Page 129 of Love Arranged
I ignore her question and pass the bracelet to my sister. “Will you help me put this on, please?”
“So long as you promise never to take it off,” she teases.
Deal.
After all the effort I put into my appearance, I’m a little nervous about seeing Lorenzo. I had this whole plan set up, but now that I stare at my reflection in the mirror, I question if it looks like I’m trying too hard.
You did this for you, I remind myself.
With one last glance in the mirror, I head outside. My mom, who is also attending tonight’s event, brings out her camera and snaps a photo of me like I’m going to my high school prom.
“Mami,” I say with a groan, blinking away the black spots in my vision.
“Eres tan preciosa?*,” my mom says, her eyes glistening like the stars sparkling outside.
The doorbell rings, and she rushes to go hide in the kitchen so Lorenzo and I can have some privacy.
I’m too nervous to open the door right away, so I stall in front of it, wondering what Lorenzo will think when he sees me.
The bell rings again, and with a grounding breath, I open the door. Our gazes connect like two sets of magnets. His eyes darken, the color turning from brown to obsidian as they travel down my body.
The dress isn’t sexy, at least not outright, with the colors and floral patterns giving off a fairy-tale princess vibe rather than that of a confident seductress. But with the way Lorenzo stares at me, I feel like I’m the sexiest womanof all. And with how hot he looks in a tux, it’s impossible not to feel that way, knowingI’mthe one who will be on his arm tonight.
Eventually, and dare I sayreluctantly, his eyes return to my face.
“You look…” He wipes his stubbled jaw. “Bellissima?*.”
Hopefullymy layer of foundation conceals my flushed cheeks. “Thank you.”
“Ready?” He holds out his elbow, and I take it once I grab my clutch off the coffee table inside.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
By the time we arrive at the fundraiser dinner, most of the guests have arrived and the cocktail hour is officially underway. The casino nighttheme I suggested is a hit, and all the money spent at the different tables will go directly toward Lorenzo’s Healing Hearts charity.
He hasn’t talked about his personal connection to it, but I can tell it matters a lot to him, so I wanted to help in whatever way I could, including securing a few more silent-auction donations.
Julian and Dahlia arrived thirty minutes beforeus, so I hang out with them backstage while Lorenzo is busy checking in with Willow about some issue at the blackjack tables.
Julian paces behind the black curtain blocking us from the room full of people, looking like a caged beast as he mutters incoherent phrases under his breath.
“Is he okay?” I whisper to my sister.
“Not exactly.” She smiles, but it looks strained.
“Why did I ever agree to help Rafa?” Julian groans.
“Because you’re a good guy,” I offer.
He scrubs his face. “Maybe I should be more like Lorenzo.”
I stiffen. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He’s annoyingly confident,” Julian replies.
“Right.”
“Did you expect me to insult him?” He shoots me a look.
