Brides & Bargains. Maureen Child

no one else bothers. That possibly indicates a severe lack of judgment, or perhaps bad taste.”

      That made her smile. “What else?”

      “You bring me a drink when I’m harried after a long day.”

      “Again, I do not see the problem with that.”

      “Perhaps I prefer to fetch my own drink.”

      “Do you?”

      He grinned. “No. The truth of the matter is, Sira, nothing you do drives me to complete distraction. Actually, that’s not the truth. I’m very distracted when you walk into the room, wearing nothing but a smile, and when you wake up beside me with your hair tousled and a sleepy look on that gorgeous face. You distracted me the other night from my goal.”

      “Yes, I realized I ruined that goal, yet you have to know that was not my intent. I feel horrible we did not make love.”

      He took her hand in his. “I meant my goal to convince you I care beyond making love to you. I want another opportunity to prove that.”

      “I want that as well.” And she did. “And I truly want to go with you to Dallas.”

      “All right, as long as you understand I only have a one-bedroom suite with a king-size bed. Of course, I suppose I could see if they have another room for you.”

      She shook her head. “That isn’t necessary.”

      Looking extremely pleased, he patted her thigh and stood. “The jet is waiting so you should pack. Do you have a cocktail dress for the reception?”

      She came to her feet and frowned. “Do birds fly?”

      He softly touched her face. “Yes, they do, and I look forward to watching you fly tonight.”

      But Nasira feared that by hanging on to the marriage, she might eventually fall.

      * * *

      Sebastian spotted her standing across the crowded room. She wore a formfitting sleeveless black silk gown with matching heels, her wrists bedecked with diamond bracelets and her sleek hair flowing down her back. Her slender hands moved gracefully as she spoke with an older gentleman who appeared completely enthralled by the conversation, and her.

      Sebastian couldn’t recall the last time Nasira looked so very beautiful. Correction. He could. The first night he’d seen her at an event much like the one tonight. Also on their wedding day when she had been dressed in white satin and looked like the exotic princess she was, albeit a somewhat wary princess due to their spontaneous decision to marry. Perhaps he had rescued her that day from the clutches of her father’s idea of a suitable spouse, but she had saved him from a life of loneliness.

      “That’s one looker right there.”

      Sebastian turned to his right to find a portly man with thinning hair clutching a martini and staring at Nasira with lust. “That happens to be my wife.”

      “I know,” the miscreant said. “I just spent the last thirty minutes listening to her singing your praises. By the way, I’m Milt Appleton with M.A. Imports.”

      Sebastian downed the rest of his scotch then eyed the man’s offered hand and reluctantly shook it. “Pleasure, I’m sure.” Or not.

      “Anyway,” Milt said. “I’m looking for a shipping company that can handle my European routes. Your girl convinced me I should consider going with you.” He pulled a business card from the inside of his coat pocket. “Here’s my information. Give me a shout in the next day or two.”

      Sebastian took the card and pocketed it. “I will be in touch soon.”

      Milt pointed at Nasira and narrowed his eyes. “And take care of that one. She’s one in a million.”

      Sebastian had begun to realize the absolute accuracy of that statement. She was graceful, intelligent, resolute and reliable to a fault. She had always been there when he needed her, and he had repaid her by not being there when she had needed him. Now that he finally got it, he had to figure out what to do about it. One idea came to mind, a simple gesture that would demonstrate how much she meant to him, even if he felt he could not give her the child she still desired.

      On that thought, he crossed the massive room and came to her side. “I lost track of you for a moment, darling.”

      She presented a smile. “I have been conversing with this lovely gentleman. Sebastian, this is Mr. Walker. Mr. Walker, my husband, Sebastian Edwards, owner and CEO of the shipping company I mentioned. Darling, Mr. Walker is quite interested in the services you have to offer.”

      At least this one didn’t seem to be interested in the services his wife could provide. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Walker,” he said as he stuck out his hand.

      “The pleasure is all mine,” the man replied. “I’ve given my information to your wife and we’ll discuss the particulars later. Speaking of wives, I should find mine. Have a good evening, you two.”

      After the aged businessman hobbled away, Sebastian slid his arm around Nasira’s waist. “Clearly I have lost our two-contacts wager since I was recently confronted by your first contact, the lecherous Milt.”

      “He’s harmless,” Nasira said.

      “And flirtatious, I gather.”

      “Slightly, yet nothing I could not handle.”

      Sebastian glanced to his right. “Would you care to dance?”

      She looked at him as if he had lost all reason. “This is not a cotillion, Sebastian. It’s a cocktail party.”

      “I hear music coming through the speakers and I believe I spy a dance floor.”

      She followed his gaze toward the bar before bringing her attention back to him. “Yes, that seems to be a dance floor. With no one using it.”

      He clasped her hand. “Then perhaps it’s time to get this dance party started.” When she began to protest, he pressed her lips with a fingertip. “Let’s be bold for a change. Let’s show them the portrait of two people who do not give a tinker’s damn what anyone thinks.”

      Her grin came out of hiding. “Let’s.”

      * * *

      After Sebastian guided her onto the modest wooden dance floor, Nasira walked into his arms. Yet when she noticed several people staring, she immediately went rigid.

      “Relax,” Sebastian whispered.

      “How can I when we are making a spectacle of ourselves?”

      “If anyone takes exception, it’s only because they’re jealous.”

      She reared back and leveled her gaze on him. “Jealous of two people who are clearly wacko?”

      “Jealous of me for having such a remarkable wife. Jealous of you because you are the most beautiful woman in the room. In the world, in my opinion.”

      “If you put it that way...”

      Deciding to ignore the attention, Nasira rested her cheek against Sebastian’s shoulder and swayed in time to the soft sounds of a bluesy instrumental. She relished the feel of his strong arms holding her close, the aromatic scent of his cologne, his skill. She had learned that he was a great dancer the first night they had met, when he had asked her to dance at the gala, much to her father’s chagrin, whose cautions had gone unheeded. When she took inventory of her life and the decision she had made, only one regret remained. A dream she might have to disregard to keep her marriage intact.

      Sebastian suddenly stopped moving and only then did she realize the music had stopped, and they were now surrounded by several other couples who had taken to the floor.

      Her husband presented a proud smile. “See? We have started a trend.”

      She laughed with pure joy. “Yes, we have.”