Eve saw him lift the beribboned wicker basket from the table and move across the stage toward her in an unhurried, panther-stalk sort of stride until he reached the spot where she stood on the opposite side of the stage.
The wine auction was a charity event. A bottle of her vineyard’s best vintage cabernet sauvignon together with a selection of breads and cheeses meant to showcase the wine’s fine flavor. Was it fate that had her adding a bottle of Allanti Olive Oil to the basket at the last minute? How could she have known it would be Allanti himself who bid on her basket? And at such an exorbitant amount of money. Part of a charity auction, but still. He wins her and the basket. Well, her company for an evening at any rate.
The man wore sexuality upon those broad tuxedo-sheathed shoulders much too easily. Too much power coiled beneath the tailored black silk. That blindingly smooth smile almost caused her heart to stop, but her limbs trembled in awareness. Sebastian Allanti had not made his reputation, nor his millions by not knowing exactly what sort of impact he had on people. Eve felt every bit of that lethal charm and knew she was in for a battle. Here was a man who could easily rip her self-control to shreds with just the lift of a finger if she wasn’t careful.
Sebastian stopped in front of her. The faint aroma of an expensive cologne she didn’t recognize wafted over her.
“Miss Jennings, I believe your exquisite company is mine tonight. Shall we?” He gallantly held out his arm and awaited her pleasure.
The trembling wouldn’t stop no matter how hard she tried to convince herself this was nothing more than a social obligation for charity. Taking a deep breath, she gave him her most public smile and then curled her arm through his.
“Mr. Allanti, a pleasure. I hope you’ll find the wine to your liking this evening.”
YOU ARE READING
Betrayal of Trust
Storie d'amoreEve Jennings Allanti, manager of the Fontaine Winery, is estranged from her Italian husband, Sebastian Allanti, head of the American operations for the Allanti family restaurant business. A breakdown in trust has occurred that Eve feels cannot be h...
