“Then don’t. I’m sure he’ll understand. You went to college and you have been working at the law firm for a few years now. Why would he suddenly make you change course and enter the family business?”
He sighed, twirling her with a dramatic flair trying to hide the fact the question was a difficult one. “That was to let me spread my wings some. It was always temporary. He wants me in the family business and there’s no way I can say no. I’m afraid it’s coming a lot sooner than I expected. I guess I have to work on hiding my emotions better if you noticed something was bothering me.”
She swiped a tender hand across his cheek. “No, I’m just very tuned into people’s emotions, especially people I care about. You’re like family to me, Travis. I hate seeing this pain on your face. I know how your father can be, so I know it wouldn’t be easy trying to explain how you feel, but it couldn’t hurt to try. Maybe your job could be beneficial to the family business.”
Expecting his eyes to light up with happiness at an alternative, she was surprised to see a bit of horror enter. “No, I would prefer to keep my job and the family business separate. It’s inevitable, my joining the business. I need to suck it up and move on. There’s nothing I can do about it.”
He continued to whisk her across the dance floor, the conversation dying as those words swirled around them. As soon as the song ended, he pulled her off the dance floor with the same elegant grace he displayed bringing her onto it.
“Fina, what we talked about…let’s keep that between us. It wouldn’t do well for my father to hear about my reservations. I can trust you to keep it a secret.”
Kissing him on the cheek, she hugged him fiercely. “Your secrets are always safe with me. You know that, Travis.”
“You truly would be my perfect match. If I didn’t love you so much as a sister, I would pursue you until you gave into my wily charms.”
“It wouldn’t take much pursuing. I’d probably fall at your feet with ease.”
He laughed, tossing an arm around her waist. “Just my luck. Are you ready for that drink yet?”
“Yes, I am. We can talk more about what woman you should set your sights on tonight. I’m not liking the jug-a-lug woman. Her appearance screams easy. Let’s find one that’s easy, but she shows it more subtly.”
“If you insist.” He sighed dramatically, yet his face lit up with delight.
“I do insist. Nothing but the best for you.”
4
Swiping another glass of champagne from the passing tray, Dax took a deep swig before reminding himself he needed to tone down the drinking. He was supposed to be working, not getting shit-faced drunk.
The thought was appealing, though, especially every time he saw Sarafina’s beautiful face. And he saw it a lot, considering he made a point to seek her out. Unobtrusively, of course. It wouldn’t do well for her to know he was looking at her, or anyone else. Particularly Martin Chilani, or even Travis Chilani.
He didn’t have a full dossier on Travis. But there wasn’t much to report since, as far as they could tell, he wasn’t involved hands-on in the organization. His criminal activity didn’t concern Dax at the moment. No. He wanted to know what his relationship to Sarafina was.
Dancing, laughing, even some kissing had been going on between the two, making him want to break something every time his lips connected with her. Sure, it wasn’t on the actual mouth. A peck on the cheek here, another peck on the cheek there. But his lips anywhere on her for any reason made Dax want to get his gun and shoot him.
He shouldn’t be having this reaction, especially over a woman he just met. Every time his eyes glossed to her, the protective feelings swarmed inside, begging to be released.
The fact was, Travis Chilani couldn’t be trusted. His last name assured that he couldn’t be trusted, and he wanted him nowhere near Sarafina for that reason alone.
But it wasn’t that easy. He couldn’t waltz up to her and tell her why she should maintain her distance from any member of the Chilani family, Lily included. She would look at him like horns were sticking out of his hair and like he was a little crazy in the head. Questions would be asked, suspicions would arise, and his cover would be blown.
The best thing he could do was wipe her from his memory. Forget she ever existed. She was merely another female that would complain in his ear that he didn’t talk enough, or that he worked too much, or he didn’t show her enough affection. Just another woman.
His eyes zoomed to her again as she continued making her rounds around the ballroom, talking, laughing, and enjoying herself. Most from the Chilani family or connections to the family.
Damn his concern for her. Not only protective-like either. How much knowledge did she have of the family? What if she knew all about their operations? Was she dating Travis? Was she aware of what happened behind closed doors? Could he extract all of his intel he needed from her?
Her face lit up with delight as she laughed at what her companion said, a halo of innocence surrounding her.
How could he use her to complete his job? He didn’t want to believe she could be involved or have any knowledge about these people. Pretending ignorance would be best. He wasn’t sure he’d have the gumption to slap a pair of handcuffs on her.
No. He knew he couldn’t. Without much effort, she had carved her way into his heart, ramming a stake in with clear velocity. He barely knew her, but he cared about her. Cared about keeping her out of trouble.
“Why are you over here brooding by yourself?” Ryan asked, taking a sip of his drink as he took a spot next to Dax leaning against the wall.
“Not brooding, observing.”
“Definitely brooding. I know brooding when I see it, especially when it comes from you.”
Dax’s eyes sliced to Ryan, arching a brow with amazement. “When it comes to me, huh? And how would you know?”
“Four years of rooming together in college. I do believe we learned the ins and outs of each other pretty well. I know when you’re brooding, and I know when it has to do with a female. Why haven’t you been attached to Fina like I thought you’d be?”
“I’m here to work. Plus, she doesn’t seem to care that I’m not over by her. What’s her relationship with Travis?”
Ryan took another sip before responding. “I don’t believe there is one. She’s close to the family. That’s all.”
“Looked to me like there was a lot more than being close to the family.”
“Well, if you’re not looking for a woman, especially Sarafina, why do you care?”
Dax tore his eyes away from her, not caring where he directed his stare, as long as it wasn’t on her. “I don’t care.”
“What happened to you after college? I tried to call you a few times, but you always ignored me. I would like to agree when you tell people we simply lost touch, but it was more like you dropped off the face of the earth.”
Dax took a deep breath, then downed the rest of his champagne. “Not the place for that kind of conversation.”
“After my honeymoon, let’s have a beer and talk.”
“I thought you were pissed at me for ruining your wedding.”