There she was again.
This time she walked by smiling politely at a few folks and headed straight for the guests of honors’ table. She glanced around before her slender frame leaned to place something in front of Elaine’s plate. Her dark silky waves draped slightly over her shoulders before she stood and flipped them back.
She was stunning.
But it wasn’t quite her attire or make up that seemed to have chained my attention to her every time she appeared. It was something I couldn’t place. Was it her eyes? I couldn’t see their color from the distance, but the innocence in them, one could see from way across the ballroom. Or was it her high rosy cheekbones that made their way to the corners of her eyes every time she feigned a smile at another guest? Something about her made it impossible to look away.
Before I knew it, I stood about a foot away from Elaine’s chair, where the mystery woman still lingered. She turned somewhat in a hurry and jumped when she found me standing there, watching her. The woman brushed the sides of her dress down and picked up her purse, raising her head slightly.
“Hello,” she greeted.
“Hi there, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. You just caught my curiosity.”
She stood straighter and lifted her head higher, as if to prove confidence. I knew the move all too well.
“Not at all, I was just sneaking in a quick note for M—Elaine.” Her cheeks blushed and she beamed a brilliant white, yet nervous smile. “I don’t see her, so I wanted to congratulate the couple before I head out.”
“Scott Weston.” I extended a hand.
She looked down at her own, which appeared to be holding a crumpled up black cocktail napkin. She switched it to her other hand before taking mine.
“Sorry...sticky.” She held up the hand apologetically.
I nodded and smirked.
“Um...Isabel.”
I didn’t mind her leaving out a last name. Not everyone introduced themselves as if they were someone the other person should know.I let out a soft chuckle.
Isabel glanced around questionably. “Do I not look like an Isabel?”
“No, no, it’s just...well a few years ago, maybe ten, I went to a gala where some supposedly famous reality show singer made an appearance. I introduced myself as just Scott, and when the singer guy shook my hand, he said his full name.” I tilted my head to the side and rolled my eyes, “Now, yes I knew who he was, but I remember thinking, geez who does that?” I placed my hands in my pockets and nodded slowly. “He was really full of himself.”
Isabel laughed a beautiful gentle—and genuine laugh.“Clearly you learned never to bethatguy.”
I held out my hand to her once more. “Just Scott.”
Holding a wide grin as if she couldn’t help it, she took my hand with a firm grip and nodded, “StilljustIsabel.”
For the life of me, I couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, I had heard a woman laugh and smile with so much life and sincerity behind it. It was refreshing. No. It was breathtaking. I gave her a crooked smile, trying to regain my usual composure and charm; not entirely sure how I’d lost it to begin with. “Who are you here with?” Immediately, I wanted to shake my head at the stupid question.
“No one in particular,” she answered, her tone slightly distracted and a little bit cautious, perhaps? She held on to the black napkin. I glanced down at it, noticing her knuckles tighten around it.
“Do you want me to get rid of that for you?”I offered. It appeared whatever the hell was in that napkin, or the fact that she was holding it, was making her quite nervous. Like she’d just swiped some priceless possession with it and needed to take off with the article—asap.
Her hand shot to her ear. And for a brief moment, I thought she might pull her hair back, but she simply set her hand back down and cleared her throat and her voice picked up a notch. “I’m sure someone will be around shortly to collect the trash. I’ll just hold on to it till then.” She rubbed on her ear again.
I’d seen stranger things, I suppose.
“Where are you seated?” I glanced around the room.
She followed my scan of the floor and seemed to tense up for a moment—then looked back at me and smiled. “Right now, nowhere since I need to be going.” With a slight lift of the skirt of her gown, she stepped off the platform and tripped on her heel. Instinctively, I reached out and caught her by the waist.
Though light as a feather and pulling her to her feet was seamless, I wouldn’t have been surprised if I had fallen alongside her. Regardless of how anything but graceful the woman was, something about her was magnetic. Intense in a way that simply threw me. Her eyes were wide when she met my gaze again, her cheeks flushed and I couldn’t quite place what that meant. Which was odd for me. I read people like a book from all the way across the room.
A penguin attired waiter appeared before us with an empty silver tray before either of us managed to utter a word.
“May I take that for you, ma’am?” the man offered.
