“There will be a room full of eligible men tonight, but I have a feeling you only have eyes for one,” the woman said smugly.
Whitney had to protest. “Oh, that’s so not true. I’m not interested in Liam.”
How could she be possibly interested in him? They’d made love — spectacular, out-of-this-world love — and then she hadn’t seen him for two full days. He’d finally managed to conquer her, and now he was finished. Wasn’t that typical of a man, especially one like him?
“Then how did you know he was the man I was talking about? Interesting.” After that remark, the maid disappeared.
For the millionth time in only a few weeks, Whitney was filled with panic, but she brushed it aside. She was feeling good about herself right now despite Liam’s cruel rejection. Did that mean she’d feel the same tonight?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Whitney entered the ballroom and Liam forgot how to breathe.
She’d glided into the room wearing a shimmering silver gown that cascaded down her perfect body. She was unadorned by jewels, but she didn’t need them to shine. Her hair was enough of an accessory. Even the nervous smile resting on her lips captivated him. She was biting gently into her bottom lip, capturing his full attention. He so wanted to brush her pouting mouth with his tongue.
He was falling for this woman, but the difficulties surrounding their situation seemed insurmountable. So he’d stayed away for a couple of days to gain back his control — or to try to gain it back. Yeah, right. He’d failed. And he was very grateful for that.
Liam was suddenly moving toward her before he even knew what he was doing.
“May I have this dance?” he asked huskily.
Whitney looked at him with a deep blush on her cheeks.
“Why?” she asked, and he was stumped for a moment.
“Because you are the most beautiful woman in the room,” he told her.
“But you walked from my bed without a word for two days.”
Liam watched the vulnerability flash in her eyes before she managed to tamp it back down. He hurt for her in that moment — for what he’d done to her. His father was right. He hadn’t been a very good man for a very long time. That needed to change.
“I was overwhelmed,” he told her honestly. “And I’m incredibly sorry. Please have this dance with me,” he said again.
“Everyone is looking at you, Liam. I don’t know if I can take that kind of pressure.”
“It’s just the two of us” was his only response before he took her hand and led her to the dance floor.
The moment they stepped into the center of the room, the musicians began to play a waltz. The sigh escaping her beautiful mouth nearly dropped him to his knees.
“You’ve been practicing,” he whispered as they twirled around the room.
“I didn’t want to look like a fool in front of all these people,” she said. “I wasn’t sure I was going to dance, but in case I did …” She trailed off, and a sweet blush spread over her face.
“You dance like a princess.”
He would have been happy to hold her in his arms for the rest of the night. But of course in every fairy tale you have to encounter a few obstacles along the way. Their perfect moment was about to be interrupted.
“Are you enjoying yourself, Miss Steele?” Alexandra said. “Your hands are all over a man who is promised to me, I hope you understand.”
Whitney immediately stiffened and gave Liam an accusatory stare.
“Promised? In what way?” he asked the woman, not allowing Whitney to free herself from his embrace. “Our relationship ended six months ago, Alexandra. I’m sorry if that’s something you can’t accept.”
“How can you say these horrible things to me?” Alexandra said with a rising voice.
None of the people in the room could take their eyes off the balls-out — oops, shocking — soap opera unfolding before them.
“If you can’t act in a civilized manner, I’ll have to ask you to leave,” Liam said tightly. Alexandra was embarrassing Whitney, and he wasn’t about to put up with that.
“Maybe everyone in the room would like to hear who you really are, Liam,” Alexandra said, not backing away.
“I have nothing to hide. You’re the one making a fool of yourself, and also making my guests uncomfortable,” he said, stepping just a bit in front of Whitney in a protective manner.
“They won’t think so highly of you when they learn that you’ve abandoned the child I carry.”
This statement caused a gasp to be heard around the room. Liam’s fury rose to an entirely new level as he shot a searing look at this woman. How had he been foolish enough to date her at one time?