Suddenly, a figure materialized before him, blocking his path. It was Martina, her blonde hair as bright as the sun amidst the swirling colors of the party.  She stood barely taller than Lorenzo's shoulder, but her stance held a fierce determination.

"Lorenzo right? Aurora's bodyguard," she said. "I am Martina Ricci, Aurora's best friend", she smiled her voice firm yet playful as if she didn't notice what he was about to do.

Lorenzo stared at her, his jaw clenched tight.  He knew he couldn't reveal the turmoil churning within him.  He couldn't believe what he was about to do, if she had not stopped him he would have really created a scene here. He inhaled a sharp breath and simply grunted a noncommittal response and attempted to go his own way.

But Martina wasn't easily dismissed.  She saw the storm brewing in his dark eyes, the tension radiating from his rigid posture.  A mischievous glint sparked in her own brown eyes.

"Don't tell me," she teased, leaning in conspiratorially.  "You're smitten with Aurora, aren't you?"

Lorenzo froze, his heart hammering in his chest.  He glared at her, his voice a low growl.  "Don't be absurd."

Before he could say another word, a wave of relief washed over him.  Aurora, having excused herself from Danielle, was gracefully navigating her way towards them.  The sight of her approaching sent a jolt through Lorenzo, a conflicting mix of relief and a strange calmness overwhelmed him.

Martina, seizing the opportunity, grabbed Aurora's arm and pulled her away from Lorenzo, a sly grin on her face.  "There you are!  I just arrived, and wouldn't you know it, I bumped into Federico Ferrari right at the entrance.  Had to catch up on old times, you know how it is."

Aurora rolled her eyes playfully, but there was a hint of concern in her voice.  "You shouldn't have skipped all the introductions just to chat with Federico.  Didn't you miss all the drama?"

Martina waved her hand dismissively.  "Drama can wait," she said, her eyes twinkling.  "Besides, I witnessed something far more interesting just now."

She leaned in conspiratorially, her voice dropping to a whisper.  "Lorenzo, here, almost tackled your dance partner in a fit of… what was it again, Lorenzo?  Undying love?"

Aurora's cheeks flushed a rosy pink at Martina's words.  Her gaze darted towards Lorenzo, searching for any sign of confirmation.  He stood there, a stoic statue, his expression unreadable.
Aurora stole a glance at Lorenzo, his face an unreadable mask. Was there a flicker of something in his eyes?  Uncertainty gnawed at her.  Martina's teasing nudge sent a spark flying through her which brought her back to reality.

"Ugh, Martina," Aurora groaned.

"you're going to bore a hole right through his head with your staring." Martina, pretending like she didn't just pinch her, threw her head back and laughed.  "Come on, Aurora, admit it!  There's something between you two.  From where I'm standing, it looks like a case of mutual pining."

Aurora scoffed.  "Pining?  Don't be ridiculous.  Lorenzo is just here as my bodyguard.  Nothing more."

"Bodyguard, huh?" Martina drawled, her voice laced with disbelief.  "Then why did he almost launch himself across the dance floor like a jealous knight in shining armor?"

Aurora's cheeks flushed a delicate pink.  She wouldn't admit it, but the image Martina conjured – Lorenzo, fierce and protective in a fit of jealousy – sent a strange thrill through her.

Suddenly, a mischievous glint appeared in Martina's eyes.  "Look, if you won't claim him, then I will!" she declared dramatically, striking a pose.  "A 6 feet tall and strong looking bodyguard like Lorenzo?  Too hot to resist!"

A flicker of anger, surprising even herself, flared in Aurora's chest.  "Martina!" she exclaimed, a touch of possessiveness in her voice.

Martina burst into laughter, the sound tinkling like wind chimes.  "Alright, alright," she conceded, wiping a tear from her eye.  "I was just teasing.  But seriously, Aurora, why not just ask him out?  Worst he can say is no, right?"

Aurora's face turned a brilliant shade of crimson, the color spreading from her cheeks to her neck and down to the delicate skin of her collarbones.  "Ask him out?" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.  "Martina, I can't just—"

"Why not?" Martina countered, her brow raised.  "You're an intelligent and pretty woman, aren't you?  Go get the man you want!"

Aurora looked down at her hands, twisting the fabric of her dress in her fingers.  The thought of asking Lorenzo out sent a wave of nervousness through her.  He was a mystery, a dark cloud with hidden depths.  Yet, there was undeniable spark between them, a tension that crackled in the air whenever they were close.

Martina's next words, however, sent a jolt of pure mortification through Aurora.  "Besides," Martina continued, a sly grin spreading across her face, "you're already… what?  Twenty-two?  And you still haven't popped your che… well, you get the picture."

Aurora's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with a mixture of embarrassment and shyness.  "Martina!" she shrieked, her voice barely above a whisper.  "How could you?"

Martina's laughter filled the air once more, a joyous sound that echoed through the opulent room.  "Alright, alright," she conceded, throwing her hands up in mock surrender.  "Truce!  I was just messing with you.  But seriously, Aurora, don't let fear hold you back.  Life's too short for what-ifs."

Aurora took a deep breath, trying to calm the frantic beating of her heart.  Martina's words stirred a flicker of courage within her.  Maybe it was time to stop playing it safe, to take a chance on the unknown.  And what was more unknown than the enigmatic Lorenzo?

Seeing as she was wavering, Martina encouraged her more even giving her a few glasses of champagne to drink saying alcohol cold boost one's moral. The alcohol buzzed in Aurora's head, a fizzy concoction fueled by Martina's encouragement and her own burgeoning courage.  Martina, ever the instigator, had whispered, "Drink up, Aurora!  Liquid courage is your friend tonight!" before disappearing into the crowd, on the hunt for her own conquest.

Now, standing alone with Lorenzo, Aurora felt a nervous energy thrumming through her veins.  She raised the flute of champagne in her hand, defiance mixing with apprehension in her eyes.  "Another one for the brooding bodyguard?" she challenged, a mischievous glint sparkling beneath her long lashes.

Lorenzo frowned, his dark eyes narrowed in disapproval.  "Signorina Moretti, you've had enough."  He reached for the glass, his intention clear.

But Aurora was beyond reasoning, emboldened by the champagne and the reckless spirit gnawing at her.  She snatched the glass away before he could touch it, the defiance in her eyes turning into a playful pout.  "Just one more, Lorenzo," she wheedled, her voice taking on a teasing lilt.  "Then I'll be good, I promise."

Lorenzo hesitated, his gaze lingering on her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes.  There was a vulnerability beneath the playful facade, a yearning that mirrored his own unspoken desires.  With a sigh, he relented, a single corner of his lip twitching in what might have been a reluctant smile.

"Just one," he conceded, motioning for a passing waiter.

As the fresh flute was filled, a spark of boldness ignited within Aurora.  She met Lorenzo's gaze, a new determination settling in her eyes.  "Dance with me, Lorenzo," she blurted out, the words tumbling from her lips before she could stop them.

Lorenzo's brow furrowed in surprise.  He had a million reasons to refuse – his duty, their professional boundaries, the sheer impossibility of a bodyguard dancing with his charge, his real reason for being here.  But as he looked into Aurora's hopeful eyes, something shifted within him.  He saw not just his employer or pawn, but a woman, beautiful and vulnerable, reaching out to him.

Just as he was about to speak, however, a voice cut through the air.  "Aurora!"

She turned to see Francesco Ricci, her high school friend and Martina's twin brother, approaching with a warm smile.  He greeted her with a light peck on the cheek, a European custom that sent a jolt of something through Lorenzo, a possessive anger he couldn't quite explain.

Francesco, a seasoned cop with a sixth sense for trouble, honed by years on the force, instantly picked up on the animosity directed at him from the man standing beside her.  "Who's this?" he inquired, his gaze flickering between them.

Aurora hesitated, a hint of unease creeping into her voice.  "This is Lorenzo," she replied, "my bodyguard."

Francesco nodded, his gaze still lingering on Lorenzo.  There was a wariness in his eyes, a cop's intuition sensing a hidden threat.  "May I have this dance, Aurora?" he asked, extending his hand.

Aurora hesitated for a while, turning her gaze towards Lorenzo as if asking for his permission, he watched her silently as a storm brewed in his eyes. Thinking he doesn't care, Aurora was about to accept Francesco's invite to the dance floor when Lorenzo held her hand.

"Scusi but she had already asked me out to dance, we were just about to go to the dance floor before you interrupted" And just like that he pulled Aurora to the dance floor leaving Francesco behind staring at them with a meaningful look.