Page 26 of The Kiss that Captured a Billionaire
“Smith?” His eyes widened with surprise.
“Yes. No relation to Bob and Beverly, Joan and Clint, or Harold and Sue,” Claude Devan answered with amusement, nodding at a half-dozen other patrons in the crowd.
Theo grimaced, acknowledging how common the name was. Still, it was enough to remind him that he still had his promise to locate Lorenzo’s granddaughter hanging over his head. Maybe he should turn the search over to Nikos and his brother.
“Darling, the mayor is about to leave, and I think it would be nice if you said your goodbyes, as he is having a meeting about the Arts funding next week,” Claude murmured.
“Oh, yes. Tomorrow, Mr. Kallistratos. Say, ten—ten-thirty?” Mimi asked, already turning as her husband cupped her elbow.
“I’ll see you at ten.”
He lifted the glass of whiskey to his lips, his eyes following Rose as she exchanged trays with another server, laughing at whatever the man said, before she turned away. Their eyes met again across the room.
Fire burned through him when he noticed the hint of pink in her face and the way she shielded the look in her eyes by lowering her eyelashes. She wasn’t flirting with him—she was trying to build a wall.
“You’re about to set the fire alarms off,” Nikos commented, coming to stand next to him.
“Shut up.”
Nikos snickered and sipped his drink. “I like her.”
Jealousy reared its ugly head and exploded through him like a fuse to a powder keg. He turned a sharp gaze to his friend. Nikos shook his head in amusement.
“I like herfor you. If any woman can keep you from stepping all over her, I think that one can,” Nikos clarified.
Theo sighed, studying his friend’s expression. “Why do I feel there is a ‘but’ in your observation,” he said.
“But… she is also very different from the women you normally date,” Nikos added.
Theo heard the hint of caution and concern—not for him, but for Rose—in his friend’s voice. He knew Rose wasn’t like the other women he dated. She was nothing like his former mistresses, all of whom knew the rules.
Hell, when it came to rules, he was the one who wasn’t sure he knew them now. He placed his empty glass on the tray of a passing server, his eyes narrowing moodily as he continued to watch Rose.
“What are you planning? Or should I ask?” Nikos muttered, finishing his drink and depositing his glass as well.
“Closing the gates. This time, she won’t escape me,” he confessed, shoving his hands into his pockets.
A flicker of unease tugged at him—but he pushed it aside. This wasn’t control. It was… time. And he would buy all the time he needed.
Nikos shot him a wary glance. “Are you sure that is a good idea with this one? Something tells me she won’t like it if she finds out.”
“She won’t, but who says she needs to find out? I need to turn the search for Lorenzo’s granddaughter over to you,” he said.
“Well, that sounds like fun,” Nikos muttered. “It looks like things are wrapping up here. Do you want to go to the club for a while?”
“No, you go. I think I’ll stick around for a little longer,” he murmured.
"I’ll console all the lovely ladies, offering a comforting shoulder as they mourn their loss.”
Theo shook his head as Nikos departed, his laughter fading along with the chatter of the other guests. He was already locked onto where Rose was collecting discarded glasses and plates.
Seven
The after-party had dwindled to an echo. Only the shuffle of clean-up remained—discarded flutes, scattered napkins, and glitter that would outlive them all.
Rose froze mid-wipe. Theo Kallistratos—billionaire, enigma, temptation in black—was stacking dishes. Helping.
She chuckled under her breath, shaking her head and wondering if exhaustion was playing tricks on her. But no, he was very much real and helping clean up.
