Page 43 of His UnBearable Touch

She nodded and smiled, covering their joined hands with hers. “What a lovely offer, Mister Allen. I think it would be lovely to have dinner with you and your wife. My… my husband and I would love to get to know you.”

“Oh,” she felt his hesitation in his hand as well as the tone of his voice, “um, I’m not married.” He withdrew his hand from hers and cleared his throat. “Mr. Nylund, I’m looking forward to the upcoming concert.”

Essa’s tone was light and carried a relieved sigh with it. “We shall look forward to it. Having you in the audience is a great joy, sir.”

Someone took Allegra’s arm while Essa continued to talk to Mr. Allen and she turned to lean her ear in their direction. The wind made the introductions. Linda’s gardenia scented lotion reached her nose before the sound of her voice. “Hey, you, awesome job tonight.”

Allegra grinned. “You too, your solo in the Debussy, was-”

“Yes, yes, thanks. I just wanted to give you something.”

“Me?” Allegra felt her brow furrow. “What is it?”

With Linda’s hand on her arm, Allegra felt her shrug. “I don’t know. One of the patrons had to leave and they said this was for you.”

Allegra felt something bump into her arm and she lifted up a hand to take it from Linda. She used her fingers to feel the surface of the present.

“It’s just a white box with a red ribbon that you can pull off.”

There was an element of impatience in Linda’s voice, but Allegra could relate. She’d never been one to sit around shaking gifts when she was a child. She’d tear into the wrapping paper and leave a huge mess in her wake.

Her fingers found the bow on the package and felt the commercially created bow. It wasn’t going to untie so she just tugged at it and felt the ribbons around the box shift. Walking her fingers to the side she pulled one of the cross-ribbons down the face of the box and pulled the ribbon free.

There was a moment when she paused, thinking back to the layout of the stage.

“What are you looking for?” Jane was at her other elbow a moment later. “Oh, sweetie, I’ll take that for you.” The bow was plucked from her hand. “Who gave you a present?”

Allegra turned it slightly toward Jane. “Is there a card? A label?”

“Hmm,” Jane leaned closer and Allegra smelled her light lilac perfume. “No, sweetie, I don’t see anything.”

“It’s probably in the box,” Linda offered up the idea.

Allegra nodded and reached for the box top. She fumbled a bit but had it off a moment later, turning it over to set it under the other half.

She heard a gasp from one or both of the ladies as she reached into the box.

Jane grabbed at her arm, but it was already too late. Allegra dropped the box and the gathering around her came grinding to a halt at the sound of breaking glass.

* * *

Valerio heard the shattering glass, but it was the pain he felt in his chest that moved him first. It was a good thing that the crowd had already started to disperse, or he might have knocked someone over in his rush to get to Allegra.

Something crunched under the sole of his shoe, but his eyes were fixed on his mate. Taking hold of her hand, he turned it over and narrowed his gaze at the freely flowing blood trailing down her fingers and onto her palm.

She barely flinched when he touched her, almost as if she expected his touch.

“I’m okay, Valerio.”

He didn’t answer, he didn’t need to. She felt his concern, his worry. She even felt his relief when the quick application of his handkerchief seemed to slow the bleeding down.

Salvatore took point with the security staff that had converged on the scene. They might not be in charge of the zoo staff, but he was going to take charge of the situation.

Uberto moved them off to the side. “I’ll take care of the glass, bring the box back home.”

As they walked, Valerio still fretting over her hand, Allegra turned back toward the stage. “Be careful,” she called to the youngest of the three, her worry plain in her features and the tone of her voice.

Valerio heard the predictable grumble in his brother’s voice and yet didn’t take offense. He saw the smile that Uberto gave his mate, read concern in his brother’s eyes.

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