Desserts & Dramas

Chapter 28

The bouquet toss was surprising, especially for Eric, since Samanta had managed to catch it. If the looks and comments already made it clear what she wanted, with the bouquet in her hands, there was nothing left to control her.

"It can only be fate, Eric, our wedding will be the next one.

Eric had already exhausted all his creativity to come up with gentle and evasive answers. Marriage was not part of his plans, at least for the moment. All that remained for him to do was to dance. And they danced, as did the vast majority of the young people present. Some older couples and even the more enthusiastic ones ventured onto the dance floor, when the music pleased them, or waited on the sidelines for a better selection from the band. Live music had this power to awaken the dancing spirit even in those less inclined to move their bodies in public.

After the waltz, the bride and groom went to cut the cake and the dessert table was finally available for tasting. Sofia was watching the traditional pictures of the couple cutting cake and drinking sparkling wine with their arms crossed when Gabriel approached.

"Enjoying the party, Gabriel?"

"As much as possible." He answered, looking around. He shouldn't comment about it, but something inside him urged him to. "You seem to be getting along better with Arthur now."

Sofia stared at him.

"Were you watching me?"

"Maybe a little." Gabriel tried to disguise it by looking away from her and toward the dance floor. He didn't want to admit it so openly, but he needed to know the reason for this intimacy. " It was a long conversation."

"It was an enlightening conversation."

"Really?"

"Yes," Sofia realized that Gabriel was doing his best to know the content of the conversation, but a woman must have her secrets. She could not talk so openly about money and marriage with Gabriel in the same way that she had with Arthur. She didn't want to admit it, but somehow she wanted him to like her, and any of these subjects would put her on the same level as most of her previous girlfriends, seeing him only for the wealth and fame he possessed. It was safer to change the direction of the conversation than to show her interest in an investor.

"Now that the rehearsed waltz is over, you can stay further away from Vivian," Sofia added, "if that's what you want."

Gabriel shivered slightly.

In the organization of the groomsmen, he was Vivian's pair, and she considered herself lucky to be standing next to the most handsome best man, her words. She was really trying to win him over with playfulness and not"so"subtle touches. Whether or not he was enjoying the attention, Sofia had not yet been able to conclude. Jade and Daniel formed the other pair, and poor Cecilia, who was such a lovely girl, had to put up with her cousin Arthur. Really, Sofia had nothing to complain about being next to Eric. And as a bonus she didn't have to analyze her emotions when she was around the arrogant, and handsome, she had to add, Gabriel.

"Vivian can be a little intense."

"Well, she knows what she wants," Sofia replied. "I thought men liked decided women."

"As long as those decisions don't clash with their own. She made her marriage plans very clear in the short term."

"And you don't want to get married?"

"At the moment my only desire is to dance with you."

Sofia looked at him uncertainly. Should she be that close to him? Clearly he was not interested in talking about marriage, or he would not change the subject so abruptly. Was this a warning sign that she should not get involved with someone so averse to relationships?

"It's not playing such slow music, shall we?" he insisted, holding out his hand. "I won't step on your toes."

Sofia nodded and took his hand, letting him lead her onto the dance floor. What did she have to lose by dancing to one song?

"You mean that among all your talents is dancing?"

"You'll see."

Gabriel smiled at her. He put one hand on her waist while he held the other, and slowly they began to dance to the rhythm of the music.

"You can dance!" Sofia exclaimed in surprise.

"You seem to think so little of me."

"Usually men shy away from this part of the party."

"Not those who enjoy female company," Gabriel explained with his most seductive smile.

He tightened his hand around her waist and pulled her closer. His warm fingers touched her back above the neckline of her dress, energizing her whole body. Sofia still had doubts about whether he was really interested in her. His attitude seemed to indicate that he was, but measuring the depth of this interest was much more difficult.

The next two songs had faster rhythms and gradually they were dancing apart and laughing freely, with a few touches here and there that made Sofia's blood boil. He spun her around, changed sides, moved in and out. She had never danced with someone like this and had so much fun. Gabriel really left her old boyfriends far behind.

With all the heat from dancing, she urgently needed a drink. She nodded and asked them to get out from among the dancers.

"I'm thirsty, shall we get a drink?"

"Are you sure that you and a glass near me is safe?"

Gabriel really liked to tease her.