Too Close
The music changed.
A lively beat filled the mansion, and almost immediately, several guests began clapping along.
Purvi stood beside Isabella, watching the dancers with an amused smile.
She had never imagined a sangeet could be this grand.
The De Luca mansion had been transformed into something almost magical.
Golden lights reflected against the polished marble floors while flowers decorated every corner.
Purvi was enjoying herself.
Until Isabella grabbed her hand.
“Come on.”
Purvi blinked.
“Where?”
“The dance floor.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Isabella, I don’t know the steps.”
“You don’t need to.”
Purvi laughed.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
Before Purvi could protest, Isabella pulled her toward the center of the room.
Several guests cheered.
Purvi covered her face.
“Oh no.”
Isabella laughed.
“Stop being shy!”
“I’m not shy!”
“You absolutely are.”
Purvi shook her head, laughing as the music grew louder.
At the edge of the room, Vincenzo watched them.
His expression remained indifferent.
At least, that was what everyone thought.
Alessandro stood beside him with a drink in his hand.
“You should dance.”
Vincenzo didn’t look at him.
“No.”
“Why?”
“I don’t dance.”
Alessandro smirked.
“You don’t do a lot of things.”
“Correct.”
“Like smiling.”
Vincenzo gave him a cold look.
Alessandro laughed.
“Relax.
It’s a celebration.”
“It’s noise.”
“It’s your wife’s celebration.”
Vincenzo’s gaze shifted toward the dance floor.
Purvi was laughing.
Her red sari moved gracefully as she danced with Isabella.
The golden embroidery caught the light every time she turned.
Vincenzo stared for a second longer than necessary.
Then he looked away.
“She’s enjoying herself.”
Alessandro raised an eyebrow.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“That’s all?”
Vincenzo looked at him.
“What else should there be?”
Alessandro smiled.
“Nothing.”
Purvi was beginning to relax.
She had stopped worrying about whether she looked foolish and was now laughing freely as Isabella taught her the steps.
“Like this!”
Isabella moved her hands.
Purvi copied her.
“Like that?”
“Exactly!”
Purvi spun around.
The guests clapped.
She laughed.
Then Isabella grabbed both of Purvi’s hands.
“Now we’re going to do the turn.”
“What turn?”
“You’ll see.”
“Isabella—”
Too late.
Isabella spun Purvi.
Once.
Twice.
Purvi laughed as the room blurred around her.
“Stop!”
Isabella laughed.
“One more!”
“Isabella!”
Purvi spun again.
And then—
She lost her balance.
Her foot slipped against the smooth floor.
Her eyes widened.
“Oh!”
The next thing she knew, she wasn’t falling.
Strong arms had caught her.
The music continued.
But for Purvi, everything seemed to stop.
She was against Vincenzo.
His arm was firmly around her waist.
His other hand had caught her arm.
Her face was inches from his chest.
Purvi looked up.
Vincenzo looked down.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither spoke.
His expression was different.
Not cold.
Not irritated.
Something else.
Something Purvi couldn’t identify.
She could feel his grip around her waist.
Firm.
Protective.
Almost possessive.
Her heart skipped.
“Vincenzo…”
His eyes remained fixed on hers.
“You could have been hurt.”
Purvi swallowed.
“I didn’t fall.”
“Because I caught you.”
“I know.”
Neither moved.
The music continued around them.
People were still dancing.
But Vincenzo seemed completely unaware of them.
His gaze dropped briefly.
Then back to her eyes.
Something tightened inside him.
Why was she this close?
Why could he feel her breathing?
Why did her perfume suddenly seem so distracting?
And why did he have the ridiculous urge to keep holding her?
His jaw clenched.
He released her abruptly.
Too abruptly.
Purvi stumbled half a step before regaining her balance.
Vincenzo stepped back.
“Be careful.”
His voice was cold again.
Purvi stared at him.
“I was.”
“No, you weren’t.”
“I was dancing.”
“You were spinning around like a child.”
Her eyebrows lifted.
“A child?”
“Yes.”
Purvi frowned.
“You caught me.”
“And?”
“Nothing.”
“Then stop looking at me like that.”
She blinked.
“Like what?”
“Like you’re expecting something.”
Purvi stared at him.
“I’m not expecting anything.”
“Good.”
He turned away.
Purvi watched him.
Something about his reaction confused her.
He had caught her.
He had held her as though letting her fall wasn’t an option.
Then he’d pushed her away as if touching her had offended him.
She shook her head.
Men.
Alessandro had witnessed everything.
He slowly walked toward his brother.
“Interesting.”
Vincenzo didn’t even turn.
“Don’t.”
“I haven’t said anything.”
“You were about to.”
Alessandro grinned.
“You caught her pretty quickly.”
“Anyone would have.”
“Maybe.”
“And don’t start imagining things.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t need to.”
Alessandro took a sip of his drink.
“Your hand was around her waist.”
Vincenzo’s eyes narrowed.
“She was falling.”
“You looked angry.”
“I was.”
“At her?”
Vincenzo paused.
“At the situation.”
Alessandro smiled.
“Of course.”
Vincenzo turned toward him.
“Go bother someone else.”
Alessandro laughed.
“You’re impossible.”
“And yet you’re still here.”
“Unfortunately, you’re my brother.”
“Tragic.”
Across the room, Isabella rushed back to Purvi.
“Are you okay?”
Purvi nodded.
“Yes.”
“I’m so sorry!”
“It’s fine.”
“I didn’t mean to spin you that hard.”
Purvi laughed.
“I know.”
Isabella glanced toward Vincenzo.
Then back at Purvi.
“You know…”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Purvi narrowed her eyes.
“What?”
Isabella smiled.
“Your husband caught you.”
“Yes.”
“And he looked terrified.”
Purvi frowned.
“Vincenzo doesn’t get terrified.”
“Exactly.”
Purvi looked toward him.
He was speaking with Alessandro now, his expression back to its usual coldness.
“You imagined it.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did.”
Isabella laughed.
“Fine.”
She grabbed Purvi’s hand again.
“Come on.”
“Where?”
“Back to dancing.”
Purvi hesitated.
“What if I fall again?”
Isabella grinned.
“Then your six-foot-seven husband will catch you again.”
Purvi’s cheeks warmed.
“Isabella!”
“What?”
“Stop.”
Isabella laughed and pulled her back onto the dance floor.
Vincenzo saw her return.
His eyes followed her before he could stop himself.
He immediately looked away.
This was ridiculous.
She was simply dancing.
She was his wife because of a contract.
Nothing more.
He had made that perfectly clear.
So why was he watching her?
Why had his body reacted before his mind when she fell?
Why had holding her felt—
He stopped the thought.
No.
He wasn’t going there.
He had spent years building walls around himself for a reason.
He didn’t need complications.
And Purvi was already becoming one.
“Vincenzo.”
His mother’s voice broke through his thoughts.
He turned.
Serafina stood beside him.
Her expression was calm, but her eyes were fixed on Purvi.
“Yes?”
“You should be careful.”
Vincenzo frowned.
“About what?”
Serafina looked toward his wife.
“About letting her get too comfortable.”
His expression hardened.
“Purvi isn’t doing anything.”
“She’s already changed the atmosphere of this house.”
“So?”
“So remember why you married her.”
Vincenzo’s jaw tightened.
“I remember.”
“A contract.”
“Exactly.”
Serafina nodded.
“Good.”
She walked away.
Vincenzo looked back toward the dance floor.
Purvi was laughing again.
For some reason, his mother’s words didn’t reassure him.
Instead, they irritated him.
Because he already knew why he had married Purvi.
He knew exactly what their arrangement was.
But what bothered him was the fact that, for one brief moment tonight, when she had fallen into his arms…
He hadn’t thought about the contract at all.
And that was precisely what frightened him.