Page 10 of Pride

“Why?”

I sigh heavily. “He said he doesn’t dance.”

Nina’s attention moves over there and I notice the man Isiah was talking to is staring over here, right at her. “Who is that guy?” she asks.

I shake my head. “No idea. It seems Dad only bothered to introduce me to a couple of the men he’s invited.”

“He’s attractive. Maybe you should speak to him since he’s looking over here.”

I laugh. “Do you realize he’s staring atyou, not me?”

Her cheeks redden and she looks at me. “There’s no way he’s looking at me.”

“Believe me, he is.” The man in question is attractive, but in an entirely different way to Isiah. He has tattoos over every visible inch of his muscular body and has dark messy hair and a beard. Instead of wearing a suit, he has a shirt on done up only halfway and a pair of casual black pants. He’s the typical guy that Nina goes for.

Isiah, on the other hand, has clean cut stubble and not a hair out of place. His suit looks like it was tailored to fit him like a glove, and he has that typical male model look about him. There’s no denying he’s the single most attractive man I’ve ever seen in person before.

“He’s coming over,” I say.

“To speak to you,” Nina rebuts.

I laugh, as she’s so clueless at times. “No.”

Her eyes widen “I don’t know what to say to him.” I can see the panic mounting behind them. “He’s too attractive to be interested in me.”

“Just play it cool.”

He clears his throat and I smile at him. “How can we help you?”

“I don’t think we’ve been introduced.” His eyes linger on Nina. “I’m Cathal Bingley.” He holds a hand out to me first.

I take it and we shake. “Bella Benedetto, and this is my sister, Nina.”

He smiles at her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

Nina swallows hard as his attention remains on her.

“Great party your father has arranged.”

Nina is perpetually shy, so I get the ball rolling.

“It’s okay, but it would be better if it weren’t catered around finding someone for me to marry.”

Cathal laughs, still unable to take his eyes off of Nina. “Oh yes, I almost forgot. That’s why I’m here.”

I can’t help myself but glance toward Isiah, to find him flirting shamelessly with one of the female staff. She’s sitting on the armrest of his chair and leaning over him.

Rage coils through me as this man has some nerve. He’s here because he’s supposed to be a possible match for me and he can’t even be bothered to speak to me.

“I need to find a drink. Excuse me.”

Nina gives me a look that says don’t leave me with him, but she needs to stop being so self-conscious. The girl is beautiful. She could have any man she wants.

As I make a beeline for the bar, a young man steps into my path. “I don’t believe your father has gotten around to introducing us. My name is James Wick.” He holds a hand out to me.

I shake it. “Bella.”

He’s attractive with pale green eyes and dark brown hair that reaches the top of his shoulders. Not as devastatingly handsome as Mr. Darcy, but he’s still gorgeous in his own right.

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