Page 53 of A Heart of Little Faith
The reception took place in the lower ballroom of Brighton Manor, an old converted brownstone.
They entered through the back to avoid the stairs, and took the elevator to the first floor. From the entrance hall, it appeared as if they were transported to the 19th century. The hall featured black and white marble floors, mahogany wainscoting and arched ceilings with elaborate molding. Expensive heels clicked and clacked as guests strolled through the hall into the cocktail room. Previously the library, it sat to one side of the grand foyer. Floor to ceiling mahogany bookshelves lined every wall and Aubusson rugs covered the floor. Lily could imagine the scent of pipes and old books and sniffed in appreciation. Now, small cocktail tables placed strategically allowed enough space for guests to mingle, and also offered them the opportunity to sit and enjoy their hors d’oeuvres. Hushed voices and a lovely Brahms melody from a string quartet greeted them as they passed white damask tablecloths and white rose centerpieces.
Inside the ballroom, the parquet floor shone and reflected the opulent crystal chandelier in the center of the ceiling. Minute white lights highlighted the floor to ceiling windows and glowed in the wall of mirrors on the north side of the ballroom. A huge fireplace with a stone hearth occupied the entire wall at the east end of the room. A bar along the western side offered any drink guests wanted.
As she and Gideon crossed the room, she met more friends and family of the bride and groom—friends from his childhood.Nothing like meeting everyone from Gideon’s past in one day.Everyone passed pictures around of their children. Lily oohed and aahed at the appropriate times, asked questions about their families and work, and answered their questions in turn.
While they stood talking, a man approached her and offered her a drink.
“Oh, thanks, but we’ll get our own,” she said. Gideon leaned over to her and asked what she wanted. He took her order and went over to the bar. While she waited for him to return, she thought about her own wedding.
A wistful smile played about her mouth as she recollected every detail of her day—the perfume of gardenias, the notes from the flute that played as she walked down the aisle, the hazy appearance of everything from beneath her veil until the second she saw Daniel at the other end of the aisle. At that moment, all noise faded into the background. The only thing she heard was the beat of her own heart as it raced in anticipation. The only thing she saw was Daniel and the love that shone from his eyes. Lily was jarred back to the present by someone cupping her elbow.
“Do you want to dance?”
She shook her head. “No, thank you, I need to find my date.” She spotted him a few feet away. He sat motionless, drinks obviously forgotten as condensation dripped onto his wrist undetected. He remained there until Lily’s tap on his shoulder jolted him.
“There you are,” she said as she approached him. His face was strained, eyes unreadable behind his spectacles, vein throbbing in his neck. Despite that, he was easily the most handsome man at the party. The tuxedo jacket fit beautifully over his well-defined shoulders and the white shirt accentuated his well-developed chest muscles and contrasted nicely with his tanned throat. Lily drank in every handsome, sexy feature with delight and blushed as her thoughts turned to the parts of his body hidden from view.
Wordlessly, he handed her the drink. Their fingers touched and he jumped as if in pain.
“Thank you.”
“Let’s get out of here.” She wondered if he’d read her mind and she convinced herself not to be too embarrassed if he had. She followed him out the door. They exited the main ballroom and entered an atrium with unobstructed views of the city. Gideon didn’t stop until he’d reached the far windows, where he stared at the city lights.
“Have I told you how handsome you look tonight?” She glanced admiringly at his reflection in the windows.Definitely an understatement. She ran a perfectly manicured finger across the wide expanse of his shoulders. Through the expensive wool of his jacket, she could feel his rock hard muscles.
Breath whooshed out and he flashed a sarcastic grin. “You say that now, but you won’t think so when I roll over your toes.”
“And ruin my brand new shoes? I don’t think so!” She frowned and twisted her foot to admire her new strappy sandals.
He chuckled. “Ah, I forgot, never get between a woman and her Jimmy Choos.”
“Hey, don’t blame me, buster, you’re the one who picked the outfit.” She brushed the hair off his forehead, admired its softness and kept her palm against his cheek for a moment as she attempted to ease his thoughts.
“So this is my fault?” He leaned into her hand.
“It always is.” She smirked, and he rolled his eyes.
“Great. Why do I think I’m in big trouble?”
“Honey, this is only the beginning.”
He groaned, pulled her onto his lap and whispered, “Do you mind if we stay out here a minute? I like looking at the grandeur of the Manhattan skyline—it reminds me there are things more important in life than myself.”
His voice had a slight catch to it and she willed it away. “No problem.” She lightly stroked his shoulder and moved closer to him, resting her forehead on his temple. She inhaled his scent—musk, soap and man. Her insides flip-flopped.
“Are you coming onto me?” His eyes gleamed and her heart lifted as his mood lightened.
“Think you could handle it?” She gave him her most seductive look.
He closed his eyes in mock horror. “Lord help me!”
Unable to hold the pose any longer, Lily burst into laughter. A waitress carried glasses of champagne, and Gideon and Lily each took one for themselves. She raised an eyebrow at him, as their glasses clinked for their own private toast. “Drinking and driving?”
“Worried about your shoes again?”
Lily smiled. “You know, I’ll have to check my closet. If we’re going to continue seeing each other, I may just have to go shoe shopping.”