A Laird for All Time by Angeline Fortin (best motivational books for students .TXT) 📕

the remarkable woman,” he said softly. “I have watched you transform from this diamond in the rough to…Hope diamond. Irreplaceable. Irresistible. Irritating.” He smiled.

She laughed.

“Jeez, don’t set the bar so high,” she whispered.

The band played in the background, hand organs bel-lowing out beautiful Russian music. He smiled. “Dance with me?” he asked, urging her from her seat. His hand caressed her back.

“Alright.” Royal stood, placed her napkin in the chair and followed Dmitry to the quaint, candlelit dance floor. Again she could feel the many eyes burning through her. They all watched her like spectacle she was. It would have driven her crazy if Dmitry had not continued to steal her thoughts.

He turned to her and bowed gracefully.

“May I have this dance and every other there after?” He winked at her.

“Yes, but I have to warn you, I tend to lead.”

“So you’ve danced with many seven foot men, huh?”

“A couple,” she grinned. “Okay. You’re the first, but don’t let it go to your head.”

“Too late,” he hummed. “If I was foolish enough to omit observation earlier…you look absolutely beautiful tonight.”

“Thank you.” Royal smiled. “You do too.”

Dmitry looked regal in his black tailored suit, cut for his large lion frame. As normal, there was nothing out of place. His hair was just the right shade of blonde, his tan just the right shade of bronze, his eyes just the right shade of blue and his lips just the right shade of pink. Even more was his intoxicating cologne – a signaturefragrance that she had never smelled before meeting him, but could not forget.

He dipped his head to greet her, ever so gentle and re-fined in all of his movements. As he took her small manicured hand in his own, he pulled her close into his towering body. She slipped her hand in between the tailored shirt and satin on the inside of his jacket; gripping his marble body and feeling the heat come from under his clothes. Their bodies fused together.

Seeing Dmitry swaying softly, the band instantly stopped their upbeat tune and started a more romantic melody. The violins harmonized, tickling her ears with delicious sounds. She smiled at him as he looked down at her.

“What are you thinking now, Royal?” he asked as they swayed.

“They don’t sound nearly as good as you do, when you play.”

Dmitry grinned.

Softly, she laid her head against his body and felt his arm tighten around her waist. The guests looked on as the two danced, somehow moving with every step further into their own world, where no one else existed. Her eyes closed as she danced dizzily with the harmony of the music. He nearly hid her from the others with his massive frame. She felt safe in his embrace, protected by his presence.

The other guests soon began to move to the dance floor as well, partnering up to join in the beautiful moment. Without words, the room spoke in volumes. There was love in the air, contagious, crazy love-even if it was just for as long as the band played.

“I don’t ever want this moment to end,” Royal finally said, unsure of how Dmitry would react.

“Umm….me either, shop girl,” Dmitry hummed, hold-ing her tighter.

Minutes later, Anatoly appeared from the back room, dressed in his normal dark boot cut jeans, black boots and a black t-shirt. Obviously, he had not been invited or not accepted an invitation to the event. His hooded, brooding eyes were menacing and his walk forceful, each pace gaining momentum. Dmitry saw him from a far and stopped dancing. Royal looked over, sensing urgency as Anatoly approached. Her heart sank.

Not now, she thought.

“Excuse me for just a moment,” Dmitry said, walking away, giving her no time to respond. She stood on the dance floor alone as the others danced. The mood changed quickly. Like a king at court, all eyes followed him as he left the floor, but it was Royal who truly felt like the jester.

Anatoly spoke to Dmitry under a calm but urgent voice, gesturing something violent with his hands. Dmitry looked towards the front window and then back at the men on the floor and at the table. They all stopped talking and dancing and migrated collectively from their dates to circle around Dmitry and Anatoly.

Dmitry said something to them, then they quickly dis-persed out of the front door without bothering to inform their guests of their departure, then he walked back over to Royal, who stood clueless.

“I’m so sorry, Royal. It appears that I must excuse my-self for just a while,” he said, escorting her back to the table. His hand caressed the small of her back. “You should finish your dinner, and I’ll return shortly, if I can.” He pulled out the seat for her again. She sat down with a dumbfounded look on her face. Was he serious? He would just leave like this?

“What’s wrong?” Royal asked, concerned. “I don’t un-derstand…”

Dmitry interrupted. “A small problem with another business that I own,” he said, a little irritated by her inquiry. He bit his lip and humbled himself.

“How many businesses do you own?” There was no reply for her question. He simply pushed up her chair to the table.

“I am sorry, Royal. Stay and wait for me as long you can.” He kneeled down to make eye contact with her. “I’ll return later. Enjoy the meal that I’ve prepared for you and your guests.” He rubbed the tip of her nose with his index finger and stood back up. He could clearly see the disappointment in her eyes.

With an apology, he left the now nearly empty restau-rant. His heavy footsteps echoed across the hardwood flooras he walked out without turning around. She watched his body disappear beyond the gilded glow of the decadent room through the front door that Anatoly held open for him.

“And he’s gone just like that,” she said, absently.

∞♥∞

Royal had managed to stay and wait, despite her bewil-dered embarrassment. She was like a birthday girl at a party with no guests. All dressed up