powerful and sure. He swung me around the floor until the song ended, when we stopped to applaud the band.
I felt a hand tap me on my shoulder and I turned to see Jonathan standing behind me. Alex gave us a nod and went off in search of refreshments. The next song started and Jonathan held up a hand. I allowed him to lead the dance .
“I wasn’t sure you’d show,” he said softly as he pierced into my soul with his icy blue eyes so similar to his father’s and his uncle’s.
“I made a promise, didn’t I?” I retorted.
He nodded as he looked me over. “You look nice.”
I smiled. “You, too.”
He tried to fight his smile, but was unsuccessful. Instead he tipped his chin a little higher, straightened his shoulders a little more, and guided me with confidence through the waltz. He wore his breeding well, I thought with a sinking heart. He was already turning into his father and he was barely into the double digits.
When the dance as done he bowed to me and then left in search of his mother. I sighed as I glanced out onto the dance floor. I spotted Drew easily. He held Olivia so close I thought she had melted into his body. It twisted the knife in my gut. What was this hold he had on me? Why did I care?
“Miss Dennehy,” Senator De Havilland said as he walked up behind me.
“Senator,” I nodded in greeting.
“Please, call me Troy,” he said with a slick smile that immediately put me ill at ease. He was a handsome man, perhaps too handsome. And his charm oozed from his pores as he glanced down at me. “May I interest you in a dance?”
“Of course,” I answered, though I honestly didn’t care to dance with this man. I didn’t care for his politics, of course, but I suspected living with Alex and dealing with Jonathan only fueled my discomfort about his character. I didn’t subscribe to any bullshit conspiracy theories, but a little of their inherent distrust had apparently worn off on me.
He took me confidently into his arms, his hand along the small of my back as we danced a proper waltz. “You look lovely,” he complimented.
“Thank you,” I said simply.
“I must say I was thrilled to see you again. You were good for Drew. I was sorry that it didn’t work out. Maybe now that you’ve returned, you both can mend your differences.”
My eyes met his. “I haven’t returned, sir. I am Jonathan’s teacher, and that is the position I have resumed. I have no interest in dating or marrying Drew Fullerton.”
He nodded. “Matters of the heart are… complicated,” he mused. “And Drew is a formidable man. He needs someone to soften his edges, but he’s likely to fight it every step of the way. That is why he needs an equally formidable woman to be his partner.”
I glanced at where Drew cuddled with Olivia on the dance floor. “He seems to be doing well for himself in that department,” I mumbled.
Troy laughed. “Never underestimate male pride, Miss Dennehy,” he advised. “It makes fools of all of us at some time or another.”
“It would appear the business of love is full of fools,” I responded.
“Indeed,” he agreed. “But it is worth it, is it not?”
I stared into his dark blue eyes. “For some,” I finally answered. “But not for me. Thank you for the dance, Senator,” I said as I pulled away and headed off in search of another glass of champagne.
I nursed the glass as I watched Drew and Olivia together. His touch was intimate and her countenance was possessive, as if she had earned the title of the future ex-Mrs. Fullerton whether we all knew it or not. I watched Jonathan as he evaded her every chance he got. He danced with his mother, but the tenuous relationship they had begun building just months before had already collapsed. She was a decoy, a prop, to keep him away from Olivia.
I went to his rescue and we headed out onto the terrace for a breath of fresh air. As I strolled amidst the familiar sculpted gardens, I was awash with memories that were
I felt a hand tap me on my shoulder and I turned to see Jonathan standing behind me. Alex gave us a nod and went off in search of refreshments. The next song started and Jonathan held up a hand. I allowed him to lead the dance .
“I wasn’t sure you’d show,” he said softly as he pierced into my soul with his icy blue eyes so similar to his father’s and his uncle’s.
“I made a promise, didn’t I?” I retorted.
He nodded as he looked me over. “You look nice.”
I smiled. “You, too.”
He tried to fight his smile, but was unsuccessful. Instead he tipped his chin a little higher, straightened his shoulders a little more, and guided me with confidence through the waltz. He wore his breeding well, I thought with a sinking heart. He was already turning into his father and he was barely into the double digits.
When the dance as done he bowed to me and then left in search of his mother. I sighed as I glanced out onto the dance floor. I spotted Drew easily. He held Olivia so close I thought she had melted into his body. It twisted the knife in my gut. What was this hold he had on me? Why did I care?
“Miss Dennehy,” Senator De Havilland said as he walked up behind me.
“Senator,” I nodded in greeting.
“Please, call me Troy,” he said with a slick smile that immediately put me ill at ease. He was a handsome man, perhaps too handsome. And his charm oozed from his pores as he glanced down at me. “May I interest you in a dance?”
“Of course,” I answered, though I honestly didn’t care to dance with this man. I didn’t care for his politics, of course, but I suspected living with Alex and dealing with Jonathan only fueled my discomfort about his character. I didn’t subscribe to any bullshit conspiracy theories, but a little of their inherent distrust had apparently worn off on me.
He took me confidently into his arms, his hand along the small of my back as we danced a proper waltz. “You look lovely,” he complimented.
“Thank you,” I said simply.
“I must say I was thrilled to see you again. You were good for Drew. I was sorry that it didn’t work out. Maybe now that you’ve returned, you both can mend your differences.”
My eyes met his. “I haven’t returned, sir. I am Jonathan’s teacher, and that is the position I have resumed. I have no interest in dating or marrying Drew Fullerton.”
He nodded. “Matters of the heart are… complicated,” he mused. “And Drew is a formidable man. He needs someone to soften his edges, but he’s likely to fight it every step of the way. That is why he needs an equally formidable woman to be his partner.”
I glanced at where Drew cuddled with Olivia on the dance floor. “He seems to be doing well for himself in that department,” I mumbled.
Troy laughed. “Never underestimate male pride, Miss Dennehy,” he advised. “It makes fools of all of us at some time or another.”
“It would appear the business of love is full of fools,” I responded.
“Indeed,” he agreed. “But it is worth it, is it not?”
I stared into his dark blue eyes. “For some,” I finally answered. “But not for me. Thank you for the dance, Senator,” I said as I pulled away and headed off in search of another glass of champagne.
I nursed the glass as I watched Drew and Olivia together. His touch was intimate and her countenance was possessive, as if she had earned the title of the future ex-Mrs. Fullerton whether we all knew it or not. I watched Jonathan as he evaded her every chance he got. He danced with his mother, but the tenuous relationship they had begun building just months before had already collapsed. She was a decoy, a prop, to keep him away from Olivia.
I went to his rescue and we headed out onto the terrace for a breath of fresh air. As I strolled amidst the familiar sculpted gardens, I was awash with memories that were
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