Trace observed the endless stream of people that filled the grounds of Raven’s Nest. The sun was shining bright, not a cloud in the sky. The caterers had turned the mansion grounds into a festive venue. A huge banquet spread held a plentiful supply fit for royalty.
A ten-piece band under a large tent played a foot-tapping beat. Some people danced and others frolicked in the two large pools. Lights were strung in the trees for when darkness fell. Diana had gone all out in planning this gathering, and it showed.
Trace was lounging in a chair, sipping a glass of lemonade, and wishing for something stronger. However, he needed his wits to play host to Diana’s hostess.
While he listened to the chatter of his VPs, he covertly looked around for Diana and saw her talking to her best friend, Susan.
God, he couldn’t get his fill of Diana. Granted the sex was unbelievable, but it was more than that. He enjoyed being with her. He heard her laugh and felt a catch in his chest. He loved her. This woman held his heart in the palm of her hand.
Diana’s floral sundress flowed around her body in quiet elegance, draping her curves from the low neckline down to the smooth contour of her ankles. Tendrils of dark hair escaped the soft bundle of curls on top of her head, gently framing the smooth lines of her face. When she turned to speak to a passing waiter, he saw the sundress was almost backless.
Male eyes were trained on her from every direction, and he didn’t like it one bit. He placed his lemonade on a passing server’s tray, excused himself from his companions, and walked toward her.
A single lock of hair trailed down her cheek, brushing her skin as she tilted her head to listen to Susan. Diana’s skin glowed, reminding him of the early morning lovemaking that had left them both surprised at the power of their combined climax.
“Hello, Susan,” Trace called as he grabbed a stuffed mushroom off the tray of a passing waiter.
“Hi, sweetheart,” he said softly. Popping a mushroom in his mouth, he reached for a napkin on the table behind her and wiped his hands. He then circled her small waist with his arm, pulled her tightly to his side, and bestowed a deep kiss on her slightly parted lips.
“Trace—” She frowned and leaned away from him, causing him to tighten his grip and press her even closer. Trace saw he had shocked her. Hell, he’d shocked himself by publicly staking his claim on her. This was something he’d never done with any woman. What the hell was wrong with him? He didn’t know and he didn’t care.
Still frowning, she asked, “What’s gotten into you?”
“What? I can’t give my lady a kiss?”
“That wasn’t a kiss. You were stamping me with your brand.”
“Hmm. Now that is an idea.”
Susan cleared her throat. “Trace, what you do think about having fireworks for the finale?”
“Sounds great,” he said, not taking his eyes from Diana.
“I was telling Diana it was a lovely idea.” Susan eyed them with ill-disguised curiosity.
He ignored the puzzlement on their faces. He wasn’t sure why a burst of jealousy had propelled him to stake his claim. He’d never been jealous of a woman before, but the feeling felt natural when it came to Diana.
“Did you just get here?” Diana inquired.
“No, I have been here for a couple of hours.” Trace looked around the backyard. “Large turnout.”
“This is a small gathering compared to previous years, but a little bigger than last year,” Susan replied.
“I haven’t seen Crispina here,” Diana said.
Trace frowned. “And you won’t.”
Diana shot him a surprised look. “As a board member, she was automatically invited.”
“I uninvited her,” Trace said, his tone cold.
“You did? But…”
“Let it go, Diana. Please.”
Diana shot him a look that said we’ll-talk-about-this-later. “All right.”
There was a long, uncomfortable silence.
“Oh, well, I…” Looking over Susan’s shoulder, he saw the arrival of his cousin. “I have a little business to attend to.” He gave Diana a lingering kiss this time. “I’ll see you later.”
Diana and Susan watched him walk away. Susan turned and looked at Diana, surprise evident on her face. Diana took a deep breath and cleared her throat. Before she could think of how to explain Trace’s possessive behavior, Susan spoke.
“I assume he and Crispina are at odds…again. But what was that?” Susan said.
“What was what?”
“Diana, Trace walked over here, grabbed you by the waist, and tried to make your body and his one. And then he drowned you with a kiss.”
“I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”
“You don’t say,” She planted her hands on her hips, a manner Diana knew meant I’m-not-moving-until-I-have-every-detail. “I thought the yacht weekend was a one-time thing that unexpectedly happened. I believe the man was stating his claim. I thought you said you two weren’t in a relationship. But from where I’m standing, it looks like a relationship to me.”
“We’re not…not really. When he came home from a business trip, I kinda jumped him. I really don’t know what came over me.”
Susan was obviously in shock. “You’ve got to be kidding.” Her friend’s eyes were now huge.
“No, I’m not kidding.”
“You?”
“Yes, me.” Not liking the way Susan said it, Diana put her hands on her hips. “And what do you mean when you say, ‘you’?”
“Well, you are so…” Susan shrugged and lifted her hands as Diana watched her try to find the right words.
“I’m so what?”
“Uh…nice. You’re a good girl. I can’t imagine you making the first move.”
“Are you saying good girls don’t enjoy sex?”
“No, but you have certainly taken charge and went after what you want.”
“Trace is a hard man to resist.” Finally admitting it to herself, she said, “I want to be with him.”
“I know you do. It’s wonderful. When you returned to work there was a glow to your face and a different stride to your walk. Now I know why.”
“Susan, don’t read more into it than there is.”
“Hmm, if you say so.”
“Susan—”
“I’m glad you listened to your best friend. Didn’t I tell you you should give him another chance? The man is hot! hot! hot!”
“Don’t get too excited about this…”
“You can’t squash my excitement. I’m not even mad at you.”
“You’re not?”
“Nope. Eventually you would’ve told me.”
“You think so?”
Looking at Diana with a strange look on her face, Susan said, “Why these questions? Are you sick or something?”
“No. I’m just concerned. I don’t—”
“Stop it, Diana.” Taking Diana’s hand in hers, Susan gave it a light squeeze. “You must stop thinking you don’t deserve to be happy.”
“That isn’t what I think…I’m just cautious.”
“Yeah, right. You’re always looking for the ax to fall.”
“Not always.”
“You’re confident in your business ability and can hold your own in a room of chauvinistic piranhas. If I had graduated in the top ten percent of my class, you wouldn’t be able to stop me from moving mountains.”
“You’re smart, Susan. Don’t you ever let anyone tell you anything different.”
“You’re good for my ego, friend. Thanks.”
“I’m telling you the truth. You’re one of the smartest people I know.”
Susan stuck her nose in the air. “I am, aren’t I?”
Diana laughed. “Now tell me when you’re going to stop being nasty to Dominic Mello?”
“Why are you bringing him up?” Susan frowned at Diana and put her hands on her hips. “We were having a great conversation, but you had to go and ruin it.”
“He just arrived,” Diana said slyly. She motioned to where Trace was standing and talking to a tall, dark, and handsome man.
Susan stiffened. “Who invited him?”
Diana shrugged. “He’s Trace’s cousin, plus his best friend.”
Susan rounded on Diana. “I know you. You extended a personal invitation. Why in the world would you do that?”
“Probably because I like seeing him stare a hole in your back.”
A red flush tinted Susan’s olive skin. “Tell me you are kidding.”
“Nope, I’m afraid not.”
Susan abruptly turned around and caught Dominic staring. Diana noticed neither one broke eye contact. Finally he broke the contact when he leaned toward Trace to hear what he was saying. Dominic laughed and Susan flushed.
“Well, well, what was that look about?” Diana asked.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. The man is rude, arrogant, and a menace.”
Diana laughed. “Oh, Susan, I do believe you protest too much.”
“Diana Pisano, I’m not going to dignify that with a comment.”
Slipping her arm through Susan’s, Diana said, “I just bet you won’t.”
“Enough about that man,” Susan said in a haughty tone.
“Come, let’s go to the kitchen. You can help me to slice the pound cakes,” Diana said.
Susan squealed. “Cook made pound cakes?”
“Yes, she did. Although the picnic is catered, no one can make a cake like she can.”
“You definitely got that right. Lead the way!”