AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Celine’s smile wobbled. ‘I’m glad he told you. Even though he loved my sister, Roberto was the love of my life. A part of me is angry he died before I got my chance with him. But it’s not too late for you two. Whatever happens, hang on with everything you’ve got.’
Several minutes after she’d left, Ava remained rooted to the spot, Celine’s words echoing through her mind.
She didn’t deny Cesare held tremendous sway over her emotions. One smile was enough to light up her whole day. The occasional glimpses of pain she saw flash through his eyes caused her heart to echo his pain over losing his brother.
But, no matter how she felt about him, she couldn’t dismiss the fact that he’d only married her because she’d been pregnant; that he’d tolerated her because she was the mother of his child. Despair rose like a riptide, threatening to suck her down.
The music ended and she watched Cesare and the stunning Giuliana head for the bar. As he plucked two champagne flutes from the counter, his eyes met Ava’s. His gaze raked over her, sending her pulse into overdrive.
Suddenly annoyed with his effortless power over her emotions, she lifted her glass in mock salute.
There was no future to hang on to. At least not where she and Cesare were concerned. She didn’t doubt his love for Annabelle and therefore didn’t doubt his capacity to love. But that love didn’t stretch to her.
The distress the thought produced made her glass tremble in her hand.
Setting it down, she found the guest she’d spoken to earlier next to her. Before she could excuse herself, he smiled. Racking her brain, she remembered Celine had introduced him as her second cousin. He was charmingly good-looking, with light brown hair and attractively boyish brown eyes. Not wishing to appear rude, she smiled in return.
He moved closer. ‘Drink?’ A champagne-serving waiter lingered nearby.
Hastily, she shook her head. She’d barely eaten more than a few mouthfuls at dinner. Drinking on an empty stomach was a bad idea.
Her admirer set his glass down with a decisive click.
‘Balliamo?’ He gestured to the dance floor. When she hesitated, he clasped a dramatic hand over his heart. ‘Per favore?’
On a sudden whim, she nodded. She’d never been one to slink away to lick her wounds. As much as she wanted to shut herself off, preferably somewhere quiet, and indulge in a monster ice cream-fuelled pity party, she wouldn’t.
She was here because of Celine. The least she could do was pretend to enjoy herself.
‘Wait.’ She laughed when he tried to steer her towards the dance floor.
His face fell but when he saw her shucking off her shoes, his grin widened. The blaring hip-hop was the perfect antidote to her melancholy.
Mario—she remembered his name now—led her to the middle of the dance floor and proceeded to prove himself an energetic dance partner.
The next few songs flew by. Somewhere, during a twirl, her hair clasp slid off and disappeared. Feeling freer, she let go.
When the songs slowed, she stopped dancing, grateful for the chance to cool down. ‘Thank you, that was—’ She stuttered to a stop when his arms slid around her waist.
Just as quickly she was disengaged from him. She almost lost her balance as rough hands grabbed her from behind. The tingle along her nerve endings announced who held her before she heard his voice.
‘It’s time to leave.’
Without waiting for her agreement, he tucked her behind him, then murmured low, heated words to Mario. In the strobe light, Ava saw the younger man pale.
Cesare’s jaw was set as he straightened and manacled her wrist with one hand.
Before she could draw breath, he was tugging her off the dance floor.
‘Cesare, wait!’
He ignored her and headed towards the exit.
‘For goodness’ sake, stop! I need to get my shoes.’
He stopped so suddenly she careened into him. His hard body easily absorbed the impact, but she was left with a vivid imprint of his broad, bristling masculine form. With his fingers still imprisoning her wrist, his gaze dropped to her feet.
‘You danced barefoot?’ he grazed out.
‘Yes. Now I need to get my shoes.’
‘Why? You’ll only discard them at the earliest opportunity.’
‘That doesn’t mean I want to leave them behind. They cost me a bomb.’
His eyes glinted with danger. ‘Do not move from here.’
The crowd parted for him as he headed for the bar. He returned seconds later, her silver shoes dangling from his fingers. Wordlessly he thrust them at her. When she didn’t immediately put them on, his eyebrow shot up.
