Page 3 of Sev’s Blackmailed Bride (The Dante Dynasty #1)

Marco ended his conversation with a leggy redhead wearing a solid three million dollars’ worth of high-quality stones and returned to Sev’s side. “I don’t get it. Nothing I’ve seen so far is enough to save Timeless from going under,” he said in an undertone. “It’s all the same old thing.”

“No, not all of it. Not this, for instance. ”

Sev paused by a display unique in its simplicity.

Not that the jewelry needed a fancy backdrop to make it stand out.

The pieces spoke for themselves. White gold, diamonds and jet formed a sweeping pattern as elegant and sophisticated as any in recent memory.

And yet, an air of romance permeated each item, apromise that by gifting this necklace, or this ring, or this bracelet, the recipient would receive a tangible expression of utter love and devotion.

An image of the blonde wearing the gems flashed through his mind.

He could see the delicate strands of the necklace encircling her throat, the graceful length accentuated by the simple drop earrings.

It would look perfect on her, particularly when complemented by acres of pale, creamy skin and a simple black silk sheath.

“Aw, hell. This is the first I’ve seen of this designer’s work. It’s just the sort of collection I had in mind for Dantes’ expansion,” Marco said. “We are so screwed.”

In more ways than one. If Sev didn’t get his mind back on business, he might as well kiss Timeless Heirlooms goodbye. “Find out who designed these and get the information to Lazz and Nicolò,” he instructed his brother. “I’ll go talk to the Fontaines. Maybe I’ll learn something helpful. ”

Or maybe he should head for the kitchen, grab a bucket of ice and pour it over his head in the hope of dousing the heat rampaging through his system. Damn it to hell! What had that blonde done to him and how had she doneit?

Marco grimaced. “Whatever you learn better be helpful, because I have a feeling they no longer need to sell TH.”

Unfortunately, Sev had a nasty feeling his brother was right.

Still, his conversation with the Fontaines elicited a few interesting facts.

They had, indeed, hired three new designers for the express purpose of revitalizing TH.

And they had some big deal in the offing, all very hush-hush.

Whatever the deal, the Fontaines were convinced it would catapult them into the big times.

Yet, Sev caught the hint of desperation Tina couldn’t quite conceal, which told him all he needed to know. Despite tonight’s success, they were still vulnerable. He just needed to uncover the source of that vulnerability and exploitit.

He headed for the far end of the room where French doors opened onto a shadowed balcony with a stunning view of San Francisco.

The light breeze held a final nip of winter’s chill, but he found it a welcome relief after the perfumed warmth of the ballroom.

Removing his cell phone from his jacket pocket and hit a button to connect withLazz .

A few seconds later the call went through. “Sev?” A rapid clicking bled through the line, indicating his brother was typing as he spoke. Ever the multitasker. “I just spoke to Marco.”

“And?”

Lazz sighed. “You’re both at the same party. So why am I the one keeping you two up-to-date?”

“Do I really need to answer that?”

“Okay, okay. Marco has two names for you so far. There’s a Clifton Paris and a Deborah Leighton. He’s working on the third one, but everyone’s being very mysterious. He thinks it’s because they’re planning some huge announcement in regard to this final designer.”

“Which means he’s the one we’re after.”

“Probably. Marco said there’s some special deal TH is about to close, also involving this particular designer.”

“The Fontaines said the same thing. Does Marco know what the deal is or which designer?”

“Actually, he does, at least in part. They’re about to sign a big-name actress.”

Sev fought for patience. “There’s a lot of big-name actresses out there. Which one are we looking at? ”

“Don’t know, yet. But the rumor is, she’s at the very top. If they do sign someone like Julia Roberts or Jennifer Lawrence or Juliet Bloom, it’ll be huge for them. And it’ll effectively prevent both a buyout and, quite possibly, our ability to compete with them on the open market.”

Sev grimaced at his brother’s all-too-accurate assessment. “I need to find out who they’re courting and get the agreement delayed. Put Nicolò on it.”

“Right away.”

“We also need leverage. Call that PI we hired last year—Rufio—and have him start an immediate investigation of the designers Marco’s already identified. Then call Marco and tell him I want that third name ASAP. Tell him to alert me the minute he has it.”

“Check.”

Sev pocketed his phone. Time to gather himself for round two.

He glanced toward the glow of lights, where the subdued chatter of voices wafted from the ballroom.

To his relief, his reaction to the blonde had eased somewhat.

Five minutes and counting without a single image of her short-circuiting his brain and sending the rest of him into overdrive.

Or so he thought until she appeared in the doorway and stared straight at him.

For a split second he believed she came in search of him, that the ever-tightening tendrils between them were acting on a subliminal level and drawing her to him.

Then he realized that her eyes hadn’t adjusted to the darkness that cloaked him.

He nearly groaned. She couldn’t see him at all.

Did she even sense him? Doubtful. This was his insanity, nothers.

She hesitated while light streamed around her, capturing her in its warm embrace.

She’d dressed simply, in a silk sheath of palest lilac.

No doubt the color had been selected to complement the jewelry she wore, the set unquestionably the work of TH’s mystery designer.

Adelicate rope of silver, studded with the unmistakable glitter of diamonds and Verdonian amethysts, hugged the base of her neck while a simple confection of the same stones flashed discreetly on the lobes of her ears. Understated. Stylish. Sophisticated.

With a sigh of relief, she stepped onto the balcony.

The light from the ballroom gave her a final caress, slipping through the thin silk to reveal a womanly shape that nearly brought Sev to his knees.

Full breasts strained against the low-cut bodice, while a nipped waist and shapely hips gave the simple dress an impressive definition.

She crossed to the balustrade and stared out at the view, absently rubbing her bare arms against the spring chill.

Sev found he couldn’t move. The rational part of his brain ordered him to return to the gathering and finish the job at hand.

But an overwhelming need eclipsed that small voice of sanity.

It was as though some primeval part of himself dominated reason and rationale.

He’d become a creature of instinct. And instinct demanded that he inhale her very essence and imprint it on his mind and body andsoul.

Her instincts must have been as finely tuned as his own, for she lifted her head as though scenting the air. Then, with unerring accuracy, she spun to face him and her gaze collided withhis.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” hesaid.

F rancesca froze, every nerve ending sizzling to life in an instinctive fight-or-flight reaction. She couldn’t say what alerted her to the man’s presence. One second she believed herself alone and in the next heartbeat she sensed him on a purely intuitive level.

She stared at him and the breath hitched from her lungs.

He blended into his shroud of shadows so completely that the ebony richness of his hair and suit melted into his surroundings, making him appear part of the night.

Only his eyes were at odds with the endless darkness, glittering like antique gold against a palette of black.

As though aware of her apprehension, he stepped into a swath of light coming from the ballroom to enable her to get a betterlook.

His height impressed her. He stood a full two or three inches over six feet with an imposing expanse of shoulders and long, powerful legs.

For the first time since childhood, she felt downright petite.

Reflected light cut across his features, throwing the patrician lines of his face into sharp relief.

Heaven help her. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen such a gorgeousman.

But something stunned her even more than his appearance—the emotional turmoil he triggered.

She’d never responded to a man like this before.

Never experienced such an intense, uncontrollable physical reaction.

She stood before him, filled with a feminine helplessness utterly foreign to her nature.

Desire shook her, the intensity so absolute that she could only stare in bewilderment when he offered hishand.

“You’ve been waiting for me?” she finally managed to say. “Why?”

“I noticed you when I first arrived and hoped we’d eventually meet. My name’s Severo. Sev, for short. ”

“Francesca Sommers.” She took the hand he offered before snatching it back with a startled exclamation. “Good Lord. What was that?”

He appeared equally stunned. “Static electricity?”

She’d felt static electricity before. Who hadn’t? In fact, as a child she and the other foster children had often delighted in scuffing their socks on the carpet before chasing through the house in order to shock each other. That brief zap of electricity bore no similarity tothis.

She scrubbed her palm across her hip, but after that initial searing of flesh against flesh, the sensation changed.

It scored her palm like a brand, though unlike a brand, it didn’t hurt.

It sank deep into her bones—part tingle combined with a peculiar ticklish itch. She didn’t know what to make ofit.

“Maybe we should try that again,” Sevsaid.