They were in the spare room that had been unofficially designated as his sewing room, preparing for one of Milo’s few parties where their appearance was mandatory.

He’d been put in charge of making sure everyone was dressed in their best, obviously, and Mallory was there to find her best pair of dress shoes to match her black suit and tie.

“Which shade of red do you think looks best on me?” she asked offhandedly, looking at the five tubes neatly lined up in front of her. She’d either found her shoes or abandoned the search. Daniele thought it was more likely to be the latter but her didn’t say anything.

“Personally, I think they all suit you,” she muttered an “of course” and he smiled, “but, if I had to pick one, I would say that the Bordeaux Beauty suits you best.”

“Who even names these?” Mallory laughed and picked it up. She applied it with a precision that was surprising, considering she never wore make-up.

She put the cap back on and stood up, giving a slight twirl. “What d’ya think?”

Looking at her, dressed in her suit and dress shoes that, he noted, she’d found, hair tied back in a bun and lips the colour of blood, he decided that Mallory was very attractive. 

“You look ravishing, darling!” he said with his usual flourish, smiling when she laughed.

“Of course I do,” she replied, a slight smile on her face. Mallory leant in and quickly kissed him on the cheek before waltzing out of the room to find Raine and nag at him.

Slowly, almost as if he couldn’t believe what had just happened, Daniele raised a hand to his cheek and lightly touched the place she’d kissed. When it dawned on him that he hadn’t imagined it, he smiled,

@writer-grandma @srazar @strawberryspaceship