“You seem preoccupied, cuz. Got a lot on your mind, I see,” Lucas commented with a wine glass in his hand. He was gently swaying to the beat of the song and leering at the women as they brushed past the two men on the second level of the grand ballroom.
The dance had already begun and music was booming through the speakers as the live band played. Shortly before, Antonio and Lucas were discussing a potential merger plan with one of their offshore businesses.
Antonio breathed deeply. “I’ve always got business on my mind, Lucas. You should know me by now.” Antonio realized he sounded more agitated than he intended. A wave of apprehension swept over Antonio. Should he tell Lucas what was really bothering him?
“Oh, I get it,” Lucas said as he lifted his wine glass to his lips to take another taste. Antonio’s held his glass on the rail as he leaned against it and peered out at the guests. “You’re not thinking about that little missy from the agency, are you?” Lucas continued, gazing over the balcony. Lucas playfully gave a wink to a young woman walking by who met his gaze. She seemed to have gushed and smiled at him then waved. Antonio noticed Lucas never missed an opportunity to flirt. No matter what the occasion was.
“Now what makes you think I’m thinking about Lucy?”
“Well, for one thing, you didn’t say ‘that girl’ like you would often say. You used her name.”
“And your point?” Antonio quizzed as he lifted his wine glass to his lips.
“My point is, cuz, she’s the first woman I know you’ve been so preoccupied with and you haven’t even slept with her.”
“How would you know that?” Antonio was trying hard to hide his agitation with his young playboy cousin.
“I know. Besides, you don’t usually see them afterwards. You avoid them like the plague.”
Antonio was glad no one else was around to hear their conversation. “You really don’t know me that well, Lucas. For one thing, I always let a woman know upfront that there will be no relationship. It is their problem if they persist after the fact.”
“Oh, you are good, cuz. Really good. But I know when you’ve fallen for one.”
“I don’t think you do. I’m more concerned right now about getting our grandfather away from the clutches of that opportunist nurse of his, and Lucy seems to have the right influence on getting him to come to his senses. Nothing more. Nothing less.” Antonio was getting ready to walk away from the conversation. He felt heated up under his dinner jacket.
Antonio proceeded to walk towards the short staircase to the lower level of the ballroom when his breath ceased.
Lucy Shillerton.
CHAPTER TEN
Antonio didn’t even bother to look at his cousin, whom he could see from the corner of his eye looking where his gaze was fixated. Lucas looked from Lucy to Antonio then back to Lucy with his mouth open. So what? Antonio didn’t care how foolish he might look at that moment or how awestruck he appeared. The truth stood that he was awestruck. And it took a lot to get that sort of reaction from him.
My God! This woman has been transformed.
She is a goddess.
Antonio felt the mild twitch in his groin. A surge of heat raced through his body. A grin of amusement touched his lips as he watched Lucy make her way through the ballroom looking lost, unsure of herself. She looked like a beautiful homecoming queen yet she did not exhibit any of that confidence.
Antonio’s eyes clung to the stunning emerald green ball gown she wore.
Breathtaking!
Emerald green was one of his favorite colors. Actually, it was his only favorite color. He had positive association with that beautiful hue of green and it had little to do with finance. There was something calming, seductive and captivating about emerald. It was, as Lucy was, precious!
If he could remember correctly, that color was the symbol of balance and harmony, renewal and rebirth. It had been said to be an emotionally powerful color as far as love was concerned.
Love?
Why did that word love seep into his mind?
Her floor-length evening gown hugging her tiny waist and accentuating her beautiful curves and voluptuous bosom drove him virtually insane just looking at her. It was so tempting not to reach out and hold her close.
She’s beautiful. Oh, God, she’s amazing.
Lucy was certainly more pleasing to his senses than any other woman he’d ever laid eyes on.
Don’t go there, Antonio. You’re damaged, remember?
Damaged.
She doesn’t deserve you. She’ll only get hurt by you.
Those haunting words forced an emotional battle to rage within Antonio.
Lucas moved close to Antonio on the steps of the stairs and continued to watch his cousin’s reaction to seeing Lucy.
“Man, I hate being right.” Lucas grinned and shook his head. He then raised his wineglass to his lips.
Just then, one of Antonio’s associates walked over to Lucy and struck up an animated conversation. Antonio noticed the dude even had the audacity to place his hand on her lower back. Antonio narrowed his eyes. The image of another man flirting with Lucy struck a dangerous chord within him that caught him by surprise. Why should he care? Why did he care?
“I’ll be right back,” Antonio said to Lucas as his gaze followed Lucy and his associate. Antonio made his way through the crowded dance floor but not before being stopped by several guests.
“It’s a fine party here, Antonio. Thanks,” a woman said to him as she grasped his dinner jacket. He’d turned around and recognized that it was one of his contract employees at his realty branch in the suburbs.
“Thank you,” Antonio said with an air of distraction. He could tell the woman wanted to chat with him but his dark gaze was still fixed on Lucy. It was as if she was his companion and somebody was trying to step into his territory.
His blood felt as if it had reached a boiling point. His heart pounded hard and fierce in his chest. He gently placed his hand over the woman’s hand on the breast area of his jacket and placed it by her side with as much courtesy as he could.
“Thank you so much for coming...Amanda,” he said, recalling the woman’s name at the last minute. His tone had an air of finality to it. He could see the woman retreat with disappointment. He hadn’t even looked at her again.
His eyes scanned and noted that Lucy was now hidden in the sea of well-dressed guests at the affair. Music continued to blaze through the speakers and the dim ambiance of the ballroom didn’t make it any easier. The noise level was extremely high considering he was amongst three hundred excited guests. Chatter and laughter, the epitome of people having fun. Why wasn’t Antonio enjoying himself at his own event? Was it because as much as he chose to deny it, something was missing? Or someone?
“You look lost, Antonio.” It was his assistant, Mariam. She was wearing a long dark blue evening gown and looked more stunning than she ordinarily did. She’d put in a lot of effort for the occasion. Mariam was typically conservative and rarely wore makeup.
“Everything is okay, Mariam.” Antonio sighed heavily. “I’m just looking for someone,” he replied sharply. Bitterness spilled over in his tone. He didn’t like being interrupted, no matter the situation. How on earth did Lucy manage to vanish from his view so suddenly?
He needed to speak to her at once. He was so sure she would have sought him out upon her arrival. Or perhaps she was about to contact him before being rudely interrupted by his associate.
“Oh,” Mariam said, sounding surprised as she looked around. “Who are you looking for?”
Just then, Lucy appeared in front of him. Antonio’s body reacted to her stunning presence. She looked even more enticing up close. Her sweet perfume wafted to his nostrils. She smelled as good as she looked. His mouth watered to taste the sweetness of her lips again. Her gentle, soft lips.
His gaze fell to her cleavage and he throbbed. She was arousing him right there on the dance floor in the presence of hundreds of guests. Heat continued to race thr
ough him. He had a sense of urgency to pull her into his arms right there and then and make passionate love to her.
He noticed out the corner of his eye that Mariam’s posture had changed to rigid but he chose to ignore it. “Oh,” Mariam seemed to have snarled, curling up her lip.
“Lucy, good to see you!” Antonio’s voice was reserved. “You look beautiful. Stunning.”
“Thank you,” Lucy murmured.
“Mariam, this is Lucy Shillerton,” Antonio continued with a tone of authority.
“Yes, I know. From that marriage agency.” Mariam seemed annoyed more than anything. Antonio was getting impatient with his so-called loyal assistant. Why was Mariam reacting to Lucy that way? In fact, if Antonio could remember correctly, she would always react that way to any dazzling female he would introduce to her, whether in a business setting or social situation. Perhaps he should be looking for another assistant.
“Actually, it’s a dream wedding planning agency,” Lucy corrected with a hint of humility. She seemed to flush at that moment. Was she embarrassed or nervous? Antonio wondered as his gaze continued to enjoy the sight before him. She radiated vitality that enticed him. There was just something about her that resonated with him and that pleased him very much.
“Yes, of course.” Mariam paused for a moment and as if eyeing her up and down surreptitiously she moved in closer to Lucy.
“Oh, wait a minute,” Mariam said as she reached into her satin clutch purse and pulled out a handkerchief. She then moved closer to Lucy’s hemline near her bosom. “Oh there,” she said wiping something off, perhaps an imaginary stain.
Antonio held Mariam’s arm and gently pulled her back. “I believe you will be making an announcement soon,” Antonio said with an underlying chill.
Mariam flushed. “Yes, Antonio. I...I’ll be going then. Nice to meet you, Lucy.” Mariam made her way through the crowd.
“I apologize for my assistant or soon-to-be former assistant’s behavior,” Antonio murmured. “She’s apparently a little insecure at times.”
“Oh, no worries. Actually, I didn’t notice anything strange. She seems really helpful.”
Antonio could tell Lucy was embarrassed by her expression and redness of her cheeks. But her reaction brought a delightful warmth to him. Lucy. Had. Class!
She certainly knew how to brush off an embarrassing situation and let it slide off like water off a recently waxed car. Antonio was becoming more fascinated by Lucy each and every time he met her. He was always a good judge of character and the way a person reacted in a negative situation spoke more volume than the way he reacted in a positive one.
It wasn’t how you treat your friends that makes you a powerful person, it’s the way you treat your enemies—with compassion. That revealed a lot about a person’s heart.
Just then a ballad began to blaze through the speakers and many guests took to the center of the dance floor.
“May I have this dance?” Antonio asked Lucy.
Lucy hesitated. “I...I’ve never danced like...um...in this situation...in a formal...”
Antonio grinned. “Don’t worry,” he teased her, “we’re not doing the waltz. I’ll take the lead, just follow.”
Lucy’s heart thumped erratically. She was all thumbs or toes when it came to dancing, even slow dancing. Heck, she really didn’t think she would have to dance at the Diamond Ball. What if she tripped over her floor-length gown and ripped the seams off and had to have Mariam come rushing to the rescue with her needle and thread that was probably stashed away in her clutch purse?
Breathe deeply, Lucy. It’s only a dance.
But that wasn’t the only thing that was making her heartbeat thump hard in her throat.
Antonio Romero.
My God!
She was getting up close and personal with the most eligible bachelor at the ball! He asked her to dance. Her!
After fretting she heard the song playing. It was that beautiful ballad again, “Lost in Your Eyes,” by Debbie Gibson. What an uplifting love song. The melody was one of the prettiest she’d ever heard. If that sultry serenade couldn’t tame a beast, Lucy didn’t know what could.
Lucy’s body was heating up. She could not do this. How could she slow dance for the first time in her life with a hot, sought-after billionaire in the presence of hundreds of affluent guests? This was utterly insane. She was going to trip and fall and make a complete ass of herself. She didn’t slow dance but she dare not tell Antonio this.
Once in elementary school, a boy named Peter asked her to dance and she complied, only to accidentally step on his bad foot. Long story short, neither of them knew what they were doing. They both became the laughingstock of the school and Peter had to have an operation on his foot (though minor) later that week. Of course, she hadn’t known beforehand that he had a serious issue with his baby toe. Lucy felt so awful and hadn’t even bothered since. Besides, it wasn’t as if she went to her prom or had any invitations to go formal dancing since that time.
Antonio was different, of course.
This situation was a billion times different.
Antonio was hot and charming and really knew his way around women and social settings of high class.
Antonio looked Lucy over seductively and her nipples hardened under his touch of her hand as he guided her to the center of the dance floor. He was dripping with delicious charm and this man really oozed powerful sex. She could feel the sexual magnetism between them. She genuinely could and this was not her imagination at play. She could see it in his eyes. It reflected from his soul. She was lost in his dark, enchanting eyes.
Lucy found herself studying Antonio’s tall, muscular frame and his sexy profile. He was angelic in every way imaginable. Built like a Greek god.
He looked dazzling in his formal black attire and filled out nicely with his broad athletic shoulders and his height. God, he towered over her and yet she wore her six-inch heels.
Antonio wore a rich black single-breasted tuxedo dinner jacket with satin facing and neatly pressed matching trousers, a la sexy, dangerous James Bond. There wasn’t a crease in his attire. He was immaculate.
He sported a crisp white shirt with a black bow tie to match his lapel facings. Hot. “Very nice ensemble,” she whispered breathless.
“Thank you,” Antonio murmured in a deep, rich silky voice that made her spine tingle. A delicious shudder heated her body and she licked her lips. Antonio’s sexiness captivated her every time she was close to him.
She glanced down briefly while making sure she did not step on her dress and noted his black, highly-polished expensive leather footwear. She knew what to look for and appreciate because she studied menswear while working with clothing designers for her wedding planning agency with regards to the reception dance room events they’d hosted in the past. And oh, French cuffs. She adored French cuffs on a man. There was something rich and sophisticated about a man in that style shirt.
When the lyrics of the song came to “something’s there we can’t deny” Lucy’s heart fluttered in her chest. Her belly tingled with a thousand tiny butterflies. Waves of excitement washed through her body and coursed through her veins.
To take her mind off feeling nervous around Antonio, she briefly glanced around at the marvelous ballroom. It looked more enormous than she saw on the Internet. This would be a perfect setting for a wedding reception. The ballroom exuded grandeur. She loved the stunning two-tiered design of the hall. She could see silhouettes of people standing on the upper level looking down at the dance floor. She noted the musician’s section over by the left side and there was also some sort of gift table. Perhaps that gift table was where the organizers arranged to host the upcoming prize draw.
Lucy was taken away by the high ceiling, the eye-catching, gold-leafed ceiling with the magnificent crystal chandelier. The soft colors and ambient lighting of the room (if she could call it that) made for a truly romantic fest.
She felt like an honored guest. Maxine was right. Lucy
was glad she’d changed her mind about going and showed up. Speaking of Maxine, Lucy wondered where she was. Probably chatting with a hot guest, no doubt.
“You seem nervous,” Antonio murmured into her ear, interrupting her thoughts. His deep silky voice sliced through her.
A sense of inadequacy gnawed at Lucy. Oh, why didn't she accept those dance lessons offered gratis from one of their contractors? She was extended an invitation from Dazzling Dance Studios, a client her wedding planning agency used to teach grooms and brides how to prepare for their big day (if they so chose that option in their wedding package) so that they hit it off at their reception while dressed in their best.
A surge of heat rushed through her. She would have been treated to lessons in Ballroom dancing, Salsa, West Coast Swing, Argentine Tango, Latin, and even the Country Two Step. Silly girl. That’s what she got for being too busy to socialize and have fun beyond work. Maxine begged her to go along
for the longest time. Now Lucy was about to have her first lesson in front of witnesses—and the hot Mr. Romero.
“I’m not nervous,” she whispered, biting down on her lip. She noticed that Antonio’s hungry gaze slid towards her lips and she tingled between her thighs. Oh, God! I must stop doing that.
“Good,” he grinned then slid his soft hand over hers. “You’re far too beautiful to be nervous.”
Lucy’s knees weakened at his tender touch and soothing words.
Antonio slid his right hand around her left hip side then towards the center of her mid-back. His left hand gently took her right hand and moved it towards his shoulder. He stood close facing her and she could not help but blush. Heat raced to her throat and to her cheeks. Was it hot all of a sudden? No. It was Antonio who was sizzling.
Her heart raced like mad in her chest. Lucy was terrified and thrilled at the same time. Was he aware of that? Oh, God! How embarrassing that would be. She sure hoped he wasn’t as perceptive as she thought he was.
The Billionaire's Second-Chance Bride (The Romero Brothers, #1) Page 9
