"What do you mean? Are they in trouble?" she asked.
"They've asked me to invest both my money and my expertise, but the collective board votes on final decisions."
She watched him studying the house and staff. "Does that mean you wouldn't get to rule?" she asked and shook her head. "Good luck to them."
He chuckled. "We'll see. At least I'm here."
"I should have known this involved business," she muttered, wondering why she felt let down. Why should she care that Michael was motivated by business for the evening? Sure, it was Valentine's Day and many other couples might view it as a romantic affair, but she shouldn't.
"You sound disappointed," he said, searching her face.
Embarrassed that he'd read her so easily, she shook her head. "There's still dessert," she said, forcing a smile.
A balding man approached Michael at that moment, earning her a reprieve. "Mr. Medici, I'm Clarence Kiddlow. We spoke on the phone. I'm glad you decided to attend. We're the hottest ticket in town tonight," the man said proudly.
Michael nodded. "Mr. Kiddlow, this is my date, Bella St. Clair."
Clarence extended his hand. "My pleasure to meet you." He waved toward a server. "Have some wine," he said. "We're starting with a white from Virginia of all places. But it's very smooth." He turned to Michael after he'd tasted the wine. "What do you think?"
"Bella is the white-wine drinker. What do you think?"
Surprised he'd deferred to her, she nodded. "Very nice, thank you."
The server then poured her a full glass.
"I'd like to show you around and tell you about some of our plans," Clarence said. "I think you'll find them interesting."
"Thank you," Michael said. "Later, perhaps. Bella and I would like to look around on our own first."
Surprise crossed Clarence's face, but he acquiesced. "Of course. Tell me when you're ready."
Bella felt surprise of her own as Michael ushered her away. "I thought you were here to investigate the possibility of working with The Essex House."
"I didn't come for a sales presentation," he said, impatience flitting across his face. "I'm not an idiot. Given the choice between Clarence's company and yours, which do you think I would choose?"
Bella blinked and fought a rush of pleasure. "I don't know what to say. The mighty Michael Medici just paid me a compliment."
"Don't let it go to your head," he said and led her through a crowded hallway. He nodded in the direction of a room to the left. "I think I've spotted what you're looking for."
"A delicious dessert, but I wonder, Michael, what are you looking for?" she couldn't resist asking.
He turned back to her, giving her a second and third glance. "I have everything I need and more. If I want something else, I find a way to get it. You should know that."
Her stomach dipped at the expression on his face. "I suppose I should, but I was speaking of dessert."
He smiled. "I'll enjoy watching you have yours. Come on," he said and tugged her into the room. The throng around the serving table made it difficult to get close. "Wait here," he said and positioned her in a corner. "I'll get it for you."
She watched him walk away and wondered how he managed to part the crowd with such ease. It was as if they knew they should defer to him. Bella wondered if his tough upbringing had instilled him with that quality. She couldn't deny that he fascinated her. She wanted to know more about him. She wasn't in love with him and never would be, but she cared about him far more than she'd planned. She wasn't sure how that had happened.
A moment later, Michael appeared, carrying a plateful of the most decadent dessert Bella had even seen in her life. She looked at him and the chocolate and wondered if he had any idea how much he had in common with that treat. Decadent and forbidden, both could cause a woman to pay for indulging.
He approached her and lifted a spoonful to her lips. "Tell me what you think of it," he said.
Nine
A ccepting the dare in his gaze, but telling herself it wasn't at all significant, Bella opened her mouth and slowly savored a bite of the decadent dessert. "Now, that is good," she said, reaching for the spoon. "Really good."
Michael playfully pulled the spoon from her reach. "Not so fast."She met his gaze and scowled at him. "No teasing allowed."
"That's the pot calling the kettle black. You're a walking tease."
She fought his flattery. After all, it wasn't necessary given their arrangement. "Hand over the chocolate and no one will get hurt," she threatened.
He chuckled and lifted the spoon to her mouth again. She took it, but a familiar face shot into view. The chocolate stuck in her throat as she stared into her ex-fiancé's eyes.
"Bella?" Stephen said, clearly shocked to see her at such an event. His new fiancée came into Bella's view and the two wound through the crowd.
Her stomach gave a vicious turn.
"Bella, what are you doing here?" Stephen asked, then looked at Michael and gave a double take. "Michael Medici," he said.
Britney smiled broadly. "Michael, it's great to see you again. We met a couple years ago at the heart disease charity dinner."
Michael nodded and glanced at Stephen. "And this is?"
"Stephen, my fiancé." She giggled. "We've set the date for our wedding in August. We would love for you to come. You know my father thinks so highly of you."
"Send him my best," Michael said. "How do you know Bella?"
"I could ask the same," Stephen said, glancing from the chocolate dessert in Michael's hand to Bella.
Bella felt a rush of self-consciousness. "Stephen and I met in college."
"Ah," Michael said and turned to Steven. "Bella and I met through business."
"Really?" Stephen said. "Bella and business?"
"I've been working with my aunt in her spa."
"Oh, I thought she had some problems … " Stephen said, faltering under Michael's hard gaze.
"She did, but the business is now booming," Michael said. "Best wishes on your marriage. Don't let us keep you from the event." His dismissive tone quickly sent the couple on their way.
"Thank you very much," Britney said.
As soon as they left, Michael turned to Bella. "What's the real story about Stephen?"
She swallowed over the bitterness in the back of her throat. "Water over the bridge, under the dam, whatever. Old news. I wonder what the next kind of wine will be," she said, skirting his gaze. "Let's go-"
Michael caught her hand. "Bella, I have excellent instincts and my instincts tell me you're holding out on me."
"Well, it's not the best kind of story for this venue. Can we please just shelve this and enjoy the rest of the evening?" she asked.
"The question is can you shelve it?"
"Since this is probably the only time I'll be at The Essex House, I'm going to give it a damn good try," she said.
A sliver of approval shot through his dark eyes. "Okay. Let's see about that wine."
Michael successfully kept Bella away from Britney and Stephen. It wasn't difficult. The Essex House was packed. He noticed men taking long glances at Bella throughout the evening. He also noticed that Bella didn't notice. She was too busy taking in her surroundings, reading the biographies of the ancestors who'd built and occupied the house.
She sipped wine and sampled little bites of the desserts, but her whole demeanor seemed muted since their interaction with Stephen. Again, he wondered about the two of them. He knew they'd been lovers and the knowledge made him burn with surprising jealousy. Michael had never thought of himself as the possessive type. He couldn't recall any other woman who'd inspired the hot coal of jealousy in his gut.
Why should he care about her romantic history now? He knew she was attracted to him. She couldn't fake the sensual response she gave him in bed. She was his for now, for as long as he wanted her. That was the bargain.
Suddenly, the way he'd persuaded her to accept her attraction to him made him feel vaguely dissatisfied. Given the choice, she would have denied herself and him. From the beginning, though, he'd known they should be together until the passion between them became less intense, until it burned away.
He watched her cover a yawn. "Ready to go?"
She gave a wry smile. "I guess the day is catching up with me. Maybe you should go see the man who greeted us. He's going to be disappointed if he doesn't get a chance to talk with you further tonight."