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But then he’d watched his grandparents. They were definitely devoted to each other. He’d always considered them the anomaly. They were that perfect couple that everyone dreamed of being when they said I do.
Roberto knew what his grandparents had was rare. And he didn’t want to change himself, to the point he didn’t even recognize himself, to fit in a relationship. If that was what it took to make a successful marriage, no wonder his parents lived apart.
But he didn’t want to marry someone just to see them on holidays. That seemed like an impossible situation. The only way he could imagine being happy was to maintain his independence. He couldn’t rely on anyone to go the distance with him.
He continued to observe Stasia as she talked to his grandmother. She looked happy now. He wanted her to stay that way.
Part of him wanted to pull her into his arms and make some new memories with her. But Stasia would expect more from him. She wasn’t one of those women who lived in the moment and then moved on to the next man to catch their eye.
Stasia was more grounded. She liked strings and commitments. She didn’t take relationships lightly. And her brother certainly wouldn’t approve of a fling—even if it got Stasia over the hurdle between her past and her future.
Roberto could almost talk himself into the fact that them getting together would be good for her. It would show her that there was still so much life for her to live. He so desperately wanted to believe what he was saying to himself. And yet he couldn’t.
Stasia had been through so much in her twenty-nine years. She was so young and yet she had lived more of life than he ever had. And she’d experienced enough pain and loss for a lifetime.
He wouldn’t hurt her. He didn’t need Xander to threaten him. He could take care of that all by himself. He wanted to protect Stasia from any further heartache—from the guys on the ship who eyed her up—from himself.
“Hey, what has you so quiet over here?” Stasia leaned in close to speak to him over the music.
He’d gotten so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn’t seen her approach him. With her so close, he inhaled a whiff of her jasmine scent. He resisted the urge to close his eyes and savor the scent. But he couldn’t meet her gaze either. He didn’t want her to read too much in his eyes.
Instead he turned to watch his family out on the dance floor. His family loved to celebrate. The young, the old and the in-between were out there dancing, smiling and having a great time.
“Roberto?” Stasia’s voice again drew him from his thoughts. “What’s wrong with you tonight?”
“Uh, nothing.”
“Really? Because it looks like you’re sitting over here frowning and downright miserable.”
He toyed with his water glass. “I guess I just don’t do well at weddings.”
“Are you sure?” There was a heavy dose of doubt in her voice. “You won’t even look at me.”
He pressed his lips together in a firm line and turned to her. When their gazes met, there was this funny warm feeling that filled his chest. He ignored it as he forced a smile to his lips.
She gave him a strange look. “Really? You can’t even muster up a real smile for me?”
How did she know? Could she really read him that well?
“Stop trying to figure out how I know these things,” she said.
There she went again, reading him like an open book. He was growing uncomfortable with her being able to sense his thoughts. He’d always thought he was a master at keeping his thoughts under wraps. That was what made him such a good businessman.
He glanced away, not sure what to say.
“You’re not that big of a mystery,” she went on to say. “You don’t want to be here and you regret inviting me.”
His head quickly turned. “You would be wrong.”
“About what? Being here? Or bringing me?”
“Bringing you. You’re the highlight of my evening.”
A smile pulled at her glossy lips. “It’s about time you admit it.”
Wait. Had he just fallen into a cleverly planned trap? If the twinkle of amusement in her eyes was any indication, he most certainly had. Who knew that sweet, innocent Stasia had a much more devious side to her? He was most certainly intrigued.
