“It saved our asses, Leo,” Gabe insisted. “Don't be modest.” Gabe looked around the table with smile. “And that was the beginning. Everything just kind of snowballed from there and the next thing you know, we're sitting at the billionaire's table.”
“Don't forget Charlotte in your story, Gabe,” Leo reminded him. I blushed as Leo grinned at me. Leo always had to make me feel special.
Gabe swallowed his bite of food. “Of course! Charlotte here was our first employee. She's the one who made sure we all stayed sane by doing all the paperwork and making sure we made it to meetings on time.” He paused for dramatic effect and then in a loud stage whisper added, “Don't tell her, but she was kind of important. I don't want her to know her nerd skills were actually kind of useful.”
I laughed. “I really just wanted to show these guys they were wrong.” I turned to Emma. “They used to tease me about taking accounting classes in high school. Called me a numbers nerd.”
“You still are a numbers nerd,” Leo teased gently. His blue eyes sparkled at me from across the table, knowing that this was something that always got me riled. It took everything not to retort back that he had just kissed a numbers nerd and liked it.
Not appropriate dinner conversation, I reminded myself. Not to mention that Bastian would probably get up and punch him on principle. I was still his little sister, even if Leo was his friend.
“How did you get that loan?” I asked, trying to deflect the conversation away from me. “I remember writing the checks for the interest payments and wondering how you got such a good interest rate for us. I couldn't find anything close at any of the banks I tried.”
Leo turned on his business smile. I had learned that every businessman had one and that when they wore it, they couldn't be trusted. Even Leo.
“That's my business secret and I can't give them all away,” he replied, the smile never faltering. He turned to Jack a
nd Emma. “But, now Jack, how is it being back on the island? I know that you met your lovely wife Emma here. Are you two staying at that resort again or somewhere else on the island?”
I frowned slightly at the sudden change in topic, but let it slide. The loan was five years ago. It wasn't something I needed to press, especially if it made Leo uncomfortable. I had always secretly suspected that he had asked a wealthy relative or done something similarly embarrassing to help us all succeed.
“We're staying at the resort for nostalgia's sake,” Jack said, taking Emma's hand in his. His eyes lit up with a love that made me weak in the knees as he looked at her. “I think it's even better the second time.”
It was all I could do not to let out a huge, “Awww!” I glanced back and forth between Jack and Emma to Bastian and Ava. Love was sweet, and looking across the table at the man with the blue eyes, I couldn't wait to find out just how sweet it could be.
Leo grinned and pushed back his seat, apparently thinking along the same lines. He sidestepped the waitress picking up dishes who Gabe was busy flirting with to come over to me. He held out his hand. “While we wait for dessert, would you like to dance?”
“I'd love to,” I replied honestly. He wrapped my smaller hand in his. I hoped he couldn't feel my heart pounding through my skin. I wanted so much more than a dance, but if a dance was all I could get right now, I would take it.
Leo led me to the open dance floor, spinning me expertly into the music as a fresh song began. I fit into his arms like I was made there. Leo was an excellent dancer and following his lead into a waltz was easier than breathing. Cameras flashed and zinged as we danced, and as I looked up at my prince charming, I felt like a princess.
“So?” I looked up at him, half expecting him to tell me it was all a mistake, or even worse, that I would wake up and find this all a dream.
“So.” He grinned at me and spun me around, making my skirt flow out in a shimmer of blue fabric before pulling me back into the safety of his arms. “I wish we could get out of here. I'd like to kiss you some more, but-”
A camera flash interrupted his words and accenting how public our setting was.
“-But the auction should be front page news. Not us,” he finished, spinning me away from the camera. “I'll just have to be content with holding you until later. Then I want to kiss you again. And again.”
Happy bubbles filled my chest and if it was possible for a person to die of happiness, I was certainly close. Leo wanted to kiss me again. He wanted me. My willpower was going to be severely depleted by the end of the night. All I wanted to do was pull him off the dance floor into a dark corner and have my way with him.
I sighed. The gala would go on for hours. There was time for that later. I'd waited ten years for this. I could wait a couple more hours.
“Is there anything you're bidding on at the auction tomorrow?” I asked, trying to distract myself from how close his lips were and how good he smelled.
“Small talk, huh?” He tipped his head just enough that I could see the beginning of a kiss and I held my breath. “Good plan. Yes, there are several things I plan on purchasing.”
The song ended and a round of applause surrounded us for dancing.
“Another, please?” I asked, not wanting to go back to the table just yet. If I couldn't kiss him, at least I could be in his arms.
“How much work do you have to do tomorrow? I'd like to see you,” Leo said, twirling me to the music. Several more couples joined us on the dance floor.
“I have to help during the day. Once the auction is complete, the auction house will take care of everything and I'll be done.” I sighed. “I can't wait. I believe in this auction so much, but it has been a lot of work.”
“You've done a fantastic job,” Leo murmured, taking us to the corner of the dance floor and out of limelight. The other dancers would keep the photographers' attention as long as we didn't do anything too out of the ordinary.
“Thank you,” I said, flushing with pride. It was one thing for my brother to tell me I had done well, but Leo saying it made it feel real. “Are you doing anything other than the auction tomorrow?”