Charitable Contributions #2
Dinner is lovely. Juliette and I get to chat while the others talk to their dates. The ballroom is decorated with candles and lace. The whole place looks amazing. It’s like something out of a dream. I’ve never been to anything like this before.
Boxing matches, yes. Since I was old enough to sit on my mother’s lap. My father would step into the ring and become a machine. Undefeatable.
To me, he seemed indestructible too. Until the brain damage became more obvious.
“I need to go to the lady’s room,” Juliette signs to me.
I nod and touch Madison’s hand. She smiles as she meets my eyes.
“We’re going to the restroom.”
“Okay, the dancing starts in a few minutes.” Madison looks excited.
I give her a smile though I’m not as enthusiastic about it as she is.
I’m sure one of Sara’s or Madison’s men will dance with me, but I’m used to being a wallflower.
Content to sit on the sidelines and watch the prettier, more outgoing girls win the guys.
Looking around this ballroom filled with beautiful women and handsome men, I feel like an impostor.
Someone who slipped in under the radar because my friends wanted me to be here.
Juliette leads me to the bathroom. Even this room is over-the-top with marble counters and gold faucets. The stalls have full doors. I check my makeup and see that most of my lipstick is gone after eating and drinking.
This dress has pockets. It wasn’t the only reason I wanted it, but it definitely helped sell me on it. I get out my lipstick and reapply in the mirror.
Juliette comes out and meets my eyes. She signs, “That’s a good color on you. You should wear it more often. Draws attention to your lips.”
As she washes and dries her hands, I turn and sign to her, “Anyone would look pretty in this dress. And Madison has the best makeup.”
“You’ll be fighting off the guys who want to dance with you.” Juliette smiles.
“They’ll be fighting to get past me to get to you.”
She blushes and shakes her head in denial. I loop my arm in hers and sign with one hand, “How about we just stick together and maybe even dance a little?”
She nods as we walk out to the band playing old standards. I listen for a moment and recognize the song as one by Frank Sinatra, but I don’t remember which one.
“Juliette.” A low, dark voice resonates down my spine. Someone touches her shoulder.
I turn with her and stare up at a man with dark hair falling into his eyes.
He has on a black mask that only highlights his strong jawline and sculpted lips.
But then I meet his dark green eyes and all the air in the room is taken by this man, leaving me gasping.
The mask doesn’t hide how handsome he is.
His smile is wicked. “Cousin,” he says and signs at the same time. “I didn’t think you were coming tonight.”
Juliette perks up and signs, “Not with my parents. I’m here with friends.”
She gestures to me and his eyes return to mine.
Juliette offers, “This is—”
“Now, now, Juliette. This is a masked ball. A little mystery is part of the fun. Right?”
I resist the urge to step away from him. He’s tall and fearsome. His lips curve up to one side, like he knows what I’m thinking.
“After all, your friend is beautiful and obviously in need of some romance. Maybe a little heartbreak. If you give her my name or give me hers, how will we ever have a star-crossed romance?”
Juliette rolls her eyes and signs, “Fine.”
I can’t find the words. Beautiful, me? Romance? With someone like him? That’s laughable. He has to know I don’t belong here.
“My lady.” He bows to me almost mockingly. His eyes meet mine and he winks like I know what he’s doing.
Juliette tugs on my arm to get my attention. She points to her cousin and then to me and then makes the sign for dance.
My cheeks heat and my insides tense. It’s one thing to stand here and let the man talk, but dance with him. Alone? I drop my gaze to my hands. I’ve been doing well tonight because I’ve been around my friends. My head should be shaking to say no, but I’m frozen.
He smiles and looks as Juliette signs something else to him, but I can’t lift my eyes.
“Of course.” He holds his hand out to me. “Will you do me the honor of dancing with me?”
I lift my gaze to his and he says low, “By request of my dearest cousin.”
I turn to Juliette and she practically pushes me into her cousin’s arms. It would be rude to say no, and there doesn’t seem to be enough air in the room to form a word if I could. Instead, I take his offered hand and let him lead me out to the dance floor.
My fingers buzz. It’s been so long since I last danced with someone. It’s been even longer since a man has held me.
Juliette beams at me from where we left her. I can do this. My therapist tells me to put myself in safe situations that might push what I’m comfortable with. He turns as the song changes to “Somethin’ Stupid.”
My heart is in my throat and my dress is too tight. He pulls me into his arms. His hand slides to the small of my back. A shiver of awareness flows through me and makes me jerk my gaze up to his as he draws me in closer than two strangers dancing ought to be.
He gives me a wry smile. “I might be a little rusty. It’s one thing to be drilled on proper dance steps as a youth. But that was several years ago and not with one of the most beautiful women in the room.”
My cheeks heat. “You didn’t have to dance with me.”
His thumb slips beneath my top and brushes the bare skin of my back. I gasp in a breath at the shock waves spiraling through me.
“Juliette is very intuitive. She knew I wanted to ask you. And she knew you wanted to dance.” He spins me around quickly like he was meant to be on the dance floor. “After all, you’re dressed like a princess. Who else should you dance with but a fallen prince?”
I let him lead me as my insides heat to dangerous levels. There’s something magnetic about him that draws me.
He goes back to swaying slowly and I risk a look up into his eyes instead of at his chest.
He smiles. “See, there’s the girl that wanted to dance but was afraid I’d say no. Which is odd if you ask me. Why would an apparent beauty think I wouldn’t want to dance with her? Or maybe you didn’t want to dance with a beast like me?”
“You’re stretching the metaphor a little far, aren’t you?
” Somewhere I find a little bit of who I’ve been hiding away.
Maybe it was his references to Beauty and the Beast, which is my all-time favorite fairy tale.
“You’re hardly a beast and I don’t qualify as a beauty.
But I appreciate you trying to make me feel part of the evening.
I do enjoy dancing and your dancing is lovely. ”
“Appearances can be deceiving.” His green eyes make my insides melt.
I stop as the music ends and changes to a new song.
“You’ve done your duty. I’ll tell your cousin you were an excellent dancer.” I smile because I need to get away from this man. Every inch of my body screams he’s dangerous. But there’s a part of me that wants him to keep me in his arms. It’s a part I haven’t felt in a really long time.
He lifts my hand to his lips and brushes a kiss over my knuckles. “My lady.”
Sparks dance down my arm. My lips part and his gaze falls on them before lifting to mine. For a second, we remain locked in that position, but then someone laughs as they dance past us.
He blinks and whatever I thought I saw disappears and in its place is coldness. Any warmth he had is gone as he glances at his surroundings. My heart stutters.
“I’ll escort you back.” He starts to wrap his arm around my waist.
“No. Thank you.” Pulling away, I turn my back on him. I need to get away from him. “I can find my own way back.”