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God, she needed to calm down or she’d end up embarrassing herself.
The upper level of the mansion looked like it had been cleared out for the event. Table and chairs dressed in crisp white linen now covered the thick, gold-hued plush carpet. There was a balcony along the top of the landing, beautiful wrought-iron bars that had scrollwork etched into them.
It was a gorgeous atmosphere, and she felt lucky to experience it, especially with Elijah.
Elijah moved closer to her, took her arm, and slipped it in the crook of his. He placed his hand over hers as he continued to speak to the man about a merger. After about five minutes, the men parted ways, but before they could move, Elijah turned her in his arms and pulled her close. He tipped her head back with a finger under her chin, smiled down at her, and leaned in to kiss her softly. It was sweet but arousing all in the same breath.
He broke away, then breathed out harshly as if he were having trouble with the act, and led her over to one of the tables marked “Reserved” in elegant script. It had only been a few weeks they’d shared together, but they had been incredible weeks, ones she hoped she experienced more of with him.
He pulled out the chair for her, and she felt her face heat as she blushed. “Thank you,” she said, and took the offered seat. He leaned in and kissed the top of her head, then took a seat beside her. More people came and sat at their table, and before too long, waiters in black and white livery were setting plates of exquisite-looking food in front of them.
They ate for the next half hour, the people at the table striking up conversation mainly about the fundraiser and not so much on a personal level. But Freya didn’t say much anyway, and just listened.
“Will you dance with me?” Elijah asked after they’d finished eating and had a glass of wine. His face was close to hers again, and his cologne swirling around her had an intoxicating effect.
“No one has ever asked me to dance.” She swallowed back her embarrassment, but then chuckled when he cocked a brow in surprise. “I might humiliate you with my inexperience, and the fact I’ll be stepping on your toes the whole time,” she teased. Of course she could dance, but lightening up the atmosphere was fun, and she liked doing it with Elijah.
He brushed his thumb along her jawline. “As long as you’re the one stepping on my toes, I’d be the luckiest man to have you in my arms.”
God, where had this man come from?
He stood, held his hand out for her, and after she got her knees to stop shaking from her affection for Elijah, she slipped her open palm in his and stood. Elijah led her to the center of the open floor that was clearly for dancing, and as the soft classical music played around them, she let herself fully embrace it all.
But as she rested her head on his chest and let herself slip into the wondrous embrace that Elijah provided, she was about to close her eyes when everything stilled in her. There, across from her and only a few feet away, was Meghan sitting at one of the tables. She was dressed in a gorgeous red gown with diamonds in her ears, around her neck, and covering her fingers. A man sat beside her, at least in his seventies, although he looked good for his age. He also screamed wealth, which was the type of man Meghan went for.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. She hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but knew she had when Elijah pulled back and looked down at her with confusion.
“What’s wrong?”
For a second, she couldn’t speak, especially not when Meghan started laughing. When she tilted her head back, the diamonds on her neck caught the light. And then she turned her head slightly, lifted her hand to get the waiter to notice her, and for a second, their eyes locked on one another. Meghan blinked a few times, straightened, and realization covered her face.
“Freya, sweetheart?” Elijah turned and looked over his shoulder, and the shock on Meghan’s face when she saw the man Freya danced with was Elijah was like a slap to Freya’s face.
It was like time stood still and neither could move or speak. Hell, they couldn’t even breathe. Then, because this wasn’t awkward enough, Meghan said something to the older man, stood, and started walking over to them.
“God, of course this is getting worse,” Freya whispered, and when she tried to move a step back from Elijah, she was surprised he kept her close to him.
“Fuck her, Freya.”
That had Freya smiling. Yeah, fuck Meghan. But that was easier thought and said than what their reality really was.
