Claudia smiled at her daughter as she held her wineglass poised before her lips. “So handsome and articulate.” “You really think so?” Stasia glanced in Gavin’s direction. He stood at the opposite end of the table, engrossed in some sort of business conversation on his cell. He’d asked for her permission to take the call earlier, a request that had surprised her, and touched her as well. He was showing polite deference, like they were a real couple and he didn’t want to disturb what should be an important night for her. Considering the meal had long been over and they were sitting around chatting outside in the darkening night, she didn’t have a problem with his taking the call. Considering he wasn’t her real boyfriend, she really shouldn’t have a problem. “Don’t play coy with me, Anastasia.” The firm tone in her mother’s voice made her jerk her gaze away from Gavin to find her mother watching her with a bemused smile. “You seem quite entranced by him.” “Well, he is, like you mentioned, handsome,”
