Chapter 29: Intense Vibe
Isabella’s POV
The music kept pounding around us.
People were dancing. Laughing. Drinking.
But it felt like the entire club had faded into the background.
All I could see was him.
Enzo stood way too close. Close enough that if I leaned forward even a little, I would bump into his chest.
Which, unfortunately, looked very solid.
Very warm.
Very distracting.
I crossed my arms tighter. “You scared him off.”
“He scared easily.”
“He was fine until you showed up looking like a mafia documentary.”
His mouth twitched slightly.
Not a smile.
But close.
“I did not threaten him.”
“You did not need to. You have the personality of a loaded weapon.”
“That is not inaccurate.”
I stared at him.
He stared right back.
Those dark eyes dragged slowly down my body again.
Not subtle.
Not polite.
My stomach flipped.
“You done?” I asked.
“Not yet.”
“Take a picture. It lasts longer.”
“I do not need a picture.”
My cheeks warmed.
Annoying.
Very annoying.
“Why are you here, Enzo?” I asked.
“I told you. A meeting.”
“In the loudest club in the city.”
“Yes.”
“With alcohol.”
“Yes.”
“With half-naked women.”
His gaze flicked to my dress again.
“You are proving my point.”
I rolled my eyes. “You are impossible.”
“And you are reckless.”
“I am dancing.”
“In that dress.”
“Yes.”
He leaned slightly closer.
Close enough that I caught the scent of his cologne. Dark. Clean. Dangerous.
My brain immediately betrayed me.
“You are doing it on purpose,” he said quietly.
“Doing what?”
“Testing me.”
I scoffed. “You think everything is about you.”
His voice dropped lower.
“You walked into this place knowing I would lose my mind seeing you like this.”
“I did not even know you would be here!”
“But now that I am,” he said, “you keep looking at me.”
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
He was not wrong.
That made it worse.
“I looked twice,” I said.
“You looked five times.”
“You were counting?”
“Yes.”
Of course he was.
Control freak.
I shook my head and turned to grab another drink from the bar.
Bad idea.
Because Enzo stepped closer behind me.
Too close.
His body barely brushed mine, but the contact shot heat straight through my spine.
I froze.
He noticed.
Of course he noticed.
His voice came low near my ear.
“You should not stand this close to me.”
My breath hitched.
“You are the one standing close.”
“Because if I stand farther away,” he said quietly, “some other idiot will.”
I turned to face him again.
Big mistake.
Now there was barely any space between us.
“Why do you care?” I asked.
His jaw tightened.
“I told you.”
“Protection?”
“Yes.”
“That is the worst excuse I have ever heard.”
“It is the safest one.”
That made my chest tighten.
“You punched someone in my living room,” I said softly. “You do not get to pretend you are calm and reasonable.”
His eyes darkened.
“He insulted you.”
“He barely spoke!”
“He looked at you wrong.”
I blinked.
“That is insane.”
“Yes.”
At least he admitted it.
We stood there for a moment.
The music changed to something slower.
More rhythmic.
More dangerous.
A couple brushed past us while dancing and bumped into me slightly.
Enzo’s hand moved instantly.
Straight to my waist.
Steadying me.
My breath caught.
His fingers were warm against my skin.
Firm.
Possessive.
Neither of us moved.
His eyes dropped to where his hand was resting.
Then back to my face.
“See?” he murmured. “This place is chaos.”
“You are literally part of the chaos.”
“Maybe.”
His hand did not move.
Not even a little.
“Enzo.”
“Yes.”
“You are still touching me.”
“I know.”
“Remove your hand.”
He looked like he was considering it.
Then his grip tightened slightly instead.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“You are not helping your case,” I whispered.
“I am not trying to win a case.”
“What are you trying to do?”
His eyes held mine.
“I am trying not to do something reckless.”
My stomach flipped again.
“Like what?”
His gaze dropped to my lips.
Then slowly back to my eyes.
“Like kissing you in the middle of this dance floor.”
My breath stopped.
Completely.
“You would not,” I whispered.
“Do not test me tonight.”
The heat in his voice sent a shiver down my arms.
I swallowed.
“You said you had a meeting.”
“I did.”
“And?”
“It ended five minutes ago.”
My pulse sped up.
“So why are you still here?”
His answer came immediately.
“You.”
Dangerous answer.
Very dangerous.
I shook my head, trying to regain some control.
“This is a bad idea.”
“Yes.”
“You are trouble.”
“Yes.”
“You just admitted you are worse than the men here.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you still standing so close?”
For a moment he did not answer.
His thumb moved slightly against my waist.
Small movement.
Big effect.
His voice lowered.
“Because walking away from you is harder than it should be.”
My heart betrayed me again.
Completely.
I took a slow breath.
“You should try.”
His eyes searched mine.
“You first.”
Silence stretched between us.
Heavy.
Charged.
Neither of us moved.
Neither of us stepped back.
And that was the problem.
Because the longer we stood there…
The more it felt like neither of us wanted to.