Page 208 of Ricardo

For one second, guilt burns through me so intensely I almost step back from both of them.

Then Mario’s voice cuts through the moment. “Now.”

Ricardo offers me his arm.

I place my hand in the crook of Ricardo’s arm, and his other hand covers mine for a brief second, warm and firm.

Then we move.

Ricardo walks me through the ballroom with the same unhurried confidence he has carried all evening. I keep my chin level, my face composed, my steps even beneath the fall of the green dress.

We pass everyone, sending waves and smiles as we go. We pass Evan Rusk, even though I pretend I don’t see when his gaze flicks toward us.

I debate for a moment, detouring to go say goodbye to my parents, but I decide against it. This is as much as I can handle right now.

Ricardo bends his head slightly as we reach the ballroom doors.

“You are shaking,” he says.

“I know.”

The doors open ahead of us.

The sound of the gala swells around us one last time. Music, laughter, silverware.

Ricardo’s arm remains steady beneath my hand as we step out of the ballroom together.

There is a car waiting at the curb, and Ricardo’s driver is standing at the door. He opens it as I approach. Ricardo helps me into the car, and slides in beside me. The door closes, and we pull away.

But not very far.

We turn the corner, and the car stops again.

Ricardo turns to me.

For a second, he says nothing. He only looks at me, as if he is trying to memorize me.

“I hate this,” he says.

“I know.”

“I should be the one taking you home.”

“But you’re needed somewhere else.”

His jaw tightens. “I am needed with you.”

I reach for his hand, and he closes his fingers around mine at once.

“Ricardo.”

His eyes hold mine.

“I'm going home, and you’re going… wherever you're going. Then after, you come to me. Now kiss me.”

For one second, he just looks into my eyes. Then he slides his hand to the back of my neck and kisses me, deep enough to steal the breath from my lungs, and leave me wanting more.

It is over too quickly, but when he pulls back, his eyes are darker than before, and his thumb brushes once over my bottom lip.