Page 43 of Secret Bet

Belle hid her smile and walked into the crowd of women on the dancefloor.

His brother and his wife were close. As he turned to sit, Jennifer bumped into him. He swallowed as she whispered in his ear, "Are you enjoying yourlittledate?"

Again he glanced at Belle as she hung toward the back. She had no intention of catching the flowers.He inhaled, but her apple scent was quickly replaced withperfume.

He grimaced. "She's different than anyone I'veevermet."

Jennifer practically purred like a cat as she stepped in front of him to block his view of Belle. "Peter, I was hoping, after all the hoopla is over that you might take me to Paris. We can get coffee in that café weliked."

Her hands pressed againsthis, but he pulled his hand away. "Jennifer, you have aboyfriend.”

“He’snot…”

No. He didn’t need to know. So he interrupted. “I am happy for you. You should go and catch the bouquet with the restofthem."

Thankfully his brother and Alice came. He instantly shook hisbrother'shand.

"Peter, what's happening?" Johnasked.

"Is she gone?" He mouthed to Alice.She nodded, and he took a deep breath. "She caught me bysurprise."

Alice peeked around Peter and smiled. "Belle caught thebouquet."

"What?" He turned to see Belle. She stood there with her mouth open, and her skin was alabasterwhite.

"Belle's perfect. Go. Talk to youlater."

He walked toward Belle, and then picked her up and spun her around. Belle pressed her headinto his chest for a second, and the smell of apples came back. Her natural beauty outshoneeveryonehere.

After everyone clapped for Belle, the music started again. Couples came forward to dance. He held out his hand and offered to dance with her. She held the bouquet in the hand she placed on hisupperarm.

"The rest of the night, I'm all yours, Belle. All my duties arecomplete."

She averted her gaze and stared out at the ocean beyond the stone patio. He twirled her around, unsure what shethought.

Then she said, "As you were dancing, another senator slipped me his card and told me to fit him into my schedule once Congress is back insession."

She must be shy right now. He held her in the dance and spun her around. "That'sgreat."

She swallowed."Were you talking toJennifer?"

Caught. He sucked in his breath at the question about his ex-girlfriend. "Shecameover."

Her big brown eyes then met his, and she neverblinked. "And?"

He tightened his hands in the frame of the dance. "I told her I was happywithyou."

With a lift of her chin, her gaze had the ability to silence a school boy or anyone that crossed herpath. "That must have gone over like a bag ofrocks."

"I don'tunderstand."

He twirled her again. She didn't back down from what she had to say. "Jennifer warned me that you don't trust easy, but I think shewantsyou."

"Jennifer is the past and that's it." Belle's brown eyes didn't blink. He swallowed and finished, "She was in my life when I didn't want to feelanything."

“That emotion and I are acquainted.” Her eyebrow lifted. "And now? What’s different inyourlife?"

Belle seemed like she intended to fight him if he answered wrong. He flashed her a smile. "I’m here, with you, and there is nocompetition."

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