Nervously glancing around the room, Kate toyed with the amethyst pendant that hung just above her breasts. She hadn’t worn the ring Luc had bought her; that would’ve just felt wrong. She’d actually placed it in his desk drawer days ago, though she had no clue if he’d found it.
Since Luc had started his best-man duties, she’d pretty much been on her own. That was fine, actually. The more she was around Luc, the harder she was finding it to face the reality that while she was having his baby, he’d never see her as more than a speech writer who happened to be giving him an heir.
Once the evening wound down, perhaps they could talk. She held out hope that he would remember the woman she was before his accident, not the liar she’d turned into for a few short days.
“Champagne, ma’am?”
The waiter, balancing a tray full of flutes of the bubbly drink, smiled at her. Kate shook her head.
“No, thank you.”
As soon as he moved on another man approached her. He’d been only a few feet away and she’d seen him a few times during the evening. The tall stranger with tanned skin and black hair was hard to miss, especially when she’d caught him eyeing her more than once. He’d been smiling her way for a while, and now he was closing the gap between them.
“You turned down champagne and you’re not dancing,” he said in lieu of hello. “One would think you’re not having a good time.”
Kate smiled, trying to place his accent. Not Greek. Mikos had friends and acquaintances all over the world, so who knew where he was from?
“I’m having a great time,” she told him. “It’s so beautiful, I’m just taking in all the scenery.”
“I’ve been taking in the scenery, too.”
His eyes held hers, and the implication was not lost on her. At one time that line may have worked on her, but she felt absolutely no tingling or giddiness in her stomach when this man approached, blatantly hitting on her. Good thing, because she was certain she didn’t have the strength to be tied up with more than one man.
“Would you care to dance?”
Kate glanced around. She hadn’t seen Luc for a while, and more than likely he was schmoozing with people he rarely got to see. Besides, it wasn’t as if he had a claim on her. He’d pretty much brought her here for one of two reasons: as a lame
plan B or to keep an eye on her. Either way, he’d ignored her most of the evening, and she was entitled to some fun, too.
“I’d love to.”
Kate slid her hand through the stranger’s arm and held on to the crook of his elbow as he led her to the dance floor. When he found an opening, he spun her around until she was in his arms. Kate purposely kept her body from lining up against his as she placed her hand on his shoulder and curled her fingers around his outstretched hand.
“I’m Kate, by the way.”
A smile kicked up at the corner of his mouth. “I’m Lars.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” she said as he turned her in a wide circle. “You’re a great dancer.”
“I’m actually a professional ballroom dancer.” He laughed as he led her into a slower dance when the song changed. “Stick with me tonight and we’ll be the envy of all the other couples.”
Kate couldn’t help but laugh at his blatant ego. “I should tell you, I’m taken.”
Well, she wasn’t exactly taken, but she was having another man’s child, and she was in love with said man, even though he didn’t return the feelings. So she felt it necessary to let Lars know he stood no chance with her.
He leaned in closer to whisper into her ear. “Yet he’s not here and I am.” When he leaned back, his smile remained in place. “Don’t worry. I just wanted to dance with the most stunning woman in the room.”
“I think that honor goes to the bride,” Kate corrected.
Darcy had looked magnificent in a fitted ivory dress with an elegant lace overlay, complete with a lace train that would make any princess envious. Darcy had looked like a character from a fairy-tale romance, and her Prince Charming at the end of the aisle had had nothing but love on his face for his bride.
Would Kate ever find that? Would she ever find a man who looked at her as though there was nothing greater in the world than the fact she lived in it?
“Uh-oh. I’m going to start questioning my skills if you keep frowning.”
Kate shook the thoughts away. “Your dance skills are perfect, though I’m sure you already knew that. I think the jet lag is getting to me.”
Not to mention the pregnancy...which she and Luc still hadn’t discussed announcing. So for now, she was keeping it to herself. Granted, not many people knew who she was, but the same could not be said for Luc.