Page 68 of Saving Grace
For the next hour I sat at that stupid table, drinking and fuming. For unknown reasons I found myself glancing down the table. Sophia was already looking my way. She gave me a dirty look. I smiled at her then mouthed Fuck you.
If that bitch would put more effort into fucking her husband instead of the gardener, the limo driver, or her bodyguard— she’d have less time to hate me. She fucked anybody she thought would get a rise out of Atticus, but his heartless ass truly didn’t care.
At first, I wondered why she didn’t divorce him and move on, but then it became obvious that she liked the lifestyle he provided her and the power he wielded and was willing to do anything for it. She reminded me of my momma. She would probably end up drinking herself to death too. That’s all she seemed to do, drink and shop and try to get Atticus’ attention. She barely had a relationship with her daughter, leaving her to the nanny to raise. I shook my head. How fucking pathetic.
“Care to dance?” a deep baritone in my ear drew me out of my thoughts. I turned to find an Italian God in the flesh.
Well damn.
About 6’2, 190 pounds with shaggy black hair and piercing green eyes, the stranger flashed me all thirty of his pearly white teeth.
I had never seen a man so pretty.
Everything in me was screaming to say no, Atticus would be furious to see me dancing with another man, but that thought motivated me.
“Yes,” I stood and let him take my hand and lead me to the dance floor that was directly in front of the main table.
Immediately he pulled me close and started swaying.
"You looked uncomfortable.” He whispered against my ear.
I chuckled, “Was it that obvious?”
He pulled back and gave me a slick, dark grin that warmed my skin
“Very. I’m Gionni by the way, I assume you’re a friend of Roman's,”
“I’m Grace, and something like that.” I supplied.
“Ahh, it’s complicated?” He tilted his head awaiting my answer.
“Yes.”
He pushed back slightly and let those pretty green eyes trail down my body.
“I wouldn’t mind being the guy to help you uncomplicate things. “He drawled the words.
Feeling heat rising to my face, I smiled but otherwise remained silent. I couldn’t manage the bullshit going on with Atticus, even if I could, I wouldn’t add to it. I’d had my fill of men, every one that had every been attracted to me turned out to be trash.
He took my silence as a hint.
We just danced. By the third son his hand was dangerously close to my ass and his dick was pressing into my stomach. The combination of his boldness and the drink I’d had—had me tingling in places I shouldn’t have been.
I pulled back out of his embrace. “My feet are starting to hurt, I’m not exactly the heels type of girl.”
“I’m sorry, didn’t mean to cause you any pain.”
“It’s not a big deal, I’ll go sit down and it will all be good. Thanks for the dance.” I swung around to go back to my seat but his hand in mine stopped me, “How about you come sit at my table, nearly everybody there left.”
I took a peek at Atticus and could see the steam coming out of his ears. Again, instead of his anger dissuading me, it motivated me, I followed Gionni to his table.
He pulled a seat out for me, The table was completely empty.
"So you’re the infamous baby mother,” he used his fingers to make air quotation marks.
I grinned, “I thought you didn’t know who I was?”
“At first I thought, no way would Roman bring his mistress to his anniversary party until Roman gave me the death glare the moment I approached you.”