The Billionaire's Second-Chance Bride (The Romero Brothers, #1) (12 page)

Mariam flushed. “Yes, Antonio. I...I’ll be going then. Nice to meet you, Lucy.” Mariam made her way through the crowd.

“I apologize for my assistant or soon-to-be former assistant’s behavior,” Antonio murmured. “She’s apparently a little insecure at times.”

“Oh, no worries. Actually, I didn’t notice anything strange. She seems really helpful.”

Antonio could tell Lucy was embarrassed by her expression and redness of her cheeks. But her reaction brought a delightful warmth to him. Lucy. Had. Class!

She certainly knew how to brush off an embarrassing situation and let it slide off like water off a recently waxed car. Antonio was becoming more fascinated by Lucy each and every time he met her. He was always a good judge of character and the way a person reacted in a negative situation spoke more volume than the way he reacted in a positive one.

It wasn’t how you treat your friends that makes you a powerful person, it’s the way you treat your enemies—with compassion. That revealed a lot about a person’s heart.

Just then a ballad began to blaze through the speakers and many guests took to the center of the dance floor.

“May I have this dance?” Antonio asked Lucy.

Lucy hesitated. “I...I’ve never danced like...um...in this situation...in a formal...”

Antonio grinned. “Don’t worry,” he teased her, “we’re not doing the waltz. I’ll take the lead, just follow.”

Lucy’s heart thumped erratically. She was all thumbs or toes when it came to dancing, even slow dancing. Heck, she really didn’t think she would have to dance at the Diamond Ball. What if she tripped over her floor-length gown and ripped the seams off and had to have Mariam come rushing to the rescue with her needle and thread that was probably stashed away in her clutch purse?

Breathe deeply, Lucy. It’s only a dance.

But that wasn’t the only thing that was making her heartbeat thump hard in her throat.

Antonio Romero.

My God!

She was getting up close and personal with the most eligible bachelor at the ball! He asked her to dance. Her!

After fretting she heard the song playing. It was that beautiful ballad again, “Lost in Your Eyes,” by Debbie Gibson. What an uplifting love song. The melody was one of the prettiest she’d ever heard. If that sultry serenade couldn’t tame a beast, Lucy didn’t know what could.

Lucy’s body was heating up. She could not do this. How could she slow dance for the first time in her life with a hot, sought-after billionaire in the presence of hundreds of affluent guests? This was utterly insane. She was going to trip and fall and make a complete ass of herself. She didn’t slow dance but she dare not tell Antonio this.

Once in elementary school, a boy named Peter asked her to dance and she complied, only to accidentally step on his bad foot. Long story short, neither of them knew what they were doing. They both became the laughingstock of the school and Peter had to have an operation on his foot (though minor) later that week. Of course, she hadn’t known beforehand that he had a serious issue with his baby toe. Lucy felt so awful and hadn’t even bothered since. Besides, it wasn’t as if she went to her prom or had any invitations to go formal dancing since that time.

Antonio was different, of course.

This situation was a billion times different.

Antonio was hot and charming and really knew his way around women and social settings of high class.

Antonio looked Lucy over seductively and her nipples hardened under his touch of her hand as he guided her to the center of the dance floor. He was dripping with delicious charm and this man really oozed powerful sex. She could feel the sexual magnetism between them. She genuinely could and this was not her imagination at play. She could see it in his eyes. It reflected from his soul. She was lost in his dark, enchanting eyes.

Lucy found herself studying Antonio’s tall, muscular frame and his sexy profile. He was angelic in every way imaginable. Built like a Greek god.

He looked dazzling in his formal black attire and filled out nicely with his broad athletic shoulders and his height. God, he towered over her and yet she wore her six-inch heels.

Antonio wore a rich black single-breasted tuxedo dinner jacket with satin facing and neatly pressed matching trousers, a la sexy, dangerous James Bond. There wasn’t a crease in his attire. He was immaculate.

He sported a crisp white shirt with a black bow tie to match his lapel facings. Hot. “Very nice ensemble,” she whispered breathless.

“Thank you,” Antonio murmured in a deep, rich silky voice that made her spine tingle. A delicious shudder heated her body and she licked her lips. Antonio’s sexiness captivated her every time she was close to him.

She glanced down briefly while making sure she did not step on her dress and noted his black, highly-polished expensive leather footwear. She knew what to look for and appreciate because she studied menswear while working with clothing designers for her wedding planning agency with regards to the reception dance room events they’d hosted in the past. And oh, French cuffs. She adored French cuffs on a man. There was something rich and sophisticated about a man in that style shirt.

When the lyrics of the song came to “something’s there we can’t deny” Lucy’s heart fluttered in her chest. Her belly tingled with a thousand tiny butterflies. Waves of excitement washed through her body and coursed through her veins.

To take her mind off feeling nervous around Antonio, she briefly glanced around at the marvelous ballroom. It looked more enormous than she saw on the Internet. This would be a perfect setting for a wedding reception. The ballroom exuded grandeur. She loved the stunning two-tiered design of the hall. She could see silhouettes of people standing on the upper level looking down at the dance floor.  She noted the musician’s section over by the left side and there was also some sort of gift table. Perhaps that gift table was where the organizers arranged to host the upcoming prize draw.

Lucy was taken away by the high ceiling, the eye-catching, gold-leafed ceiling with the magnificent crystal chandelier. The soft colors and ambient lighting of the room (if she could call it that) made for a truly romantic fest.

She felt like an honored guest. Maxine was right. Lucy was glad she’d changed her mind about going and showed up. Speaking of Maxine, Lucy wondered where she was. Probably chatting with a hot guest, no doubt.

“You seem nervous,” Antonio murmured into her ear, interrupting her thoughts. His deep silky voice sliced through her.

A sense of inadequacy gnawed at Lucy. Oh, why didn't she accept those dance lessons offered gratis from one of their contractors? She was extended an invitation from Dazzling Dance Studios, a client her wedding planning agency used to teach grooms and brides how to prepare for their big day (if they so chose that option in their wedding package) so that they hit it off at their reception while dressed in their best.

A surge of heat rushed through her. She would have been treated to lessons in Ballroom dancing, Salsa, West Coast Swing, Argentine Tango, Latin, and even the Country Two Step. Silly girl. That’s what she got for being too busy to socialize and have fun beyond work. Maxine begged her to go along

for the longest time. Now Lucy was about to have her first lesson in front of witnesses—and the hot Mr. Romero.

“I’m not nervous,” she whispered, biting down on her lip. She noticed that Antonio’s hungry gaze slid towards her lips and she tingled between her thighs.
Oh, God! I must stop doing that.

“Good,” he grinned then slid his soft hand over hers. “You’re far too beautiful to be nervous.”

Lucy’s knees weakened at his tender touch and soothing words.

Antonio slid his right hand around her left hip side then towards the center of her mid-back. His left hand gently took her right hand and moved it towards his shoulder. He stood close facing her and she could not help but blush. Heat raced to her throat and to her cheeks.  Was it hot all of a sudden? No. It was Antonio who was sizzling.

Her heart raced like mad in her chest. Lucy was terrified and thrilled at the same time. Was he aware of that? Oh, God! How embarrassing that would be. She sure hoped he wasn’t as perceptive as she thought he was.

I can do this.

It’s only a dance.

Yeah, right. With the hottest bachelor she’d ever met in her life.

Lucy met his gaze again, oblivious to the others in the ballroom. Heck, she couldn’t care less who was watching her. The most important person right now was Antonio. She felt the firmness of his hand on her back as he held her snug as if they’d been lovers.

Oh, my!

Soon they were both swaying and moving to the music as they slow danced to Lost in Your Eyes, which then broke out into a string quartet version.

All Lucy could think about as he grinded his hard hips into hers was, this man can move! She had read somewhere that the way a man moves on the dance floor says a lot about how good he can move in the bedroom.

Fire scorched through Lucy’s blood at the thought.

This man is sex. He is the embodiment of sexiness.

Antonio was an expert in his movements and in taking the lead. Thank heavens for that!

He whispered in her ear on occasion and told her she was doing very well and how gorgeous she was.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, inside and out.”

Lucy was gushing inside, wavering with self-consciousness. Was he just saying that? Had it been the intoxicating atmosphere of the dance floor or did it come from the heart? Right then and there, she knew that
she
was also sedated from the music. Lucy felt pleasantly seduced by his soulful movements, his touch and his aura.

But what about Monday night? He was all hot and heavy with her then and cooled off her like a slab of ice the next day.

An adorable boyish grin touched the corner of his lips. Her palms were getting sweaty from her bungled nerves. Lucy had stopped breathing momentarily. She was only inches away from Antonio’s sweet lips. But she felt the solid hardness of his manhood pressing against her inner thigh as they grinded their hips vertically on the dance floor. 

If only I could taste your lips again. Oh, God! Kiss me, Antonio. Kiss me again. Please.

His cologne tantalized her nostrils and she was dizzy with excitement. She was enjoying her first real slow dancing experience with Antonio.

The image of Antonio releasing her from her ball gown and pressing his lips to her naked skin slipped inside her mind causing her heartbeat to escalate. It was a wonder she didn't have a heart attack from all the heart racing. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and re-opened them, hoping the image would vanish. She didn’t want it to, but she sure didn’t want to raise her hopes for nothing.

Lucy didn’t know what had gotten into her but the urge to rest her head on his chest as they continued to dance was overpowering her. As if he could read her mind Antonio pulled her close and she nestled her head on his tuxedo.

“I want you, Lucy,” he whispered in her ear. His breath was warm on her skin and she felt a light sensation.

Lucy pulled her head away from him momentarily and gazed longingly into his dark eyes.

“W-what?” Her voice was oddly hoarse. She could not believe what he just whispered to her. Was it her imagination or did he just say what she thought he said?

“I need you, Lucy. I need you now.” His voice was raspy in her ears.

The first silly thought that slid into her mind was, what type of lingerie am I wearing underneath my gown? She often didn’t wear sexy lace panties unless it was a special occasion. Thankfully, she did tonight and she breathed a sigh of relief.

I want you, too.

She could not tell him this and her startled gaze must have put him off.

Great going on ruining the moment, Lucy.

Once the music stopped, Antonio pulled away from her slightly and lifted her right hand to his lips and kissed the back of her hand so sophisticatedly. The feeling of ecstasy raced through her blood from the soft touch of his lips. She wanted him. She wanted Antonio now. Her body was begging for him to touch her body. The thought of him being inside her dominated her whole being and it was driving her crazy.

“Thank you for this dance,” he had finished his moment of seduction. A grin curled the corner of his lips.

What was he thinking? What was on his mind, Lucy wondered ferociously. Was Antonio trying to smooth-talk her into seeing things his way where his grandfather’s wedding was concerned? Was he playing a game with her? Or was she going crazy out of her mind?

“May I escort you to your table?” he offered.

“Um...I...I don’t really have a table.” Actually, she was sure that staff from Dream Weddings, Inc. was seated at table seventeen, come to think of it, but the words would not depart from her lips. She wanted to say,
Take me anywhere you want to take me.

As if he could read her mind, Antonio took her hand and guided her through the crowded ballroom dance floor and up the steps of the stairwell. They moved away from the noise of the gala event and walked through a cordoned off corridor leading towards the main house.

“Where are we going?” she whispered, dizzy with anticipation and excitement. They walked through an area that reminded her of an art gallery with fancy paintings adorning the walls and a plush Persian rug cushioning their footsteps. It all seemed so surreal. She was with Antonio Romero. Alone. Lucy nervously clutched her purse in front of her as the bottom of her ball gown swept the floor while she hurried to keep up with Antonio.

“Somewhere more quiet,” he murmured. She noticed Antonio’s eyes seductively traced her silhouette as he stole a sideways glance in her direction her as they walked.

That nagging sense of inadequacy swept over Lucy. What was with her? Why was she suddenly nervous? She bit her lower lip anxiously. She wanted this. She had been fantasizing about being with Antonio for so long. She wanted him more than ever.

But she felt so unprepared. It wasn’t as if she’d done this many times before. Oh, could she possibly live up to his standards? Whatever his standards were?