The ceilings are domed and covered in amazing paintings. The carpet is red, and the furnishings are out of this world. This is antique architecture in its finest form.
“My god, it’s gorgeous.” He smiles down at me. “I thought you’d like it. It’s the seventeenth century and perfectly preserved.”
I bite my bottom lip to try and hide my excitement. He’s constantly telling me little facts of history, knowing I love it.
“It once belonged to the Earl of Spencer,” he adds.
My eyes widen. “Really? Lady Diana was the daughter of the eighth Earl of Spencer.” He smiles softly. “That’s right. Her brother is the ninth.” “Wow,” I whisper. People are everywhere inside. The men are in their dinner suits, while the women are dressed up to the nines. Waiters are carefully walking around with trays of champagne.
“What is this function for again?” I ask.
“It’s a fundraiser for a mental health program for reformed criminals.”
“Oh.” A waiter walks past with a tray and Julian takes two, passing one to me. “Thank you.” I smile.
He clinks our glasses.
“Do you come to all these things?” I ask.
“We take turns. Only one of us ever comes to these events. They are mostly filled with sponsors.”
“We?” I frown.
“The other judges and me.”
I sip my champagne as I watch him. “You know, it amazes me that you’re a judge. An actual judge.”
He smirks. “Why?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I’ve just never known a judge before.” I frown. “I’ve never even known anyone who knew a judge.”
He lifts his glass in the air and tilts it toward me. His eyes smoulder. “Here’s to getting to know this judge quite well.”
I smile softly and feel the nerves in my stomach simmer. I’ve never been with a man like Julian Masters. He’s a higher level of hot that I haven’t experienced before. I don’t imagine many women have. He’s deep, guarded, mercurial, and as sexy as all hell. With his black dinner suit, his dark hair, square jaw, and those piercing eyes, everything about him screams domination.
Is it because he’s older and forbidden that makes him take up most of my thoughts? I do have to wonder if I’d be this attracted to him if he was my age and nothing but a normal guy.
Hmm, that’s an interesting thought, actually. Why am I attracted to him?
What if he was my age and he met me first? Would we have ever dated? I mean, if he met me before he fell in love with his wife.
Sadness fills me. She’s missing out on so much of her beautiful children’s lives. They are so precious and they need her. I drop my head and stare at the carpet for a moment. She should be here with him. He was her husband. It’s my worst fear to not be able to see my children grow up. So tragic.
I wonder what she looked like.
I frown as a strange thought crosses my mind. Why are there no photos of her in the house? Not even the kids’ rooms. Wouldn’t he want the kids to remember her? I concentrate and go through the house in my mind, room by room. No. I’ve never seen a photo of her anywhere.
That’s so weird. I’m going to ask Sammy to show me one tomorrow.
“So, you never know anyone at these types of events?” I ask, changing the subject.
“No.” He sips his drink. “We get invited for the sake of it, and like I said, they are filled with sponsors. It makes for a lonely night if you come by yourself.” He glances down at my dress and licks his lips. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”
I glance down at myself and dust my hands over my hips. “You did, but you can tell me again.”
He chuckles. “You…” He pauses for effect. “Are undoubtedly the most beautiful woman here tonight.”
My face falls and I act offended. “Just here? You mean that there are more beautiful woman than me out there in the world?”
His eyes dance with mischief. “None that I know of.”
“Good save.” I smile.
He raises an eyebrow and sips his drink as he looks over the crowd, but my eyes linger on his face. I feel like a little girl going to my first rock concert.
He glances back and catches me staring at him. “What are you thinking?”
“Now?” I ask.
“Right now.”
“That I would like you to kiss me,” I whisper.
Electricity buzzes between us and he gives me a slow sexy smile. “Here?”
I nod.
“You want me to kiss you right here?”
I giggle. “No, but can we find somewhere where you can.”
He puts his hand into the small of my back and leans down to whisper in my ear. His breath tickles my neck, giving me goosebumps. “Why do I get the feeling that you’re going to make my secret hard to keep?”
I lean even closer. “Because I am.”
His eyes darken, and he looks at me for a moment. “From the time your meal arrives you have approximately eight minutes until I drag you to my car.”
“What are you going to do to me?”
He leans in and gently kisses my lips. “Whatever I want.”
Our lips touch again. Suddenly, I don’t care where we are or who can see us, because he is the only person in the room.
He has this intensity about him. It’s like he’s trying to make me lose my mind with these soft, gentle kisses hidden among hard words.
And it’s working.
He’s only kissed me a few times since we left home.
He could talk me into doing anything with that kiss. It’s pure perfection.
His attention is a damn addiction…
I’m like a drug addict on the precipice of a high, and I need the hit.
His hand slides down, and he subtly grabs a handful on my behind “My beautiful Bree.” I can almost hear the electricity buzzing in the air between us and I know he can, too.
“That does something to me,” I whisper.
He raises his brow in question.
“Hearing you call me that.” He only calls me it when we are alone. That’s probably why I love it so much.
His tongue darts out, sweeping across his bottom lip as he watches me.
“Bree,” he mouths and I giggle just as a large bell rings out to signal their opening of the ballroom.
We wait for the crowd to clear a little. He takes my hand, leading me into the ballroom and through the crowd. He checks where we are sitting on the map and we make our way over to the table.
Julian suddenly stops mid-step.
“Fuck,” he whispers.
“What?”
“One of my work colleagues is here.”
“So?” I frown.
“I don’t want them to fucking know about you.” He drops my hand like a hot potato and strides to our table, pulling my chair out angrily.
What the hell? It’s not my fault his work friend is here, but I take a seat anyway.
“Drink?” he snaps.
Is he kidding me? I’ve done nothing wrong.
“Please,” I reply calmly.
He disappears to the bar and I sit alone as people slowly begin to make their way in, one by one, filling the tables up.
“Hello, I’m Veronica.” One lady smiles as she sits down beside me.
“I’m Ted,” her husband says, and they begin a conversation with me about the entertainment that’s scheduled for tonight. I’m too distracted.
What’s taking Julian so long?
I glance over to the bar to see him talking to a lady and a man, deep in conversation. I take out my phone.
There’s a message waiting for me from Willow.
Hi, Brell,
We can’t forget the uniforms tomorrow.
I close my eyes. Shit, the uniforms.
I completely forgot about them. It was our turn to wash the jerseys after training on Thursday night. We threw the big bag of them in the trunk. They’re still in there, all dirty.
Damn it. I’m going to have to wash them tonight when I get home.
Yes, of course.
What time are we leaving again?
She texts back.
Eight o’clock.
I blow out a breath. Great. Looks like I’m washing when I get home. I text back.
Are you guys okay at Grandma’s?
A reply bounces in.
Yes.
Goodnight.
I smile.
Goodnight.
I sit at the table alone for a full twenty minutes while people try to make polite conversation with me. With every moment that passes, I get a little more agitated. I glance over and see him laughing out loud, having a great time as he talks, while he leaves me sitting here alone.
I don’t get it.