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"That wouldn't stop him."
She fell into step with him, happy to see more of the villa.Besides the main salon on the ground floor, there was a smaller living room and a magnificent dining room with a table that could easily seat twenty.There were thick, rich rugs on sparkling marble floors, statues near every doorway and, of course, a plethora of beautiful paintings lit by warm lights on every wall.
There appeared to be two kitchens, both bustling with staff, so they didn't bother with those rooms, moving toward the other side of the house which had a study, a music room with a grand piano, and another room that had been set up like an art gallery, displaying the paintings on sale for charity.
It was in the gallery that she saw a woman with bright red hair, holding onto the arm of a very attractive blond man.The woman turned and let out a surprised and happy squeal, rushing forward as she dragged her date with her.
"Isabella," she said with delight."And Nick.You both look amazing.I didn't know you were coming."
"It was a last-minute thing," she replied as she was enveloped in Joelle's embrace, her cousin's perfume surrounding her in a thick haze that lingered even after Joelle moved on to greet Nick.
Joelle's kisses with Nick seemed a bit airier than those she'd given him in the past, but that probably had to do with the fact that her date was looking at them with hawk-like dark eyes.
"This is Colin Devonshire," Joelle said, introducing the man at her side."He's one of Dario's lawyers.Have you met Dario?"
"Yes, when we arrived," she replied.
"Isabella is my cousin," Joelle told Colin."And this is her good friend, Nick Caruso.Colin is an art fanatic," she added, putting her hand on his arm."And he's a very generous patron to young artists and designers."She gave Colin a flirtatious look."He knows talent when he sees it."
"I do," Colin said, seemingly fascinated by Joelle."Especially when the talent is wrapped up in such a beautiful woman."
"You're so sweet," Joelle told him."Why don't you get me a cocktail?Isabella and I need to use the ladies' room."
She didn't need to use the restroom, but Joelle grabbed her hand, and she had no choice but to leave with her.Nick frowned as she moved away from him, as if the distance between them bothered him.And maybe it bothered her, too, because she felt a cold chill run through her as they left the room.
ChapterNineteen
Joelle dragged Isabella into a guest room at the end of the hall."I am so surprised to see you, Isabella.Why are you and Nick here?"
"We wanted to talk to some people in the art world.I had no idea you were coming."
"Colin invited me, and since he's interested in sponsoring some of my expenses as I create more valuable pieces of jewelry, I couldn't say no."
"Is he your patron or your boyfriend?"
Joelle laughed."Can't he be both?And I prefer lover.Boyfriend sounds so juvenile."
And lover sounded so sophisticated and European, Isabella thought.She also wondered if Colin's appeal wasn't his checkbook as much as anything else, although he was an attractive man.She hated to think Joelle was that shallow, but she might be.
"What about you and Nick?"Joelle asked."He was holding your hand.I thought you were just friends."
"We are.He was just leading me through the crowd."
"Oh, come on.We're cousins.You can tell me.He's so hot.How can you just be friends with him?"
She shrugged, not sure what to say.She didn't know Joelle very well, and her feelings about Nick were too mixed up to define."I don't know.It just is what it is."
"Sorry.I shouldn't be so curious.I just love a good love story."
"Well, it sounds like you have one of those going on."
"We'll see.I'm glad I ran into you.I was going to text you later.I talked to my father about the ring, and he said that Lucinda had one just like it.His mother took it after Lucinda died.He doesn't know if she still has it.He's going to ask her."
"It would be interesting if they both had the same ring."
"Maybe it was some kind of commitment ring for whatever their relationship was."
"Maybe."She paused, knowing that Nick would not want her to reveal too much, but if she didn't ask questions, she wouldn't get answers, so she pressed on."You said Colin works with Dario Micheli as one of his lawyers?"
