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Knock. Knock.
“Stasia?”
She swallowed. “I, uh...um, I’ll be right there.”
She shoved aside the troubling thoughts, along with the reference to love. She was just letting this wedding stuff get to her. That was all.
She gave herself one last glance, making sure she hadn’t missed anything. She smoothed a hand down over the skirt. Maybe she should have picked a more cheerful color for a wedding. Maybe the hemline was too short for the occasion.
Another knock drew her from her thoughts. With a sigh, she moved to the door. When she opened it, she marveled at how good Roberto looked. Usually...no, always, he looked so put-together and sharp. But tonight, he looked devastatingly handsome in his dark suit and silver tie.
Her mouth opened but no words came out. Her mind was overwhelmed with how attractive she found him and how much she wished this was a real date.
Roberto’s dark brows drew together. “Is something the matter?”
She shook her head. “Um, no. You look great.”
“Really? Because you have this look on your face, like...well, I don’t know, but obviously you were thinking something.”
Not about to delve into how attractive she found him, she turned, grabbed her black clutch purse decorated with tiny crystals and then pulled the door shut behind them. “I was thinking we don’t want to be late for the ceremony.”
As they made their way through the passageway, he said, “If you changed your mind and don’t want to go with me, I would understand. I won’t hold you to the arrangement we agreed upon.”
It was so tempting to back out. This was her chance. But there was another part of her—a part that wanted to spend the evening with Roberto as his fiancée. After all, when this cruise was over, they’d each be going their own way.
And most of all, she didn’t want to let him down. She’d told him that she’d act as though they were a couple in front of his family and she wasn’t going to back out now.
“I didn’t change my mind.”
He stopped and turned to her. “Thank you. Whatever you want tonight, it’s yours. Just say the word. And when you’re ready to leave, it’s fine by me.”
Her gaze met his. “I appreciate that.”
They continued to stare into each other’s eyes longer than was necessary. Her heart started to race again. Then again, she wasn’t sure if it ever slowed down.
He took her hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “It’ll be good having a friend by my side.”
A friend? He was reminding her that was all they’d ever be. “Yes, it’s always good when a friend has your back.”
“Agreed. And I certainly never had a friend who was so beautiful. You’ve got all of the single guys on this ship jealous that you’re with me.”
Heat rushed to her face. Where exactly was this evening in the floating city going to lead them? The possibilities both excited and terrified her.
* * *
Roberto didn’t know what to do with himself.
Weddings made him uncomfortable. His whole family made him uncomfortable with their expectations of him.
Still, he’d told Stasia that he’d try harder to spend more time with his family and that was what he was doing. Any other time, he would have quietly slipped away long ago. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy. But if the smiles Stasia had bestowed upon him throughout the evening were any indication, he was doing okay.
But he’d noticed the sadness that filled Stasia’s eyes when she didn’t think he was looking. He didn’t have to ask her what was wrong; he knew. She was missing Lukos. Her heart still belonged to her departed husband. And Roberto didn’t know how to deal with the ghost who stood between them.
Roberto’s gaze strayed around the room, searching for Stasia. And then he spotted her, deep in conversation with his grandmother. She appeared to be having a good time.
As Roberto continued to sit alone in the ballroom of an exclusive hotel, he glanced out at the crowded dance floor. His gaze strayed across the happy newlyweds. Gaia had been a radiant bride. In fact, he’d never seen her look happier. He just wondered if it would last. Or if she would end up taking separate trips from her husband like his parents did.
