Page 232 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

He was standing by a pillar—not leaning on it as such, just with the edge of his shoulder touching it. He was looking impossibly gorgeous in a tux, and he didn’t even glance in her direction at first—just cast a bored eye over the stunning surroundings and skimmed past her.

Then he frowned and turned around.

And she smiled. Not because Mimi had told her to, and not to kill him or show him how brilliant her life was without him...

Simply, she was pleased to see him.

It was as if her lips hadn’t caught up with her playing it cool, so it was an utterly natural smile, and it only wavered when he didn’t smile back.

He just stared, and so did she, because...actually...he didn’t look quite his usual self.

‘Signorina...’

She was being called to smile for the cameras, and then she was ushered through a sea of people and colour and so much noise.

Glasses clinking...the hum of chatter...all spilling forward as she followed the music into the ballroom, where huge chandeliers spun beams of light.

She looked over to the orchestra. There was Juliet, her red hair glowing, her concentration fully on the music. But then she glanced over and gave her a gorgeous smile and a nod.

‘You look stunning.’

She heard Dante’s voice and turned slightly.

‘Thank you.’ She looked at him a little more closely. ‘So do you.’

However, she looked at his unshaven jaw and was reminded of his comment about calling an ambulance if he ever went out unshaven.

But it was not her place to comment like that now.

She took a glass of champagne from a passing tray—then remembered she couldn’t drink it. This pregnancy thing was all so new.

She stood awkwardly, holding her glass, and found that the thought of her baby was the one thing that didn’t scare her tonight.

It was the thought of all the days when there would be no chance of seeing him.

Of lawyers and odd visits that Dante didn’t even know about yet.

And she wouldn’t be telling him here!

She kept her smile pasted on. ‘Gio said you’re making a speech?’

‘A short one—unless Sev gets here in time...’

‘He’s coming too?’

‘Yes.’ He looked at her. ‘I called him—tried to talk to him.’

‘Oh?’

‘He told me I lacked responsibility.’

‘Did he?’ Susie gave a little laugh. ‘You don’t.’ Then her laugh changed. ‘I got your message...’

‘I apologise for that. It sounded tacky.’

‘Just a bit.’ Susie nodded.

‘Would you like to dance?’