Page 97 of My Real Love Affair

She took a deep breath. “I’m willing to try again.”

My heart was pounding so hard against my ribcage it was actually painful. It was making it difficult to breathe. “You’re sure?”

“No.” She laughed, but it was nervous. “I’m terrified, actually. But you deserve someone in your corner like you were in mine.”

I nodded, still dumbfounded she was standing in front of me.

“But if you embarrass me again,” she added quickly, “I will let Cleo off her leash, and she will ruin you. Her creative talents can be scary sometimes.”

I laughed with relief and joy and disbelief all mixing together. “Noted. Cleo is terrifying. Message received. I think she mentioned something about neutering me. I’d rather not find out if she was serious.”

“I’m serious, Austin. Cleo is a pitbull on a leash, but I can be pretty vicious too.”

“I know you are.” I squeezed her hands. “I’m not going to embarrass you again. I swear. I’m going to do everything in my power to deserve you.”

“That’s a tall order.”

“Good thing I like a challenge.”

She smiled then, just for me. I had to resist the urge to kiss her right there in front of everyone.

Instead, I released one of her hands and offered her my arm. “Ready to make an entrance?”

“I think we already did.” She glanced around, noticing for the first time how many people were watching us. “Oh man. Everyone’s staring.”

“Let them stare.” I covered her hand with mine where it rested on my arm. “I’ve got the most beautiful woman in the room on my arm. They should be staring.”

“Smooth talker.”

“I’m a Bancroft. It’s in the DNA.”

We started across the ballroom together. I felt every eye follow us. Heard the whispers starting. Saw phones being raised to capture the moment. But for once, I didn’t care about the optics or the gossip or what people would say.

Melody was here. She’d come for me.

My family was exactly where I’d left them, though now they were all staring at us with varying expressions. Sylvie looked delighted. Kent looked amused. Cash looked like he was having a stroke. And my father’s expression was inscrutable.

“Everyone,” I said as we approached. “This is Melody. Melody, this is a very small part of my family. Kent and his wife, Sylvie. My brother Cash. And you’ve met my father, the charmer. I have a few other brothers and their wives running around that I’m sure you’ll meet soon.”

“It’s lovely to meet you all,” Melody said. I was impressed by how steady her voice was despite the nerves I could feel in the hand gripping my arm.

Kent was grinning like an idiot. He was loving this. I looked at Sylvie, who was also beaming. Kent slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him.

I wanted that. I wanted what Sylvie and Kent had. He was willing to nearly bankrupt himself to make her happy because he loved her.

Would I be willing to do that?

CHAPTER 30

MELODY

Iwas so far out of my comfort zone I might as well have been on Mars. The ballroom looked like it belonged in a movie about obscenely wealthy people doing obscenely wealthy things. Everything glittered. The chandeliers, the jewelry dripping from necks and wrists, even the champagne seemed to sparkle more than physics should allow.

And the people. God, the people. They shone like polished gems all around me. Models. Celebrities. Politicians. I had never seen so much money in one place before. And it was all so normal for Austin.

Well, normal was probably not the right word. He looked comfortable, but I could see he was counting down the minutes until he could escape. After getting to know him the little I did, I knew it wasn’t his scene. Austin was not the kind of guy that liked to schmooze. He would prefer to be kicked back in a pair of sweats with a cold beer. But damn, the man looked good in a tuxedo.

I’d been here for maybe an hour. I was ready to leave fifty-five minutes ago. I’d already had three separate conversations that felt like fever dreams.