Mr. Imperfect

chapter 58



“I like this one,” Anton said, his hand lightly stroking the shape Rori had sculpted based on her own hips. “So sensual. It makes me eager to be inside you.”

Or any woman, Rori amended, her eyes drawn to the other set of hips in the piece before looking away to where Mike and Chloe had just been stealing kisses. Had he been keeping Chloe in the wings the entire time? Even with all his talk of fidelity the night before?

No, even in her anger Rori couldn’t get herself to believe that. Besides, it was obvious watching them that Chloe was the one making all the moves while Mike seemed more flustered than anything.

Anton noticed the direction of her gaze and followed it.

“I see,” he said, his voice calm, refined. “The man with the camera, yes? Are you f*cking him?” He ran a finger down the curve of her hip on the sculpture. “Am I looking at a captured moment in time here?”

“Of course not,” she said, keeping her voice as civil as his.

His dark eyes locked on hers skeptically. “No?”

“No,” she said firmly.

He looked back to the sculpture. “So just a fantasy?”

Rori managed a condescending laugh. “It is art, Anton. The intent is for each viewer sees what they will in it, and turn something general into something specific to them.”

His mouth moved into a cute little smirk. “This work is too sensual to be general, my dear. And I have made it my business to become familiar with one of the shapes in this sculpture. All I know is that the other shape is not mine, but that is not something to discuss tonight.”

“No,” she agreed, sending a smile to her agent as he led a very influential-looking couple her direction.

Another time, indeed. If ever.

“Aurora,” her agent said. “Have you met Herr and Fraulein Fenster yet?”

“Yes, in Belgium,” Rori said, switching to German even as she eyed Mike over their shoulders. “It is a pleasure to see you again.”

“You, as well,” Herr Fenster replied in German as Rori kissed the cheeks of both the husband and wife. “We are enjoying your show. It has many layers.”

“Thank you,” Rori said. “I’m sure my agent has informed you that most of the pieces are for sale.”

“Indeed he has,” Fraulein Fenster said, then turned to Anton. “And I understand we have your vineyards to thank for the delicious wine tonight.”

“Oh, you flatter me,” Anton said in flawless German. “But yes. What you hold in your hands is my labor of love.”

“It is excellent,” Herr Fenster said. “And may I be so forward to say that the two of you make a handsome couple.”

Rori glanced at Mike then, noting that he had chosen to interview one of the cuter girls in attendance. Of course he had. What was he trying to do? Rub her face in all the women he could take to bed instead of her? Well, message received.

“Well, I certainly hope so,” she heard Anton say as he pulled her against him.

That earned a smile from the couple and Rori sent a glance to her agent to let him know they were done.

“I know Francesca was asking about you, and I see her right now,” her agent said. “Let me introduce you.”

“Of course,” Herr Fenster said, and the couple was swept away.

Anton watched them leave. “Your agent is worth what you pay him.”

“Yes, he is,” Rori agreed. “Will you excuse me? I need to check in with Fredrik.”

“Of course,” Anton said, dropping a kiss on the top of her head, and even though Rori couldn’t see his eyes, she sensed that he was eyeing one of the patrons across the way.

Fine. Let him look. He would be much easier to deal with that night if he was distracted. But distraction wasn’t something Rori could allow for herself that night, and that’s what Mike Cannon was. As long as he was in the room, she wasn’t going to be able to concentrate on anyone else.

And that meant he had to go.