Chapter 23 #2
Before Lorenzo could respond, I blurted out.
“Isabella doesn’t need a strong man.” All eyes suddenly turned towards me.
“She’s more than capable of takin’ care of things herself.
” My tone was calm but there was a sinister edge I couldn’t stop from bleeding out.
A tap against my side indicated Red was giving me a warning to reel myself in.
“Forgive me, I did not mean it quite like that. All I was saying is how wonderful it would be for these two young people to get to know one another a little more. And perhaps a marriage could appear on the cards if all went well. Wouldn’t you agree, Lorenzo?
” George smiled, his gold tooth sparkling beneath the chandeliers.
“Ah, well, as Arturo so articulately put it, my Isabella doesn’t need a man to stand by her side—no matter the challenge.
However, if Isabella wants to accept a date with your son, that’s her decision not mine.
” Lorenzo side eyed me. A knowing gleam in his eye told me he wasn’t pissed.
In fact, he was glad I’d stepped in to defend Isabella’s honour.
Isabella on the other hand seemed tense and frustrated. She’d already downed her drink and dropped it on a passing waiter’s tray. She was just grabbing herself another when blondie spoke up.
“So, what do you say, Isabella? Will you do me the honour of letting me take New York’s most beautiful woman out to dinner?”
Dickhead.
As I waited anxiously for her to answer, I tried to ignore the sound of my own blood pumping through my ears. I was shaken and not in a good way. Then when her answer came, it hit me like a fucking steam train.
“I’d really like that, Henry. Thank you,” she said, all smiles and confident eyes.
Lorenzo’s face gave nothing away. But I could tell he didn’t like the thought of his daughter with this slimy git. Perhaps he didn’t want to ever see her with a guy.
“Wonderful. Pick you up on Friday at seven?” He beamed. I swallowed to keep myself from smashing his damn face in.
“Actually. We’ll meet you there. Isabella doesn’t go anywhere without an escort,” I snapped, causing Henry’s eyes to fall on me in an instant.
“She’ll be safe with me, I can assure you,” he grinned.
“No offence, pal, but I don’t trust Isabella’s safety with anyone but me. And I don’t know you from the next guy. So, Isabella will be driven by me. If you don’t like it, then you know what you can do Harry,” I returned his smile, but it wasn’t real.
“It’s Henry actually,” he said with a tick in his jaw.
“Ah, shit, my bad. I’m so terrible with names.” A scoff from Red told me I was fooling no one with my tone.
“Gentleman, Papa, Red,” she smiled politely before laying her furious eyes on me, “please excuse Arturo and I. I’ve just remembered there’s a security detail we forgot to discuss.”
Fuck me…
My heart quickened. I knew an order when I heard one.
“Of course. Pleasure to finally meet you, Ms. Ricci. We look forward to seeing you in your new position.” George took her hand and kissed the back of it. Isabella nodded at Henry then stomped off.
I sighed and followed after her. I couldn’t lie, watching Isabella throwing her authority around had caused my cock to twitch. It may just have been the sexiest thing I’d seen from her.
Fuck.
I followed Isabella outside to a darkened terrace surrounded by pillars that blocked it from view. The doors shut behind me with a swish leaving us in complete silence. For the first time this evening, we were alone.
It was just Bella and me now.
“Security detail, princess? Smooth…” I teased, leaning on the nearest pillar.
“What do you think you’re playing at?” She seethed, whipping around to meet my gaze.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Her eyes blazed as I played innocent.
“You know damn well what I mean! What was with the stupid pissing contest with Henry?” She gripped her hands on her hips, not realising that it was causing her cleavage to burst even further out of her dress.
“You made it perfectly clear you didn’t want me!
So what’s your damn problem?!” Despite her anger she managed to keep her voice low.
“I don’t like him. End of story,” I smiled, which only angered her more.
“How fucking dare you!” She screeched. “This is my life. If I want to date someone, I will! You can’t choose that?—”
“I can if it affects your safety. And I don’t trust him.” It wasn’t a complete lie… There was something about the guy that gave me a weird feeling. I tried to ignore the jealousy beating at my chest, but I was struggling.
“I can’t deal with you! One minute you’re flirting with me, the next you’re shouting at me.
” Her eyes began to glisten. “You know what, fuck you! When I look at you, I can’t decide if I want to smash your face or kiss you—” Her eyes softened slightly as she realised what she said.
During our fight, we’d unconsciously stepped closer.
Her chest heaved as she drew in breath after breath.
The little puffs of air coming from her drowned me in her scent.
and it took everything I had not to yank her into my arms.
“Isabella, I already told you that won’t happen again,” I firmly whispered through gritted teeth because that shit pained me to say.
“Then why are you bothered about me going on a date with Harry?”
“You mean Henry?” I joked.
“Fuck’s sake!” She pinched the bridge of her nose, and let out a deep sigh. “Stop messing with everything. I don’t need or want you coming to my ‘rescue’.”
“Tough shit, princess. I was hired to come to your fuckin’ rescue. So if you’re hell bent on going on a date with Ken doll in there, then I will be drivin’ you.”
“I fucking hate you!” I knew she didn’t. If she did, this would all be so much easier.
“Oh, mi princesa , you wish you did, but you don’t.” I stepped toward her, her eyes flashing between mine.
“You’re the one playing games. And you know what? I’m sick of it.” With that she barged past me, a scowl marring that beautiful face of hers.
There’s no way she was leavin’ me, not yet anyway.