Page 303 of Now and Forever

“I’d love to!” I held out my hand, accepting his offer. It was audacious and I didn’t even glance towards Callum as Hugh led the way to the dance floor, which was filling up with people, possibly trying to work off those extra calories consumed from the dessert.

Hugh chose a quiet spot, further away from the other dancers and a tad further from the band. He held me securely as we danced to the jazzy beat. “I heard Tango is up next.” He quirked his eyebrow as if to taunt me, challenging me. Those sky blues never left my face, but I could sense that he was somehow teasing me.

Very well. I never backed out on a good challenge. “I love Tango.”

His eyes danced with amusement. “Do you now? I can’t wait,” he retorted before he quickly got serious.

Hugh studied me awhile before commenting on my eyes. “You know, if I’m not mistaken, your eyes are exactly like your Richard’s.”

They were. It was one of the things that gave us away as siblings. “It was the only thing we had in common.”

Hugh nodded. “That and that uncanny ability to make someone feel welcome. It’s strange really,” he thoughtfully said.

“I make someone feel welcome and strange all at once? That’s some ability.”

Hugh roared in laughter amidst our dancing. His laugh was so infectious that I went along with him, and for a few seconds, my troubles lifted away.

When Hugh spoke again, I was taken by surprise.

“I should’ve had Richard make me your conservator. I could guarantee you that I wouldn’t be such a bore as to take you to one of these functions.”

I stilled, shocked. “You knew about that?”

Who else did?

Hugh easily confirmed it. “Yes, Richard was a good friend of mine. I do miss that bugger. He was a great friend. Truly brilliant fellow.” He became somber. His eyes had that far away look as if visualizing Richard in his mind.

My brother was a good man. He wasn’t selfish and would dish out honesty over anything. He’d rather hurt your feelings instead of sugar coating anything to make you feel better. When I had problems, he never failed to be there for me. After our parents died, we mourned their losses, but he had to step up and into my father’s shoes. Juggling his new position, his social life and acting as a parent to me probably had been difficult for him, but never had I heard him complain a word about it.

It hurt to remember him, but at the same time, it was good to remember him again. “Thank you,” I murmured, almost teary.

“For what?”

I tried to smile. “For talking about him the way you did. Not a lot of people do anymore. It’s good to hear about Richard, even if it still hurts to think about what happened.”

“I suppose that’s why a lot of people try not to talk about it. It’s sad. It hurts, but that doesn’t mean we don’t think of him,” Hugh enlightened.

It was then that I wondered how Callum coped with my brother’s loss. He spoke about Richard, but he never went in depth about it all. With Zara’s betrayal and my brother’s passing, it was one after the other. I was sure it wasn’t easy to lose the people you loved all at once.

Hugh and I veered off sad subjects at the same time that the song changed and, as challenged, we tangoed with grinning faces.

I was delighted when the man truly knew his moves. For a while, I danced my worries away. Not caring if Callum was there watching or if he had already sought out his ex.

When our song ended, Hugh and I parted with promises of lunch or a coffee chitchat. Instead of going straight to my table with Callum, I went directly towards the loo to freshen up.

I was a few steps away from reaching the restroom when someone spun me around and took my breath away. “Cal.”

It took only one look to know that he was livid. The dangerous spark he had within him thrilled me. My heaving chest mesmerized his eyes. He studied the swells of my breasts before he lifted those dark eyes that seemed to reach into my soul.

“You let a man roam his hands all over you while I sat there fighting with myself because I wanted to bloody beat his arse!” he gritted out, eyes so dark that they promised only danger as he locked me in place. “What I don’t appreciate is you flaunting it right before me. Especially knowing the fact that you aren’t wearing any bra or underwear for that matter. What did you expect, Stella? If you were aiming to make me jealous, then you have succeeded.” He looked pained as he admitted the fact that he was jealous of Hugh.

It was a small victory, but it was one I savored the most. For jealousy bred deeper feelings and I hoped from there it could turn into love. It was a process. However, it was a long one. I was merely delighted that it was going toward the right path.

“Did you know you look really cute when jealous?” I leaned over and kissed the tip of his nose.

Callum growled at me. “Cute?” he hissed. “All you have to say is cute? You ought to be joking mad.”

Boy, he was cute all right, but he was getting sexier as he smoldered right before me. He was maddeningly gorgeous.

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