“Do you know how lovely you are?” he whispered, his voice husky.
“Please don’t,” she said, knowing he was going to kiss her. But her mouth lifted to his and her head turned, anticipating the kiss even as his mouth touched hers gently.
“Must,” he replied. He kissed her softly at first. But when she didn’t pull back, he deepened the kiss, his arms going around her waist and his mouth requesting entry to hers.
Alana was lost with the first touch of his lips against hers. Her arms moved up and slid around his neck, her fingers curling into his hair. She arched her body, wanting to touch more of him, instantly needing to feel his muscular body against hers.
Gus lost control of the kiss. What had turned out to be a simple kiss, meant to test the waters, had flamed into a fire that was quickly out of control. He no longer cared that they were twenty feet from a party filled with acquaintances and business associates. He could feel her shiver in reaction to his touch, could feel her breasts against his chest and slipped his hands along her bare shoulders, bending her backwards as he took more, his tongue finding and mating with hers.
She groaned low in her throat and slipped her arms inside his tuxedo jacket, feeling the muscles flex as her hands moved over his chest.
He had to step back before this went too far. He pulled back and looked at her, about to suggest they leave and head back to his place. But the passion glazed look in her eyes and her swollen lips forced him to bend down and kiss her once again, letting the magic take over as they again lost themselves in the desire pulsing through their bodies.
The music started up again, loudly and they both realized where they were. “Oh!” she said and stepped out of his arms, backing up to the bench.
“Come back to my place,” he suggested again, his voice husky and barely above a whisper since it was difficult to speak with his body aching to continue the kiss, and more.
Alana shook her head, horrified at what she had just been doing and where. She stepped out of his arms, grateful he let her go but almost fell onto the ground when her shaking legs almost gave out. Never had a kiss affected her so quickly and so deeply. She put her fingers to her lips, then quickly hid them behind her back so he wouldn’t notice her shaking fingers. “No, I don’t think that would be a very good idea,” she whispered, looking anywhere but at this tall, gorgeous man.
“Why not?”
Taking a deep, shuddering breath, she patted her hair to make sure it was still in place, then turned to head back into the ballroom. “I need to go. Thank you for the dance and the rescue,” she said with extreme politeness.
With those parting words, she stepped around the bushes into the light again. Before he understood her intent, she was already gone, disappearing into the shadows of the next bush and around the building.
Gus wanted to run after her but couldn’t find her. He searched through some of the bushes, but then gave up the search, feeling ridiculous. He went back into the party and headed directly for the exit, handing his ticket to the valet and wondering how he was going to find the woman again. He didn’t even know her last name.
Chapter 4
The next morning, Gus walked into Sal’s house, what used to be the family house before their parents died eight years ago. Antonia, his only sister and the youngest of the Attracelli siblings, was already there with her two children.
“Stay right where you are,” Antonia called when he appeared in the doorway. Gus stopped and took in his baby sister sitting on the carpet, his tiny little nephew, Max, was proudly standing up and tottering towards him.
Gus understood what was happening and instantly went down on his knees, holding out his hands and watching as the eleven month old boy carefully walked to him, falling into his arms when he was a foot away, trusting that his Uncle Gus would catch him.
“Yeah!” Antonia cheered, clapping her hands and jumping up to rush over to him. “You did it! You walked! I’m so proud of you, my little man!” and she kissed her baby on the cheek.
“That’s wonderful, Max,” Gus cheered, just as excited as his sister. Gus stood up and hugged his little nephew gently, bouncing him in his arms to make him giggle.
Max laughed at the movement and ignored his mother in favor of his uncle’s ears, pulling on them as if they were his new play toy.
“Uncle Gus! Uncle Gus!” another voice yelled from outside the family room. A moment later, three year old Emma hurtled herself at Gus’s leg, hugging him and looking up as if she had done something spectacular. Gus bent down, Max still pulling at his ears and hugged the female bundle of energy. “How are you, Emma?” he asked, receiving the huge, sloppy kiss she bestowed on his cheek.
“I’m great! But did you see Max? He can walk now!” the proud big sister exclaimed.
“I did! I saw!” Gus returned just as enthusiastically.
Sal walked into the room more sedately behind his niece. “Have a nice time last night?” he asked.
Gus noted the odd look in his older brother’s eyes. “It was fine. The person you asked me to look out for wasn’t there so it wasn’t the most productive evening,” Gus said, remembering his frustrated search for his mystery lady.
“Anything interesting happen?” Sal asked, a small smile on his face.
Gus eyed his oldest brother, wondering what he knew. “Nothing out of the ordinary,” he said evasively.
Sal nodded. He tossed the newspaper he’d been holding under his arm onto the coffee table, already open to a black and white photograph of him with a blond woman in his arms. “So you make it a practice to kiss society women in the bushes of the functions you attend?”
Gus shook his head. He hadn’t noticed any photographers at the ball last night, but he guessed that they attended all those functions. He looked down at the picture and saw himself with Alana draped over his arm, both of them oblivious to the rest of the world because their mouths were locked on each others, their eyes closed and their arms wrapped around each other.
Antonia walked up behind them and glanced at the photograph as she took Max from Gus. “Wow! Nice profile, Gus. Who’s the lady?”
Gus read the description and laughed. “She’s Alana Mason.”
Antonia laughed with him, instantly able to read her brother. “You didn’t even know her last name?”
Gus shook his head but folded up the paper. “Where is everyone? Aren’t we going to be late for church?” he asked. The whole Attracelli clan met up and went to church together then came back to Sal’s house for a big lunch afterwards. It was one way they were able to get together as a family and talk. Working at the same company didn’t accomplish that even though they talked on a daily basis. At the office, the discussions were about work. Sundays were reserved for family only.