He gazed down at her from his height of well over six feet making her feel a delicate and fragile thing. “I’m quite sure I’ve won the prize this evening.” He escorted her off the stage and toward the sectioned off portion of the large ballroom where tables and servers awaited. He passed by the waiter who was there to seat them and guided her toward a remote table in a darkened corner secluded by a tall potted green fern that fanned out to shield the table from prying eyes.
Sebastian placed the basket at the center of the white cloth-covered table, then turned to seat her. He held out the chair and she sat as he pushed it in. He leaned down, his dark silky hair brushed against her, his scent filled her, and she thought she felt just the lightest brush of his lips against her naked shoulder before he straightened and stepped to the other side of the table and seated himself.
He looked at her and there was the sense that they were the only people in the world. All the sounds of the auction, the ballroom, the people around them, all faded away as she stared into his eyes.
“Now,” he said, “you and I can get to know each other without interruption. May I call you Eve?”
“Y-yes. Of course.”
He smiled that sexy white smile that kept her body humming with aroused awareness. “Please call me Sebastian.” He leaned back in his chair, studying her, his attention assessing. “You are quite exquisite.”
Like cold water dashed across her, she blinked and the caution and suspicion kicked in. “Pretty words, Mr. Allanti.”
“For a beautiful woman.”
“Are you trying to seduce me? You don’t waste any time, do you?”
His eyes bored into her. “I’m a man of purpose. I see what I want and I go after it. I’m always willing to negotiate for top position.”
She lifted a brow. “Hmm. Well I’m not interested in becoming one of your...possessions. Not at any price.”
She could read nothing from his expression as he studied her. If only her body wouldn’t so obviously betray her.
YOU ARE READING
Betrayal of Trust
RomanceEve 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...
