Page 47 of Bride of Betrayal
He cut her off by swooping down and placing his mouth over hers, igniting an immediate fire between them.Ignite?Who was she kidding? The fire never seemed to go out.
She was clutching his shirt to stay standing when he finally broke the kiss. Angelica was breathing harshly. ‘What was that for?’
Leo said, ‘I can’t imagine not wanting you, Angel…you’re part of my blood.’
She felt shaky. Was Leo finally admitting that perhaps he could feel something more permanent for her? ‘Me too.’
He straightened up. ‘As much as I’d like to stay here and exorcise this fever, I can’t.’ He went to the door, and looked back. ‘See you later?’
Angelica just nodded, her heart still pounding, skin hot. He disappeared and Angelica sank back onto the bed. Leo had just given her something with one hand and taken it away with the other.He wanted to exorcise her from his blood.Not admit that she might mean more to him.
Nothing had changed. If she told him she still loved him, he would surely end it all over again. Exactly as he had before. Full circle. It was nothing that Angelica didn’t know and she had to dampen down the flame of hope that she was confusing with desire, or she really would never recover.
Stepping into the ballroom of the palazzo just a bit further down the Grand Canal from Leo’s apartment was like stepping back in time. Flaming lanterns and massive candles lit the space in a golden glow.
Leo and Angelica were relatively restrained in their choice of clothes compared to some of the guests in full medieval-style costume with elaborate masks to match.
Leo wore a classic black tuxedo, and the stunning gold dress fitted Angelica like a dream. The matching mask sat over her eyes and she quite liked not being instantly recognisable.
Wait staff moved through the crowd with glasses of sparkling wine and canapés.
‘I see someone who I need to speak to, on the other side of the room.’ Leo was taking Angelica’s hand and leading her through the crowd. She noticed that he seemed far more comfortable in crowds now. And, as they approached the person he wanted to talk to, he let her hand go. He introduced them and Angelica smiled politely but she soon found that Leo was engrossed in his conversation.He didn’t need her any more.
Whatever advantage she might have brought to him in his initial phase of relaunching his business, it was well and truly expired now. And soon he would realise that and waste no time in casting her off. Albeit, salving his conscience by helping her with her charity project.
Angelica felt a pang. That wasn’t fair—she was sure that Leo meant it when he said he was interested in the charity, but suddenly Angelica wasn’t so sure if she wanted to have any involvement with his company, potentially having to deal with him, or see him.
But could she now jeopardise work on the charity just to make things easier for herself?
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to exclude you.’
Angelica blinked out of her spiralling thoughts to see that Leo’s acquaintance had moved on. She shook her head. ‘It’s fine. I know these things are networking opportunities.’
‘Maybe you’ll be back here hosting a charity event of your own soon?’
You.Not we. Another death knell. Angelica smiled. ‘Maybe.’
‘Dance with me.’
Angelica felt like pulling free and leaving, getting into a water-taxi and going straight to the airport. A decisive clean break. But Leo was holding her hand and the surroundings were seductive enough to believe that maybe the world outside wasn’t waiting for her to start over again. Just yet. Would one more night be so selfish?
‘OK.’
Leo led the way through the crowd to where couples were dancing to a mellow jazz band. He swung Angelica into his arms and she hated the way she fitted so easily.Like coming home.No. Coming home would be when she bought a place near to where her mother and brother lived in Madrid. She would set herself up there, and continue to work until the charity became more solid. And then she would worry about fundraising.
‘Where are you?’ he asked.
Angelica swallowed the emotions threatening to strangle her and forced a smile. ‘Nowhere, sorry.’
Leo stopped dancing. ‘Do you want to go?’
‘But we just got here. Don’t you have more people to meet?’
Leo shrugged. ‘Not especially. Everyone knows I’m back now.’
‘I’m really pleased for you, Leo.’ Those damned emotions were rising again.
‘Come on, let’s go.’
