Page 51 of His Vicious Desire

“In fifteen minutes, the kitchen should start serving everyone.You got here right in time.”Luca smiles at me.

“I’m sorry.I didn’t get the actual time this started.It’s my fault for not asking more questions and letting Sandro plan that part.I should have asked and gotten myself here on my own.”

“Or stayed home, the way I hoped you would,” Sandro mutters under his breath.

Forcing a grin, I tilt my head to study him.“Santa came already and gave me no reason to be good.”

Sandro and Luca share a look, then both start laughing.

Over the next hour, I wonder if I’m a masochist or simply stupid to want to be here.Despite being inches from Gaetano, I might as well be on the other side of the world from him.He looks through me—if he looks at me at all.

When Sandro asks me if I’m all right, I realize I’m not hiding my misery well enough.“Yeah, I’m just tired.I think I’m ready to go home.Too much shopping and I was up late with Joanna last night.”

“Okay, I’ll take you.”

I shake my head.“No, stay.I’ll get a ride on the app.I’m going to use the restroom, then go.”

“No need for either a cab or Sandro to take you.I’ll call a driver from the hotel.”Luca pulls my chair out for me.

“Thanks, Luca.”

“I’ll go with you, Bianca.”Luca’s girlfriend is up and beside me.

Struggling to hide my surprise, I give her a small smile.The woman intimidates the hell out of me.It’s not simply that she’s at least six foot and one percent body fat, she looks like a freaking model with blonde hair and green eyes.I wasn’t even sure she knew my name.

Beside her, I feel like a troll as we walk into the restroom.“I wanted to tell you that I love your dress and those boots.I’m forever in awe of how you don’t feel pressured to wear heels.”

I’m not sure if it’s an actual compliment or if it’s backhanded.

“Seriously, I hate these heels, but I don’t have the confidence to go without them.”She motions to the four-inch black, red-bottom heels.“I’ve never seen you in anything more than two inches stacked.Totally jealous.”

I shrug.“I tried heels, and I hate them.Since I’m so tall already, I’ve never been comfortable adding to my height.”

She rolls her eyes.“I got the teasing also in school, to the point I didn’t even try heels.Then men loved how tall I was, so I started wearing them.”

Once I finish and am washing my hands, I watch her exit the stall with a hesitant smile behind me.“I wanted to say, that like, I appreciate you not going after Luca.”

Shock has me blinking so many times my eyes go dry.“What?”

“I wondered.I mean, some women can’t help themselves.Tonight, I finally could see you weren’t interested in him.”

“No, I’m not, and my brother…”

“Well, your brother loves you.I mean, he says he would kill a guy, but if you love him, then your brother is going to make sure you have whatever makes you happy.”She wipes her hands on the linen hand towels.

I turn her words over and over in my head as I go back into the ballroom.Sandro sees me and is up from the table with my purse in his hands.Handing it to me.“Hey, Gaetano wants to leave, so he’s taking you home.Are you okay with that?”

Swallowing my desire to jump up and down, screaming with happiness, I nod.“Okay, I can manage not to kick him in the balls for as long as it takes for him to take me home.”

“I’d love to see you try, princess.”Gaetano chuckles from behind Sandro.“Let’s go.”He turns and walks away, leaving me to almost run to catch up with him.

It would be less annoying if Sandro weren’t laughing.

Gaetano is so far ahead of me that I’m pissed all over again.And think fuck it, as I give up on rushing after him.His eyes are narrowed on me as he held open the door to his car for almost a solid five minutes, since he was so far ahead of me.

“Thank you.”I flash him a saccharine-sweet smile as I get in.

Shaking his head, he nearly slams the door closed on me.The moment he’s in the car, he’s on me.“What did Tracy say to you?”

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