Page 12 of Coming Home

Shaun

I walk into the gala tonight and am not at all surprised by the amount of splendor in the room. Ray is never one to do things in halves. I order a whiskey at the bar as I canvass the space. It is good whiskey; old man Ray was never one to skimp on alcohol either. I'll give him that. My breath catches the minute Scarlett enters the room. I know she is beautiful, but tonight, she is radiant, like a diamond jewel sparkling under the lights. When her eyes take in mine, it is hard to deny the attraction we have for each other.

I couldn’t help it, I had to touch her. Taking her hand and kissing it in greeting is old school, I know, but I just want to both touch her and put my lips on her. After I kiss her, I don't let her hand go, and she hangs onto mine just as tight. I am talking with Stephen, but my mind is all on her. Then she talks, and I’m not sure if it is her accent or the way she says my name, but it takes all of my self-control not to pick her up and take her back to my place to treasure this jewel like never before.

As Shaun drags her away, breaking our clenched hands, I take a seat at the bar. I run my hand through my hair, frazzled both by her beauty and the fact that my feelings for her keep growing. I want her in my bed and in my home.

The announcement for us to be seated for dinner interrupts my thoughts. I haven’t bothered to look at what table I was allocated; I assume Ray will have me placed right at the back, out of the way. An usher comes up with a clipboard and takes my name, then points me toward table three, right at the front. As I make my way through the crowd, I can see Stephen and Scarlett standing near table three, and I make my way toward them.

As I get closer, Scarlett looks up and catches my gaze, a smile snaking its way to her lips. Her body turns to face mine as I get near her. She looks down at the table and then back to me.

“I hope you don’t mind sitting next to the new girl, Shaun? You are sitting here next to me.”

Do I mind? Hell the fuck no, I don’t mind. I am exactly where I want to be. How Ray even let this happen is beyond me. I smile at her, words escaping me right now as I am firmly placed in heaven by her side.

I pull the chair out for Scarlett to sit and then slide down into my chair next to her. I take a quick look around the room and notice Stephen giving me a quizzical look—clearly, he is also confused as to why I am at the head table. I am sure some event manager will be spoken to later about it. My gaze then falls over his shoulders where I see Ray drilling me with his eyes—if looks could kill, I know I would be dead right now—no questions asked.

A waiter comes by and fills our champagne glasses, but I ask him for another whiskey. I'm not one to mix drinks, and I want my wits about me tonight. Once the waiter departs, I look at Scarlett, and I am mesmerized by her beauty. She is greeting the others at the table, the perfect hostess, and when she finishes, her gaze meets mine and she blushes. She is fucking adorable.

“You look beautiful tonight. Scarlett. I consider myself lucky to be sitting with you, I know this gala means a lot to your family.”

“Well, it is nice to be able to talk with you some more. We have run into each other a few times now,” she says, and I grin. I look over to Stephen and he raises his glass, to check on Scarlett no doubt, and we both return the gesture.

“I think I have the best seat in the room being here next to you.”

Scarlett’s cheeks go a soft shade of pink again, and she takes another sip of her champagne.

We talk effortlessly throughout the evening, about my business, current events, and a little about her life. In between our meals, the speeches, and the small talk we need to make around the table with other guests, I don’t gleam as much information about her as I would like. Before too long, the band starts up and Ray comes over to steal Scarlett away for a dance. Pinning me with his gaze, he grabs her by the hand and leads her away as I sit back and watch her glide around the dancefloor like she was born to do it.

As more people converge onto the dancefloor, I walk the room and speak to a few other business associates, all while keeping an eye on Scarlett. After a few songs with Ray, Stephen grabs her for a dance. I walk over to where they have just finished dancing and grab her hand. “Excuse me, Stephen, do you mind if I take this one?” I ask, not really caring for his answer because I was having the next dance with Scarlett whether he liked it or not. He doesn’t have time to answer before I take Scarlett’s hand and pull her to me just as the next song starts.

Her delicate hand runs up my arm and lands on my shoulder as the other one takes my hand, and we start to slow dance. My palm presses into her lower back, and I pull her close, closer than what would seem acceptable considering we are mere acquaintances, but I don’t want to be acquaintances, I want her. All of her. She slides into me, clearly needing my touch just as much. We sway, chest to chest. I feel her heart beating, and I run my hands up and down her back subtly but enough that she can feel my want for her.

“Who taught you to dance, Princess?” I ask her, my mouth mere inches from her ear.

“Princess?” she asks with hesitation in her tone.

“You look like a Princess tonight, beautiful, regal… a fitting name, I think,” I whisper back. “So, who taught you to dance like one?”

She is quiet for a moment. I can hear her breath and then I feel her relax and lean into me a little more.

“My father taught me the waltz when I was eight. He and my mom danced together every weekend, and I used to sit to the side and watch them. He taught me the Foxtrot, Cha Cha, and even the jive.”

“Well, he is a very good teacher. You are amazing.”

“Was,” she says in response.

I pull back to look at her. Her eyes look wet, but no tears drop. I tilt my head in question.

“Was. Was a very good teacher,” her eyes start to glaze, and I see tears forming.

I don’t ask any further questions. I pull her to me and kiss her softly on her cheek and near her ear. My protective nature kicks in, and I hold her as tightly as I can without prompting too many looks from others as we continue to sway to the music, oblivious to anything or anyone else around us.

16

Shaun

I reluctantly finish dancing with Scarlett and let her move on to the next man who is waiting for his turn with her, and I take a seat at the bar. Looking at my Rolex, I notice that I have already stayed a lot longer than I was planning to, but I am about to order another whiskey and then go find Scarlett again when I feel a hand on my leg slowly creeping up my thigh. I turn to see Natalie. What the fuck is Natalie doing here.

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