Page 57 of Guarded By the Phantom

By his side, two vaguely familiar young men lingered, listening politely while he spoke with Clarissa, who was all charming smiles and cordial laughs.

It surprised me that she cozied up to the self-made media mogul who now held three quarters of the country’s news stations in an iron-clad monopoly. Landizza wasn’t an old-money name like the Ashfords and the Kingsleys, and I knew enough to realize that should have made him a nobody in Clarissa’s eyes. She was big on dynasties.

Ernest Landizza was the son of poor immigrants. He made his first million when he was nineteen and went on to dominate the media industry. I wracked my brain, trying to remember if the Landizza name appeared anywhere in the articles about the senator I’d read, but I came up empty.

There was no connection, and yet, here was Barbara’s mother, apparently setting up her daughter with one of the man’s sons. Or was I wrong?

“Barbara!” Clarissa called out, extending both hands in a warm welcome that was so at odds with the cruel greeting she gave her earlier. “Here you are, my diamond! I’m so excited tointroduce you to Adonis. I’m sure you will hit it off at once—Adonis rides horses, as well. You have so much in common!”

One of the men stepped forward. He was tall and smoldering, his skin sunkissed, dark hair swept fashionably back. He wore an impeccable suit, and when he smiled, revealing blindingly white teeth, I saw a ruby glittering in the tip of his left canine.

Adonis, indeed.

“Such a pleasure to finally meet you, Barbara,” he purred, bowing over her hand.

She intended to give him a handshake, but he turned her palm and brushed his lips on the back of it. The pink fogging my eyes turned red with possessive fury.Uh-oh.

“Likewise, Mister Landizza,” she said in a cool, polite voice. “I hope we can be good friends, since we share a passion for riding.”

I just caught the moment the smile on Clarissa’s lips froze. Barbara didn’t play her role as expected.

Adonis frowned, his perfect brows furrowing gently. “I hope to be much more than your friend,” he said, recovering quickly. “Will you dance with me, Barbara? I’d love to get to know you better.”

She smiled her perfect, radiant smile, and my heart stuttered, my vision graying out for a second. She was going to say yes, wasn’t she? He was pretty, after all. He was a gentleman and knew how to behave in society. Of course, she would agree to the dance, and then she’d fall for him, and…

And good for her. A princess deserved a prince.

“Thank you so much, Mister Landizza,” she said, still smiling blindingly. “But you will have to excuse me. I am leaving. I just wanted to say hello to my dear mother’s new friends. We can dance another time, perhaps. Goodnight, then!”

She nodded at each of them in turn. Clarissa’s smile was pinched, but Ernest laughed jovially.

“You’re not an easy girl, eh?” he asked, winking at Barbara. “Very good, very proper. Pure and decent, as women should be. Hat off to you, Clarissa, for bringing up a lady!”

He laughed again, while Adonis gave him an annoyed look. Barbara smiled once more, nodded, and turned away, gracefully gliding out of the ballroom.

“Well, that was awkward,” I murmured as we sat in the car.

She huffed without looking at me, her face stubbornly turned to the window. “Was it? I barely noticed, since I was too busy thinking how annoying you are.”

My heart skipped a beat. She really was angry, but that wasn’t even the best thing. I realized she didn’t pay the pretty human man much attention, because she was thinking about me. More pink flooded my eyes, and I shifted uncomfortably, trying to get my dick to behave.

No, I told it.We’re not getting her. We’ll be heroes, you and I, you’ll see. Self-denial is our new thing.

“It’s one of my many talents,” I said with a strained laugh. “I annoy the hell out of people.”

She groaned and turned to me, her eyes flashing with menace. “Why are you such an asshole? Is that because you think I’m easy? You think I should be a proper, decent woman? Well, shake hands with Ernest Landizza. You seem to have similar tastes.”

My jaw dropped at her vicious tone. She positively vibrated with fury, and I didn’t really think it was because I rejected her on the balcony. It was about something else, and I was very curious as to what exactly.

So I did what I did best. I poked the bear.

“I don’t think you’re easy,” I said with a chuckle. “After all, I had to buy you that atrocious coffee, bring you pie, and save your life. That’s a lot of work just to dip my wick.”

“Then why won’t you do it if you’ve worked so hard?” she hissed, her hands balling into fists. “Am I not good enough for you? Of course, I’m not! I’m never good enough!”

She broke off, breathing hard. I waited, watching her explode. Even in the grip of fury and self-loathing, she was beautiful.

“Of course this is why she did it, but she wouldn’t say it, would she?” Barbara snapped, taking her diamond earrings off with hands that shook from anger.

---