in the night, and through the floor-to-ceiling windows, th

e ballroom, taking in this world

hampagne, and impeccabl

z, and the air was filled with the s

es gathered. Alana wore the deep sapphire blue gown Eve had chosen for he

r ear, her voice bright with excitement. "Do you kno

Alana interrupted. "I just wa

er directly to the op

Jon stepped in and ordere

at Alana, "we drink to celebrate Alana

te herself, accepting the glass.

hat Cole guy wasn't good enough for you. N

ained her glass in one go,

, Alana felt everyth

to dance, winking at

eyes on you from all directions, I

ing slowly along the edge of

ere on her, some direct, others subtle. She swept

n't bel

Anyone randomly selected from this crowd p

ctions, Eve's father had some standing in financial circ

Al

permanent employment position at a mid-sized trading company, wearing a borrowed go

of champagne and push

to a new piece, the rhythm

. may I have

right, deep and carrying

urned h

ailored dark suit. He had what could only be called a perfect fa

ep gray like the color of ocean d

d the corner of his well-defined mouth cur

his demeanor carrying an innate aristocratic quality and confidence, as

d at him fo

me, so handsome she wond

ng, quietly assessing her with a focus she couldn't quit

herself say. "Jus

hand in his out

floor, his right hand settling at her waist with perfect propriety, not dis

moving with

ing almost no effort on her part to follow, the feeling was str

here?" he asked, his vo

said. "I was dragg

idence. So wa

end abandoned

ht I didn't nee

help but smil

, three glasses of champagne, looking like you nei

could clearly see the curve of his lashes and the dange

r-of-factly, without a hint of e

ng her gaze to the illuminated cente

fer

less in settings like this. But somehow, the champagne's effect was cree

outh, the words seemed to ca

toward the edge of the ballroom, where the lights

ntrance until the marble floor beneath her feet changed to s

up here," she

back if y

eeze from the corridor stirred the few st

ined in the moonlight, his gray eyes looking directly at her wi

ow what that

called to invite her, and she was standing in one of the world's most exclusive ballrooms, wearing a gown

at was about to happen, yet f

ght. After today, they woul

was th

ked up, and deliberately step

do you w

ead, those gray eyes studying her face, linger

ay

what he w

ee seconds, looking at that

nd her waist as he leaned d

ightly, and the kiss gradually deepened until she forgot she should step back, fo

is head, looking at her

desire, making him seem more like a real p

n and swept her

ngles. She instinctively gripped his shoulders, able to see his profile

ou

ne calm as if discussing something alre

him press the up button with one hand, feeling the strength of his arms suppo

r doors slo

dn't s

mething deep and hidden flickering in thos

oftly, "I

e confidence of a man who had anticipated

ly captivated by those words,

ind them, shutting out that brilli