Page 14 of Untouchable

“Mr. Mariano,” Aiden says, dipping his head respectfully.

Though formalities are not necessarily required between us at this point, I know that my father appreciates the respect that Aiden and his family provide him in acknowledging his position.

Aiden then turns to my mother and gives her the same panty melting smile that he always gives me. “Mrs. Mariano.”

“Hi sweetie,” she smiles softly before leaning in and kissing his cheek.

In the next instant, someone has approached us and begins talking with my father about some type of business venture. I don’t actually know because as soon as the man’s mouth opened, I was steering Aiden away.

We mingle a little bit, floating from group to group but not staying in one place for too long until we find our seats at our table. Aiden’s mother is already sitting with a glass of white wine in her hand as she smiles up at us.

“There is my favorite girl! Don’t you look stunning. Is this one of yours?” She asks as she gestures to the dress.

I look down at it and smile. “My mothers, but I made some adjustments to it.”

“Well, it is absolutely breathtaking. I still need you to make me that dress we talked about for the gala coming up in a few months.”

I nod excitedly as Aiden settles an arm around the back of my chair. “I will start working on it as soon as we get back from Hawaii.”

“Beautiful!” She grins as Nicholas comes over to us, dropping a quick kiss onto Bethany’s cheek and then mine.

“Well, isn’t this where all of the beautiful women are sitting tonight?”

Bethany rolls her eyes as Aiden, and I laugh.

“Nice to see you, Governor Ferguson. Thank you for inviting us.”

“Of course. You are family,” he smiles kindly.

My heart clenches as I glance over to Aiden to see him smiling fondly at me. Ever since we met it feels like we are all practically one big family. Everyone gets along, even the Cordova’s love the Ferguson’s, except for one of course.

I think the strong bond also has more to do with something other than just Aiden and me. I am not included in family business discussions, my father likes to keep it that way, but I am not stupid. Governor Ferguson and my father have shared too many cryptic looks and private meetings to tell me that there isn’t more than just a friendship going on between our two families. I guess with Nicholas being governor and Bethany being a defense attorney, they are good people to have at our table. From what I can tell Aiden is either blissfully ignorant or chooses to keep his nose out of his parent’s business like I do.

Someone steals Nicholas away quickly and Bethany joins them, talking about campaign strategy or something. I turn to see that Aiden is still staring at me, a soft smile on his face. He has been looking at me like this a lot lately. I know that there is something on his mind, I can feel it but before I ask him what he is thinking, he grabs my hand, stands me up and takes me to the dance floor.

We instantly step into place, perfectly gliding across the room together like one. Aiden is smiling down at me as he twirls me across the polished floor, everyone around us quickly forgotten. It is like my 18thbirthday all over again. I smile up at him, thinking that I couldn’t possibly be any happier in this moment. But then out of the corner of my eye I see Alessandro watching us from the corner of the room, a look of disgust pointed directly at me. The venom in his eyes is enough to turn my stomach over and my mood sour.

Chapter Seven

Seraphina

After the campaign event, a very boring week passed by. Keeping my previous word with my father, I stuck around the property, only leaving a few times and never for long. The only fresh air I seem to get is my morning runs that are as always heavily supervised with at least two men jogging behind me.

Aiden has been busy with work, so we haven’t seen each other since his father’s party. Aiden is a hotshot lawyer at a fancy law firm downtown so his days are typically swamped. But he never seems too busy to check in on me.

Aiden: I miss you

I chuckle and shake my head as I tap out my response.

Me: We have been texting all day.

Aiden: It’s not enough. I can’t kiss you over text.

Me: Well, you are coming over for dinner in like an hour.

Aiden: Thank God for that. I am not sure how much longer I can last without your lips on mine.

I giggle softly as I read over his message again. He can be incredibly cheesy sometimes but over the last two years I have come to find that is just who Aiden is. He is silly and sweet and incredibly charming.

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