Modern Romance March 2021 Book 5-8 Carol Marinelli (ebook reader computer txt) 📖

‘It’s a Brazilian wedding, Ariana,’ he told her. ‘Not a Spanish one.’

‘I know that.’

‘Yet you’re doing the flamenco.’

‘So I am...’ Her heart was hammering because she could not quite believe that he was here. ‘These cachaças are very strong.’ She was trying to act normally, or rather how she would have acted a year ago at a family event when Gian De Luca suddenly showed up. ‘I thought you had to be at the La Fiordelise Florence, opening—’

‘I left early and gave myself the rest of the night off...’

‘Why are they all called La Fiordelise?’ she snapped. It had always annoyed her and she let him know tonight. ‘It’s hardly original.’

‘Your father said the same.’

‘Well, you should have listened to him. La Fiordelise, London. La Fiordelise, Azerbaijan...’ Gosh those cachaças must be strong, she thought, because she allowed a little of her resentment to seep out. ‘Perhaps you could send me there...’

He just smiled.

But it was a smile she had never seen before. Not his on-duty smile, or his off-duty one; it was just a smile that let her be, that simply accepted her as she was and, she felt, suddenly adored.

‘Hey, Ariana...’ Pedro was waving her to join in another odd-looking dance.

‘Your boyfriend is calling you to dance with him again,’ Gian said, and with those words let her know he’d been watching her for a while. ‘You’re very popular tonight.’

‘Yes, I am,’ Ariana said, and she’d never been happier to be caught dancing and smiling and laughing, even if she was bleeding inside. ‘I am in demand!’

‘Have you time to dance with me?’

No.

She had to practise saying no to him, had to have that tiny word fall readily from her tongue.

For. The. Rest. Of. Her. Life.

Except that tiny word felt far too big when she looked into those beautiful slate-grey eyes. She would start tomorrow, Ariana decided, and allow herself just one tiny dance tonight. ‘One dance,’ Ariana said, and found herself back in his arms. ‘For the sake of duty.’

Yet this was no duty dance, for his arms were no longer wooden and his hands ran down her ribs and came to rest on her hips and there was slight pressure there to pull her against him. He moved like silk and this time it was Ariana who was the one holding back.

‘Dance with me,’ he moaned.

‘I am.’

‘Like we did.’

‘No,’ she said. ‘My mother is looking.’

‘Let her look.’

‘You know what she can be like.’

‘Tell her that your sex life is none of her business.’

‘I have.’ Ariana laughed. ‘But we no longer have a sex life, so there’s nothing to tell.’

She felt the heat of his palm low on her hips and heat somewhere else as he pulled her hard up against him. His voice was low in her ear and made her shiver. ‘You’re sure about that?’

This wasn’t fair, Ariana thought as they danced cheek to cheek with their bodies meshed together. He wasn’t being fair after all that had passed between them.

‘They will guess...’ Ariana started.

‘Stop worrying about them,’ Gian said, and for a little while she did. Her family all danced with their various partners and she danced with a man who was always there for her. There was something so freeing about Gian’s acceptance of her, and the way he lived life on his terms. It was something she was starting to embrace herself and so she wrapped her arms around his neck and told him a little of her new world. ‘I’ve told my lazy doorman that he’s not allowed to let guests up without my permission, not even my mother, and I shall petition the other residents to have him removed if he doesn’t improve.’

‘Good for you.’

‘And I have an interview next week with your rival company. I used my mother’s maiden name, so I know I got the interview on my own merit.’

‘Very good,’ Gian said.

‘And I will never give up on love.’

‘I’m pleased to hear it.’ He was serious suddenly. ‘Can we go outside?’

‘It will cause too much gossip and rumour...’

‘I don’t care.’

‘Well, I do,’ Ariana said. ‘I’m not leaving Stefano’s wedding to make out with you.’

‘That is a revolting term,’ Gian told her, ‘but fair enough.’ For though he was desperate to speak with her, she was right not to leave during her brother’s wedding reception. ‘Will you come over to La Fiordelise afterwards?’ Gian asked.

‘No...’ she said slowly. Her reply was tentative, but with practice she would perfect it, Ariana decided. ‘No.’ She said it more clearly this time.

No. No. No.

Easy as pie.

‘Come to me tonight.’

They were still cheek to cheek, though the music had ended, yet they carried on dancing. She could feel herself weakening at his touch. ‘No,’ she told him as he reached into his inner pocket and slipped a cold thin card where the ruffle of her dress parted. It was all discreetly done, yet Ariana knew she should have slapped him there and then, but lust moved faster than anger where Gian De Luca was concerned. It took a moment for her to form the proper reply. ‘Leave me alone, Gian.’

‘I can’t.’

‘Ariana!’ Her mamma was laughing and calling her over. ‘Gian!’ In fact, she was calling them both, for the music had restarted and upped its tempo and the bride and groom were about to be waved off into the night.

It was loud, it was fun, and it was over.

Stefano and Eloa were officially married and it was kisses and final drinks and then they all spilled out of the venue into the square. She was so happy for Stefano and Eloa, especially now the air had been cleared between her and her twin.

And happy for Mia and Dante too, Ariana thought as she watched them walk hand in hand into the night.

If it was possible to be lonely and happy at the same time, then she was lonely and happy for herself too, for Gian had already gone.

She wanted not just to be part