“This place is beautiful.” Nina sighed as she looked around.
“Thank you.” She looked up at Brian in surprise.
“This is your house?”
“Yes. I bought it three years ago.” He let her go as she stepped back from him, suspicion on her face.
“What exactly do you do for a living, Brian?”
“I’m CEO of a gaming production company.” Her suspicion growing, Nina motioned for him to elaborate. “My father was Tom Guidice. Of Guidice Games. I own and run the company now.”
“Holy sh*t.” Nina’s hands flew up to cover her mouth as she swore. Brian laughed, stepping forward to pull her hands away from her face, threading his fingers through hers. Shocked, she didn’t resist. “You’re Brian Guidice? The Brian Guidice? Billionaire CEO of the best game design company in America? That Brian Guidice?”
He suddenly looked uncomfortable, shrugging wryly. “I prefer just being Brian, but yes. I’m that Brian Guidice.”
“Man, if I had known I was coming here tonight, I would have brought my copy of Ark’s Roses for you to autograph.” Nina huffed irritably and Brian looked down at her in surprise.
“You’re a gamer?”
“Not as much as I used to be. I used to game with my sister.” Nina bit her lip. “We don’t really speak anymore.” Brian nodded, but didn’t pry and Nina was inexplicably grateful for his understanding. Deciding to change the subject, she turned to look into the ballroom, where the glittering assemblage was still mingling.
“You could have warned me that I needed to dress up. If I’d known I’d be coming to a party full of billionaire players I would’ve worn something more appropriate than this old dress.”
“You look beautiful.” Brian’s voice was husky. Nina felt his hand tugging gently and turned to face him. She looked up at him, admiring his long, dark lashes in contrast with his light hair. Her head swam as they stared at each other, getting lost in the depths of their eyes.
Nina bit her lip, watching as Brian’s gaze was drawn to the motion, his pupils dilating. Her breath caught. He’s going to kiss me, she thought, then: I’m going to let him, as her eyelids fluttered closed, and she lifted her lips to meet his.
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“Brian, stop. We can’t. I can’t.” She pushed against his shoulders and Brian stepped back immediately.
“I’m sorry, Nina. I didn’t mean to get so carried away.” He reached out to cup her face, running his thumb over her swollen lips. Nina turned her face into his hand, unable to stop herself planting a kiss on his palm. She reached up to take his hand.
“Walk me to my car?”
“You don’t have to go.”
“I think we both know I do. Before this gets way beyond what either of us is ready for.” Brian looked down at her, his expression inscrutable.
“You’re not like other women, are you, Nina Jacobs?”
“I sincerely hope not, Brian Guidice.” She smirked at him and he laughed out loud, delighted with her honesty.
“I’d like to see you again, if you don’t mind?”
“Really? Why?” Nina frowned at him, puzzled by his apparent interest.
“I like you, Nina. You’re a breath of fresh air in a world full of pretentious fools who think that because I have money, I’m an easy meal ticket.”
“Damn. There go my plans to get a fancy dinner at a five-star restaurant out of you,” Nina teased him gently and Brian laughed again. She decided that she liked seeing him laugh, and that she wanted to tease him more often.
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“I’m free next Saturday. Why don’t you come round to my place? I’ll make dinner.”
It was Brian’s turn to look puzzled. “Don’t you want to go out for a meal?”
“Brian, I’m a simple girl at heart. Besides, I’ve already seen your house – which is stunning, by the way. It seems only fair that you come round to my place.” Nina didn’t add that she wanted him to see her house, to recognize that although comfortable, she would never have the kind of wealth he did. Would never be able to mingle with the sort of people he considered friends, because she simply didn’t have the same level of wealth and worldly experience.
Her Mama had always said that money didn’t buy class, but Nina knew without a doubt that the people that Brian and his family were used to associating with would soon mean he’d lose interest in her.
As he walked her to her car and promised to be in touch, Nina couldn’t help the slight pang of disappointment at the knowledge that her romance with Brian Guidice would be over before it even properly began.