travel down her body. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

“And I didn’t even borrow this.” She plucked at the little black dress she’d dug out of the back of her closet. There were worn shiny patches, thanks to years of use, but it clung to her curves in the right places, and the color fade didn’t show in the dim light. Before he could respond, she said, “Gabriela is only making sure I don’t get hurt. She’s a good friend.”

“I wouldn’t know. I don’t think I have any of those left.” He watched her sink into a chair before also sitting back down, candlelight playing off his smooth mahogany skin and square jaw. And his eyes. Those amazing, translucent eyes.

She shook herself free from his spell. “Feel sorry for yourself much?”

“Eh, come on, Angel. You know some of what I’m going through, but not everything.”

“While we wait for the vultures to descend, maybe you can fill me in. Start with what happened at the doctor’s today, why it was so important you were there.”