“This dress fits you perfectly.”
“I know. Connor is a genius. He understands my body better than I do.”
But not better than me. “You’re going to outshine everyone tonight.”
She smiled slightly and looked away. “Still charming, huh?”
“I mean it.”
She chuckled, but in a cold way. “Have you been taking this as hard as I have?”
I didn’t answer because the truth would make me an asshole. Her company was pleasurable, and I enjoyed our adventures on my yacht and through the countryside. But her presence was just a way to pass the time. She made me laugh, made me smile, gave me good sex when the sun was down, but that was the extent of her purpose. “It’s never easy for a man to let such a beautiful woman go.” I didn’t want to hurt her, ruin her. She had a long life ahead of her, and when she found the man she wanted to spend that life with, she would understand the love she had for me would never compare. I would be nothing next to her husband, just a memory she hardly recalled. I knew that from experience…because meeting Isabella completely changed my life.
“I know you told me how it would be. I know of all the women before me…all the women after me. But young men aren’t like you, Vincent. You’re so mature, gentle, sophisticated…I miss you.” She peered at me through her thick eyelashes, her bright blue eyes gorgeous. “I miss what we had…our friendship.”
“I miss it too, Alessia. I enjoyed your company a great deal.”
“Then why did you leave?” Music played overhead, so her words weren’t audible to those around us. We could have a private conversation even in a room full of people.
Alessia was one of the women who didn’t seem obsessed with my money. She was easy to talk to and asked about my sons a lot. But she did seem smitten with my power, the invisible protection I wrapped around her. Standing in my shadow made her feel more powerful. She felt safe with me, looking up to me almost as a father figure. She had a difficult time growing up because her family was poor, and there were a lot of bumps in the road. With me, she knew she had a man who would take care of her. “It had nothing to do with you, Alessia. I know you’re sad right now, but trust me, you deserve someone better than me.”
“There is no one better than you, Vincent. You’re the kindest man I’ve ever known.” Her hand moved to my forearm. “You’re such a gentle giant. They don’t make them like you anymore.”
“When you meet a nice man your age, you’ll feel differently.” She wanted a family and a fulfilling life. That was something I would never compromise on. I already had my children, and they were grown men now. I didn’t want to start all over again, taking care of a baby in diapers. I already had a legacy to carry on my name. “But you know I’m always here for you. If you ever need anything at all, all you have to do is call.” I leaned into her again and kissed her on the cheek, bringing a sense of finality to the conversation. It almost felt idiotic having this conversation when Alessia was such a beautiful woman. She was pouring her heart out to me when I was far beneath her. I might have money, but I didn’t have her elemental goodness. She was soft like silk, easy to the touch. I was hard and callused, far too broken for someone so innately good. “Good luck tonight. I know you’ll do wonderfully.” I dropped my hand and immediately stepped away, knowing I had to put space between us. I didn’t want to upset her before her performance. Perhaps seeing her wasn’t the best idea.
I grabbed another drink and swallowed half of it in a single gulp. The fire seared my throat all the way down to my belly, and it ignited me with a warmth that was intensely soothing. When I looked across the room, my eyes fell on Ms. Alexander. The last time I saw her, Thorn had been in deep conversation with her. I wondered if their words had amounted to anything—or they just burned out.
I kept walking until my eyes spotted a brunette I thought I recognized. In a bright red dress with only one sleeve stood a woman I’d seen not too long ago. Around the waist, the dress was missing cuts of fabric, showing her bare skin. The dress fit snugly around her wide hips and down her thighs and hinted at her abs through the fabric. It stopped above her knee, and black stilettos were on her feet. She held a black clutch embedded with diamonds.
It was a classy look.
She fit right in with everyone else.
Her brown hair was loose that night, trailing to her shoulders. It was straight and shiny. Her makeup was heavier than it’d been the other day, and now she looked like one of the models about to hit the runway. The only difference between her and the girls was her age. It was noticeable in some places, but in every other way, she could compete with the girls on the stage. She had the perfect size and grace. It made me wonder if she used to be a model in her prime.
She was speaking to a woman who appeared to be the same age. They exchanged a few more sentences before the woman was pulled away by someone else.
Scarlet turned her gaze on me. A slight flash of recognition came into her eyes. Her pupils dilated before they relaxed again. Then she gave me
