Modern Romance Collection: January 2018 Books 1 -4. Dani Collins
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snuggled close against his back, wound her arms around his neck.
‘Guess who?’
Natalya caught a glimpse of diamond rings, a diamond necklace, sensed a drift of exotic perfume, heard the sultry in the young woman’s voice, and felt her stomach plummet.
A friend? Lover? Mistress?
‘Stassi,’ Alexei acknowledged with a tinge of amusement as she released her hands and stepped to face him. ‘Your signature perfume is unmistakable.’
There was a light tinkle of laughter followed by a staged moue...belied by the sparkle in Stassi’s eyes as she stood on tiptoe to brush a light kiss to his cheek before turning towards Natalya. ‘And you are?’
‘Natalya,’ Alexei drawled. ‘Let me introduce you to my irrepressible cousin, Stassi.’
‘Family,’ Stassi declared. ‘So Alexei is off limits, unfortunately. Although he does duty as a partner on occasion.’ She glanced from Natalya to Alexei. ‘And you are Alexei’s...?’
‘Friend,’ Alexei declared.
‘Uh-huh. Euphemism for...?’
‘Friend,’ he drawled, undeterred by his cousin’s inquisitiveness.
‘PA,’ Natalya corrected.
Stassi smiled. ‘Business and pleasure. Interesting combination.’ She offered Alexei a teasing grin. ‘You do realise your mother is planning a family dinner in your honour? She’ll be delighted to welcome Natalya.’
Family? No, not happening. ‘I don’t think my presence would be appropriate.’
‘Alexei will do his persuasive best,’ Stassi stated with a light laugh. ‘He’s very good at it.’ A slow smile curved her lips. ‘I really must return to the parents. They have plotted to introduce me to a gorgeous man who, according to my darling mama, displays excellent potential as future husband material. Should be a fun evening.’ She kissed her fingers and playfully touched them to Alexei’s cheek. ‘Take care.’
She turned towards Natalya. ‘I’ll look forward to catching up with you again.’ With a mischievous smile she began threading her way through the numerous guests.
‘Your cousin is delightful,’ Natalya ventured politely, and caught his musing expression.
‘Yes, she is. She’s also intelligent, with a degree in criminal law. Loves life, has no intention of marrying, now or in the near future. Much to her mother’s despair.’
‘She obviously hasn’t met the right man.’
‘Is marriage so important?’
Sticky question, and not one Natalya was prepared to answer. Five years ago she would have said marriage represented a lifetime commitment, enduring love, growing a family...including qualities such as trust, faith and respect. Sharing the good and the not-so-good times together, without blame or regret.
‘No comment, Natalya?’
She managed a credible smile. ‘Much depends on one’s life plan, don’t you think?’
‘And yours is?’
‘Personal.’
For a moment she glimpsed a slight change in his expression, then it was gone, and she was left to ponder if her imagination was playing tricks.
‘Perhaps we should take our seats,’ Alexei indicated smoothly, inclining his head to a staff member waiting to escort them to their reserved table.
Society’s glitterati at its finest, Natalya noted, as she sipped an excellent French wine. Similar to, but different from, she perceived, other charity functions she’d attended in the past. For there was ample evidence of extreme wealth apparent in the women’s designer gowns, and their jewellery alone could have funded housing and food for a poor nation.
Cosmetic enhancement appeared to be de rigueur for the mature women, varying hairstyles combed and teased to within a whisper of perfection.
Nor, she suspected, was it confined to the women.
It was akin to viewing a movie on screen, where the majority of guests were actors playing a part, prepared by stylists, make-up artists, such was the achieved element of perfection.
The ballroom was enormous, and soon seated to capacity. Soft background music became almost lost to the chatter of voices as stylishly clothed wait staff ensured champagne and fine wines were replenished with reputed flair.
‘Darling Alexei,’ a female guest seated opposite at their table inclined with exquisite poise. ‘I heard you’d touched down in this part of town.’ All that was required to complete the woman’s image was a long cigarette holder, for she had the pose down pat of the lead actress who played the original role of Auntie Mame in an old movie. ‘So delighted you could grace us with your presence. But then, you have a vested interest in the nominated charity.’ Her smile held graceful interest as it settled on Natalya. ‘You’ve brought along an interesting new friend. Natalie, I believe?’
‘Natalya.’ It was easy to smile as she offered the correction.
‘Of Russian origin?’
‘It was my great-grandmother’s name.’
‘How interesting.’
Her great-grandmother’s history was interesting...the story of a family who escaped a life of poverty to settle on a distant relative’s farm in northern Europe. As a young girl of eighteen, she’d entered into an arranged marriage and bore four children...the youngest of which being Natalya’s grandmother, who’d fled to America as a teenager, found work and lodging in a Californian vineyard, borrowed a sewing machine and made children’s clothes long hours into the night. Embroidery was her specialty, and at first her exquisitely embroidered gowns sold by word of mouth, until she was encouraged to sell direct to a childrenswear shop in a nearby town. In storybook style, her grandmother had married the vintner’s son, bore two children, a girl and a boy. Sadly her husband and young son were killed in an accident together with her husband’s parents. Stricken with grief, Natalya’s grandmother attempted to run the vineyard, only to sell it within two years, and start a new life with her daughter Ivana in Australia, settling in Sydney, where she set up shop, employed minimum staff, and gradually expanded over time to export her childrenswear overseas.
Natalya’s cherished Babushka...so morally and emotionally strong. A woman who had worked every day of her life and for whom family was everything, and who left behind so many memories of love, wisdom and laughter.
‘More champagne?’
The sound of Alexei’s voice intruded, and the ballroom with its numerous guests returned in sharp focus as Natalya offered a polite smile together with a quietly voiced refusal.
Background music faded, and there was the introductory speech of welcome, followed by the purpose of the charity in question, funds raised, together with a plea for guests to be generous with their donations.
In terms of success, the event topped the scale, given the plaudits offered throughout the evening. Guests appeared at their sparkling best, the food superb and the champagne flowed.
Polite small-talk appeared to be the order of the evening...the best party a few of the society doyennes had attended, who were present, snippets of gossip, and descriptions of apparel...designer of course, and who wore it best.
Different country, another major city...familiar scenario, merely on a larger scale.
Natalya briefly compared the evening with some she had attended with her father; the increasing tension as his alcohol intake rose, and her attempt to minimise the fallout. The relief when the evening came to a close and they could leave.
Now there was tension of a different kind, arising from her emotional reaction to Alexei’s presence. Sexual sensuality...a heightened awareness that threatened her sanity. The question being...what was she going to do