"If you don't mind me saying," he said, looking down at me. "I'm not surprised you've turned heads." I felt the blood bloom in my cheeks, and he let out a deep laugh. "My dear, surely you're used to these compliments."
"I... thank you," I stumbled, feeling uncomfortable. "That's kind of you to say."
My eyes darted away from his face to scan the room again. Luc said he’d keep an eye on me whilst we were out here, but I couldn’t spot him anywhere.
"You're looking for him," the man remarked with a smirk.
"I'm just looking for Dominic," I lied.
"I don't think that's quite true. You're trying to find Lucas." I began to feel very uncomfortable with the stranger. "I believe he's preoccupied at the bar."
My focus turned in the direction of the bar where Luc stood in conversation with Amber. Draped in green silk against tan skin, Amber looked like she had stepped straight off the runway and into the reception. She was striking compared to the rest of us.
I felt sick at seeing the pair of them standing together in conversation. Any bystander could see that Luc and Amber had been cut from the same designer cloth. It made something deep inside of me ache to see just how perfect they looked together.
A pair of fingers drew my chin back to face my partner. "They have quite the history," he told me, unable to keep the joy from seeping into his words.
"I'm really sorry," I apologized. "But I didn't catch your name."
The stranger knew an awful lot about Luc.
"How rude of me," he crooned. "Marco Bianchi, at your service."
The hairs on my arm rose despite the fact there was no chill in the air. That was why he looked so familiar. He was the man who had stormed into Luc's house and caused the severe change in mood. This was the man Luc had wanted nowhere near me. Marco looked like a different man from the night in the entrance hall, less gaunt and distressed.
"I could use a drink." I made up an excuse to get away, but Marco tightened his grip on my waist.
"Lucas has been telling tales, I see."
"No. My feet hurt and I think I could use a drink."
Marco brushed his fingers down the side of my face, trailing them across my jaw. I flinched at his touch remembering that Lucas had said Marco didn't treat women well.
"You shouldn't believe everything he tells you," Marco told me. "Make your own decisions."
"Mia!" Dante came towards us and I let out a breath. "Bianchi."
"Atwood."
"Mia, let's go," Dante said to me, holding out a hand.
I turned towards Dante, thankful that he had arrived, but Marco pulled me closer. "We're in the middle of a dance and a little conversation. Isn't that right, sweetheart?"
"It doesn't look like she wants to talk to you," Dante told him firmly.
Chapter Twenty Three
Lucas
Dante had scampered off, leaving me alone with Amber at the bar. That man would take a bullet for me but the moment this woman walked into the picture he was more than willing to throw me to the wolves. I made a mental note to ask Mia to draft out a set of rules for Dante to follow. An official document may be a healthy reminder that he had duties that needed to be fulfilled, regardless of whether he wanted the responsibility or not.
"Hello, Amber," I greeted her. Downing the drink in my hand, I dropped the glass onto the bar with a clatter that caused the bartender to look over. "Need to go see some people."
I had barely taken a step before Amber flung her arms around me in an attempt of a hug. Some people in life are able to pick up on subtle hints. Amber struggled with a blatant warning.
"What part of staying away from me did you not understand?" I asked her coldly as I pushed her away from me. "How are you even here?"
There was no reason for Dom to have extended an invite to her. From my understanding, he wasn't Amber's biggest fan.
