Page 114 of The Gilded Survivor

“Renata, mi amor, you don’t have any parents to broker your dances. Consider me your mamá for the night. Go, make all the boys in this room jealous. What mother wouldn’t want you for a daughter-in-law?” she said rapidly as she patted my shoulders and walked around to the back of us.

Instinctively, my hand curled tighter around Antonio’s bicep as we were being shoved onto the dance floor.

I stumbled, but Antonio caught me. He positioned his hands at either side of my waist, and my breath quickened. I hadn’t realized that all the other couples had already exited the floor. A light applause broke out as the music started once more.

Antonio lifting me in a graceful arc while spinning me around before pulling me close to his chest. Dancing lessons had helped, but it was hard to make a mistake when our bodies moved in perfect synchronization, despite my short-circuiting brain.

“I didn’t realize you knew how to dance,” I said clumsily as we glided across the floor.

Antonio smiled. “We’ve never had the opportunity before. Widower’s aren’t required to ask young ladies to dance.”

My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. The music continued to wrap me up in its enchanting embrace, and my beautiful red dress flowed around me as we moved. When feeling more comfortable, I took a moment to appreciate Antonio’s sleek black tuxedo, emphasized his broad shoulders and muscular arms.

Arms that were currently holding me.

I couldn’t believe this was really happening. Suddenly, I was fourteen again and infatuated with a boy I watched on TV. If someone had told that girl one day she would be here, dancing with Antonio Castillas, she would’ve punched them.

From the second we’d met, we had been on unfriendly terms, always at each other’s throats and constantly bickering. But now, as we danced together, something that had been shifting over the last month locked into place. I could feel a new tension in the air, and a growing attraction that was nearly impossible to deny.

“You’re a wonderful dancer, Antonio,” I said, my voice soft and breathless.

“It’s not even the only surprise I have for you tonight,” Antonio replied, his eyes locked on mine.

My mind snatched up every syllable from his mouth, replaying them dozens of times. I was proud of myself for keeping my mouth shut as we twirled together, fluid and graceful. Vague awareness of more couples joining in around us had me restricting the spins which had us dominating the space.

As the music reached its crescendo, Antonio’s hand around my waist tightened and he pressed our bodies together flush. The feeling of drowning swept over me once more.

His mouth drew closer and closer to mine, the world falling away by the second.

I panicked. Was he going to kiss me?

My lips parted, both expecting and dreading the moment when our lips would touch for the first time.

“Antonio,” I gasped.

His lips never met mine. Instead, his hand trailed along my back, brushing against bare skin and making me shiver. A blush flared across my body. A mentor shouldn’t be dancing with his candidate like this. Was his mother watching? Was Isaac watching? What about Isaac’s mother?

I suddenly felt sick to my stomach just as Antonio whispered. “Meet me on the western balcony so I can show you your other gift.”

I melted at his words. “All right,” I whispered back.

And then the music ended, and Antonio stepped away.

“Antonio!” someone behind us called, and he glanced over his shoulder.

I swayed, acutely aware of his absence. He smiled at me, bowed, and then said, “See you soon.” He turned around and walked toward a group of people who were waving him over.

Chapter45

Round Two

In the blink of an eye, Isaac stood before me, looking like a wounded animal. He was still so handsome, yet his face was somber, as if he was resigned to a fate he could not turn away from. For a second, I felt sympathy for him, remembering the days when we had laughed together, when our conversations were keys to unlocking hidden doors of our souls. The relationship we’d forged together had been many things—above all, a cementing of my new fate.

“Renata, you look beautiful,” he said, in a voice so soft and gentle it almost broke my heart.

I curtsied in response, but didn’t say anything. I could feel the tension between us, the weight of secrets and unspoken words we had exchanged in the past weeks. I could feel his sorrow, the pain of unrequited love.

“Why didn’t you respond to my messages?” he asked pitifully. For a second, I felt bad. Isaac had been so kind to me, and I had never wanted to hurt him.

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