Page 16 of The Duke's Virgin
“I’ll have Blanche get someone to escort you,” Aeric said.
Emmett went to argue, but he was ignored. A few minutes later, Aeric and I were crossing over to the long, plush couch. People scooted or rose to make room, and Aeric grinned at me as he picked up a crystal high-ball. “You won me a fair amount of money on that race today. I had a feeling Emmett would win. I made a substantial bet, and he came through, several times over.”
“Then Emmett won you a fair amount of money, not me.” I glanced past him with studied casualness at the woman. “Hello.”
She’d been staring at her drink, but at my greeting, her eyes came up, brows raising a fraction. “Ah…hi.”
I’d spoken in French, a language common in both Luxembourg and Monaco.
She’d replied in the same language but with an accent that was distinctly American.
Curiosity piqued even more, I said, “I’m Luka, a…friend of Emmett’s.” Aeric’s attention shifted to me, but I ignored him. Neither of us went around dropping our title everywhere we went, so he couldn’t exactly say anything, could he?
I half expected him to interject and introduce her as a friend. A girlfriend perhaps, maybe some fashion designer or perhaps a statesman’s daughter he’d met while traveling.
But Aeric remained silent, and I assumed that while she might be friendly with him, they weren’t particularly close.
Her eyes, a soft, winsome blue, held mine for a long moment before she finally answered. “Stacia. I’m visiting from New York.”
“I saw you at the race earlier.”
“Yes.” She sipped her wine before answering. “Aeric thought I’d enjoy it.”
“I was right.” Aeric tossed back the rest of his whiskey and waved over a server. “Would you like another drink, Stacia?”
She declined and leaned in to whisper something, her voice too low for me to hear.
A moment later, she rose, and I focused on my drink instead of watching her walk away as I wanted to.
I started to ask Aeric about her, but before I could, Emmett reappeared and dropped down in the seat she’d vacated. A woman was close behind, and she bent over, placing a plate of food on his lap and offering a bottle of water.
“Thank you, honey.” He gave her the same smile that charmed the media the world over, and I shook my head at the blush that tinted the woman’s cheeks as she walked away.
“Aeric, you’ve got people on hand who’ve waited on some of the richest, most charming pricks in the world and that loudmouth American over there can reduce them to blushing with just a smile. How do you explain that?”
Aeric laughed.
Emmett straightened, cradling the plate carefully. “That’s easy, Luka. Rich and charming doesn’t necessarily mean shit if you’re not authentic. And there’s one thing about me…I’m about as real as they come.” He winked before digging into his food.
“Full of authentic bullshit.”
He laughed. “That, too.”
* * *
She returned maybethirty minutes later, loitering on the far end of the seating pit, watching everything as she sipped champagne, her expression smooth and serene…aloof, I decided. I’d noticed that earlier, and it was hard not to notice now.
But even as I thought that, Blanche, the head of Aeric’s personal security descended into the sitting area and spoke to her. Stacia smiled at Blanche, a smile I recognized easily.No, no, I’m fine…
From my vantage point, I could see Blanche’s expression, how she frowned and shook her head. She pointed to the floor as she spoke. I could almost imagine what she was saying.Stay right here.
Then the tall, trim woman turned and came over to where we sat, walking past me, only to stop a meter or so away. She bent down and spoke to one of the men there. He was one of the pit crew. I recognized him and wondered what was being said. He frowned, then abruptly nodded and rose, tugging the hands of the women who’d been cuddling against him. They pouted, and he laughed, clearly intent on teasing them into smiles.
A few moments later, Emmett was situated at my side, and Stacia was back in her position by Aeric, her expression slightly flustered even as something akin to gratitude flashed through her eyes when she nodded at Blanche.
Aeric, talking to one of the pit crew members in front of him, seemed completely unaware, but as I watched, he reached over and took Stacia’s hand, squeezing it companionably. He glanced over at her, then up at Blanche, and the two of them spoke briefly before the security guard disappeared.
Stacia settled more comfortably into the cushions and resumed her study of everything going on.
