She heard Richard from behind them. “You two are together tonight.”
Of course, he had to be here tonight. He had to be seen and look good for the public eye. He needed to mingle with the upper class.
“Yes, she is my date for tonight.” Simon turned toward Richard. “Right, Elizabeth?” Simon was smiling; that smile could melt her. Oh, it was his turn.
“Yes.” That was all she could say as she smiled, hoping her lips were not trembling.
“Well, good choice.” Richard cleared his voice. And he walked away quickly.
“He was rude,” Simon stated as he turned themselves to the art and added, changing the subject, “I don’t have the lighthouse here. It’s in my apartment now.”
“Oh.” She was at a loss for words. Oh yes, that was the photo she was looking at last year. She was not going to his apartment to see, if that was what he was implying.
“Richard never liked you,” she stated, quickly changing the subject. “You’re lucky he didn’t call you Layfette. That’s what he called you when you were with Isabell.”
“I am not with Isabell, and you’re not with him. I don’t care what he calls me. He is jealous of me,” Simon stated seriously. “I am here with you.”
“I am honored,” she said out politely. She could not be rude to him; she was not taught to be rude.
“I never voted for him anyway,” he said to her, making her look at him, and he offered, “Let’s mingle. The night is young, and there are a lot of people to talk to.”
I want to show you off. Let people know I am interested in you, and you are going to be mine, he thought as he led her through the crowd, stopping to talk to several people, and he introduced her to them.
It was so different being with him than with Richard. He was not trying to win them over. Simon was smooth, almost elegant. He had authority about him. He was a gentleman, not letting her out of the conversion. She enjoyed being with him.
He led the way to Nichole, and Nichole was standing next to a younger version of himself but a tad shorter, and he was dressed in a tuxedo like Simon.
“Gabriel, this is Elizabeth Summerton,” Simon introduced them as he stopped at them.
“I am honored to meet you.” Gabriel took her hand. “I heard so much about you.” Then he kissed it softly.
“Elizabeth, you look beautiful.” Nichole broke her and Simon apart as she hugged her.
“Thanks.” Elizabeth hugged her back tightly, and she grew hot. She had never been put it in limelight before and felt different.
Simon offered her his arm again and took ahold of it like it was natural.
“Nichole and I are going out after this.” Gabriel was smiling, showing off his teeth. He was in his glory.
“Oh, well, that’s good,” Simon stated. “I am going to bed after this, and I’m sure Elizabeth is not going anywhere either. We are not young anymore. Like you two.”
“Are you staying with your father?” Nichole asked, winking at her.
“Yes, I am staying with my father.” Elizabeth wished she would stop winking at her. She was not planning anything after this. She was ready to sleep, nothing else.
“I sold him that unit, I take you back.” Simon smiled as she looked at him. “I live there myself.”
He wanted to take her back. It was getting hot tonight, she thought. She suddenly needed air and had to take a deep breath. This night was going to be interesting, and she had to fight off this crazy feeling for him. She didn’t want to end up in bed with him yet. Oh, why was she thinking like that? She suddenly stopped drinking the wine.
She had to stop this craziness before it got the best of her.
Then Gabriel was talking to Nichole, and Nichole was smiling at him. Young love. It was nice to see that Nichole was interested in a man with his head on his shoulders.
“My brother sure likes your half sister,” he stated as they walked to the table where the food was laid out.
“Nichole sure likes him.” She was not hungry. Her stomach was in a knot, but she released him arm to take some carrots. She needed to eat something, with the wine.
“Yes.” He did not seem interested in the food; he was just staring at her. “Him and her. You and I.”
Oh, she thought, looking away from him. She did not know what to say to him. She was so tongue-tied, and she was so sharp in court when it mattered.
“What would you say if I asked you out on a date?” he asked, making her look at him in surprise.
“I thought I was not your type of woman.” She had to say it. She kissed him last time. Did she want to get involved with him? She was so confused about this. Isabell was a model, blond, with blue eyes.
“Elizabeth, what is my type of woman?” he asked, smiling, showing off his dimples.
She was digging herself in a hole, and it was getting too deep.
“You don’t know, do you?” He offered his arm. “I know what you look like. You look pretty damn sexy in that dress.”
“Oh, I know what I look like.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. She didn’t know if she wanted to take his arm again. “You just surprised me.”
“Well.” He wanted an answer, but he added, “You can take my arm, Elizabeth. I am not going to hurt you. I just want to get to know you.”
“I don’t know.” She had to say it. “I have been divorced from Richard only six months.”
“So.” He turned to her. She was not following him, and she looked worried. What did Richard do to her to make her doubt herself?
“I am not Richard,” he said loudly and clearly, and he was angry. But not at her. He wanted to find Richard and rip his head off.
He was frowning, and she suddenly wanted to leave. Walk away from this. She was scared to love; there was fear in her soul. This man made her feel alive and beautiful.
“I don’t want to be rude to you,” she said, quickly licking her dry lips. Her heart was racing; her blood was on fire.
“I will be rude and just kiss you in front everyone,” he stated loudly. “I kissed you the last time. You enjoyed it, or did you forget?”
“I did not forget,” she whispered, glancing around slowly, but no one was paying any attention. The crowd was enjoying the food and the wine.
“I admired from you afar,” he stated, softly calming himself down. He could not let her walk away this time. “We were both married, and they cheated on us, but I would not dare cheat on anyone.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea.” She was walking backward slowly. She almost bumped into someone as
