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You don’t have to be afraid of me, Bambi. I’m sorry if I scared you.
A small shiver ran through me. The camera clicked again, snapping me fully back to the present.
Nikolai was still watching me with that almost predatory focus, his eyes tracing the pebbled skin at my collarbones. “That’s enough,” he told the journalist, never taking his eyes off me.
I was peripherally aware that the cameraman left, but I couldn’t tear my gaze from his. He was magnetic, and his intense attention captivated me completely. I’d never experienced anything like it. It was unnerving, but it set off all my feminine gratification signals. The warmth that bloomed in my chest was heady, a pleasant sensation I’d never felt before.
“Hey, Allie.” Isabel’s melodic voice wrapped around me, tugging my attention away from him. “We’re missing you over by the chocolate fountain.”
I turned to her, grateful for the lifeline. My protective friend must’ve noticed my discomfiture and come to my rescue.
“There’s a chocolate fountain?” My voice squeaked slightly, increasing the burning heat in my cheeks. I was probably red all the way to my ears by now. No amount of makeup in the world could conceal a flush this intense. Damn my pale complexion.
She wrapped my hand in hers, lacing our fingers together. Isabel really was better than any big sister I ever could’ve asked for. I returned her gentle squeeze, a silent thank you.
“Will you excuse us, Mr. Fitzgerald?” she asked, all charm and grace. “Allie needs sustenance.”
My dad laughed, a rich, warm sound. He’d always liked Isabel. I was pretty sure he approved of her protectiveness. “I’m not sure if chocolate counts as sustenance.”
“There are strawberries,” Isabel countered. “Totally healthy.”
“Totally,” he agreed, chuckling. “Go on.” He waved toward the fountain, giving me an out. “Have fun, sweetheart.”
Isabel tugged on my hand, leading me away from the anxiety-inducing conversation and the mind-scrambling, handsome man who’d cracked my composed mask.
“Oh my god, he’s so hot,” Isabel said in an undertone as she led me away. “Are you sure you want to be rescued? You seemed shaken, but OMG. That man is sex on a stick.”
My giggle was slightly manic. “He’s way too hot for me. I could barely look at him! Thanks for coming to get me. I think his dad wanted to set us up. It was really uncomfortable.”
Isabel stopped in her tracks. “Wait, wait. You actually have an opportunity to date that man candy? We’re going back.”
I dug in my heels. “No!” I hissed. “He’s too beautiful. I couldn’t handle it.”
I could still feel the phantom heat of his hand on my arm. And for some reason, I sensed the lingering caress of Max’s touch on my legs.
I shook my head to clear it. The fact that I was thinking about Max was a total red flag. If Nikolai intimidated me as much as my stalker, that wasn’t a good basis for a relationship.
I needed to put both men firmly out of my mind. They were clearly dangerous for me in different ways. Nikolai was tempting and impossibly gorgeous, whereas Max was… I didn’t really have words for how Max made me feel. There were too many conflicting emotions where he was concerned: fear, anger, pity, gratitude.
My stomach flipped, and I took a decisive step toward the chocolate fountain. “I need sugar,” I announced, imbuing my voice with as much confidence as I could muster.
Isabel sighed. “Don’t we all?”
She clearly didn’t approve of the fact that I was running away from a man as appealing as Nikolai, but my friend was loyal to her core. If I didn’t want to think about darkly imposing men, she would distract me.
And I definitely didn’t want to think about Nikolai or Max.
Chapter 12
Allie
“Are you sure you don’t want us to stay for a little while longer?” Charlie asked, her cornflower blue eyes soft with concern.
My friends waited beside their limo, hesitating to get in and abandon me.
“I’ll be okay,” I promised. “Daddy said he’s making his final goodbyes. Most of the guests have left already, anyway. I promised I’d catch a ride home with him.”
“But why aren’t you riding with us?” Davis asked with an exaggerated pout. “We all came here together. We deserve a little more limo time.”
I laughed and waved them into the waiting car. “You guys enjoy as much limo time as you want. I think my dad wants to check in with me. I was seriously awkward around the Ivanovs. He’s probably worried that I’m upset. You know how protective he is.”
Isabel offered me an understanding smile and opened the door, ushering the other two inside. “I know it’s probably taken all of his restraint to stop himself from constantly checking in on you this summer. We totally get it. If he needs to talk to you tonight so that you can keep living your fabulous, independent life with us, then that’s okay. We need you to be able to come out with us whenever you want.”
