No one outside our circle knew the reason behind our estrangement, and they never would. Some things were meant to be private.
I’d made peace with our strained relationship, and I barely gave him any thought as my mother accepted the champagne bribe.
“Fine,” she said. “I have to speak to Buffy Darlington anyway. But if you find your sister, tell her I have her phone. Honestly, I don’t knowwhatshe’s doing…”
I disengaged from my mother and made it to Dante just in time.
“So, tell me how you proposed,” the poor guest said, seemingly oblivious to the groom’s twitching eye. “I want to heareverydetail.”
“Many apologies for interrupting.” I placed my hand on Dante’s chest before he could respond. “But can I steal him away? Wedding duties.”
“Oh, of course,” the woman said, flustered. “Congratulations again. You look beautiful.”
I smiled and steered Dante toward a quiet corner of the courtyard. “Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“Thank fuck,” Dante said when the woman was out of earshot. The ice cream cufflinks I bought for him in Paris glinted as he wiped a hand over his face, and the sight made me embarrassingly happy. “Now I know why people elope. The small talk at these things is insufferable.”
“Yes, but I’m sure you can findonething you like about it.” I looped my arms around his neck.
The tension eased from his shoulders, and his frown loosened in a faint smile. “Maybe one.” His hand rested on my waist. The heat seared through my dress and into the pit of my stomach. “The lobster canapés are pretty good.”
“And?”
“And…” He pretended to think about it. “The flowers are impressive. Though for one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, they better well be.”
“What about the people?” I tilted my chin up. “Anyone tolerable?”
“Hmm. There is this woman I’ve been eyeing all night…” Dante dipped his head so his lips brushed mine. “She’s beautiful, charming, has the best smile I’ve ever seen…but I think she’s married.”
“How…unfortunate.” My breath snagged when his palm slid up my waist, lighting tiny fires along the way.
“Very.” Another brush of his lips. “I hear her husband is quite protective of her. If he sees me talking to her, he might do something rash.”
“Like?” My mind went hazy when his hand made it over the curve of my shoulder and to the back of my neck.
“Like kiss the hell out of her in front of two hundred and fifty people, propriety be damned.”
Dante captured my mouth in a proper kiss, and the party, the music, the guests…they were all gone, obliterated by the heat of his touch.
It seeped into my chest and my veins, filling me with warmth from the inside out.
The type that existed only when you reached the end of a long journey…and found home.