Read Online Love by Chance (A Contemporary Romance) by Debra Elizabeth - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Debra Elizabeth
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running a successful business. In three years she had taken an obscure little solar company and turned it into a multi-million dollar operation. At the next stockholder’s meeting she planned to unveil her identity, but not tonight. Tonight was all about enjoying the mystery and intrigue of a masquerade ball.
In the car, Alysa tried hard not to think about work, at least for the next few hours, but that was easier said than done. She pulled her phone out of her drawstring purse and checked her email.
She scrolled through the messages. “Good, nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow.”
“Did you say something, Ms. Stevens?”
Alysa looked up at her limo driver. “No, sorry John. Was talking to myself again.”
John nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
By the time she got to her destination, the ball was crowded with every who’s who of Hampton’s society. She handed her invitation to the gentleman at the door and made her way to the ballroom. It wasn’t hard to pick out some of the society women even behind their masks, but that was intentional. They wanted to be known and have their names dropped in the society pages.
The room was aglow with light from the multiple crystal chandeliers cleaned and shined to perfection, the orchestra was playing and the dance floor was filled with bodies in every costume imaginable. It was a magnificent sight—beautiful women in shimmering silk ball gowns and masks of every color being escorted around the floor by mysterious masked men. A slight smile curved Alysa’s lips as she kept to the edges of the room and made her way over to the bar that was set up in one of the wide alcoves.
“Champagne, please,” she told the bartender.
“Perhaps a dance first,” said a deep, baritone voice behind her.
Alysa turned around and came face-to-face with a dashing figure straight out of the pages of history, standing in front of her. He was dressed all in black except for the white shirt with cuffs that peeked out from his jacket sleeves. Even his black boots were shined to perfection. His light brown hair was longish and brushed against the shirt collar. She took her time admiring his strong jaw line and full lips.
“Good evening, d’Artagnan, it would be my pleasure.”
The stranger, dressed as the most famous of the Three Musketeers, removed his hat and bowed with a flourish of his hand. “My Lady Constance, you honor me.”
Alysa took his hand and instantly felt a tingle run up her spine. Dancing green eyes peered out of his mask as he folded his fingers around hers. His smile was engaging and though she’d not had anything to drink, a rush of lightheadedness threatened to overwhelm her. It was easy to smile in return at this mysterious man.
They moved onto the dance floor and the orchestra struck up a waltz. His hand went to the small of her back, their right hands interlocked and she breathed in his scent within their dancers’ embrace. Their bodies melded together like they had been made for each other. He was intoxicating. She hadn’t felt a rush like this in a long time, but dismissed it as the excitement and mystery of the masquerade. No matter what it was, she was going to enjoy this. It was easy to imagine the perfect romantic love story when all their identities were hidden. In the light of day though, the mysteries may not be as appealing.
The pair glided around the dance floor in perfect sync, not only to the music, but also with each other as if they had danced together for years. The crowd seemed to part for the enchanting couple who only had eyes for each other. Time had no meaning. Dance after dance they whirled around the ballroom floor.
When the orchestra stopped for a break, the handsome stranger bowed to her. “Thank you, my lady. It was my absolute pleasure to dance with you.” He turned to leave.
Alysa wasn’t sure why, but she knew she couldn’t let him go. It had been too long since she’d been intrigued by a man and she
In the car, Alysa tried hard not to think about work, at least for the next few hours, but that was easier said than done. She pulled her phone out of her drawstring purse and checked her email.
She scrolled through the messages. “Good, nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow.”
“Did you say something, Ms. Stevens?”
Alysa looked up at her limo driver. “No, sorry John. Was talking to myself again.”
John nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
By the time she got to her destination, the ball was crowded with every who’s who of Hampton’s society. She handed her invitation to the gentleman at the door and made her way to the ballroom. It wasn’t hard to pick out some of the society women even behind their masks, but that was intentional. They wanted to be known and have their names dropped in the society pages.
The room was aglow with light from the multiple crystal chandeliers cleaned and shined to perfection, the orchestra was playing and the dance floor was filled with bodies in every costume imaginable. It was a magnificent sight—beautiful women in shimmering silk ball gowns and masks of every color being escorted around the floor by mysterious masked men. A slight smile curved Alysa’s lips as she kept to the edges of the room and made her way over to the bar that was set up in one of the wide alcoves.
“Champagne, please,” she told the bartender.
“Perhaps a dance first,” said a deep, baritone voice behind her.
Alysa turned around and came face-to-face with a dashing figure straight out of the pages of history, standing in front of her. He was dressed all in black except for the white shirt with cuffs that peeked out from his jacket sleeves. Even his black boots were shined to perfection. His light brown hair was longish and brushed against the shirt collar. She took her time admiring his strong jaw line and full lips.
“Good evening, d’Artagnan, it would be my pleasure.”
The stranger, dressed as the most famous of the Three Musketeers, removed his hat and bowed with a flourish of his hand. “My Lady Constance, you honor me.”
Alysa took his hand and instantly felt a tingle run up her spine. Dancing green eyes peered out of his mask as he folded his fingers around hers. His smile was engaging and though she’d not had anything to drink, a rush of lightheadedness threatened to overwhelm her. It was easy to smile in return at this mysterious man.
They moved onto the dance floor and the orchestra struck up a waltz. His hand went to the small of her back, their right hands interlocked and she breathed in his scent within their dancers’ embrace. Their bodies melded together like they had been made for each other. He was intoxicating. She hadn’t felt a rush like this in a long time, but dismissed it as the excitement and mystery of the masquerade. No matter what it was, she was going to enjoy this. It was easy to imagine the perfect romantic love story when all their identities were hidden. In the light of day though, the mysteries may not be as appealing.
The pair glided around the dance floor in perfect sync, not only to the music, but also with each other as if they had danced together for years. The crowd seemed to part for the enchanting couple who only had eyes for each other. Time had no meaning. Dance after dance they whirled around the ballroom floor.
When the orchestra stopped for a break, the handsome stranger bowed to her. “Thank you, my lady. It was my absolute pleasure to dance with you.” He turned to leave.
Alysa wasn’t sure why, but she knew she couldn’t let him go. It had been too long since she’d been intrigued by a man and she
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