He was so hot, with his burnished copper hair and tall, lean body. Like fucking surface of the sun hot.

And nervous. Or maybe just awkward.

I had the feeling he was also a bit of a stick in the mud. He didn’t apologize for looking at my mostly-naked body – hell, I’d have been insulted if he had since I was putting on a show just for him – but he also didn’t act on the desire I clearly saw in his eyes.

Those eyes. I’d thought they were hazel at first, but when he’d come closer, I realized they were a dark, rich green.

I wondered what his name was.

I wondered who he was here with.

I also wondered why he was standing there looking like he wanted to run the hell away from me, even though he seemed to want to touch me at the same time.

“Are you here with anybody?” I closed the distance between us with slow, measured steps, stopping when I was less than a foot away. I reached up and caught the lapel of his jacket, rubbed the satin of it under my thumb. It was a nice suit. He wore it well. Not every man could wear a suit like this guy did, no matter how expensive the cut or how much he’d paid a tailor.

Despite how reserved I suspected he was, he exuded a strength and confidence that told me his serious nature didn’t mean he was a pushover. That was good. I didn’t find that sort of men attractive.

I’d been told on more than one occasion that I was a bit intimidating.

As I moved a breath of an inch closer, waiting for his answer, he didn’t look particularly intimidated. Cautious, yes. But it was the sort of caution that made me want to grab it and strip it away – destroy it.

Caution had never been my strong suit, and I didn’t see why anybody else really bothered with it. Piety had always been my anchor, keeping me from going too far, but she had new people in her life to worry about, which meant I got to fly a little freer.

His eyes dipped to my mouth, and I was overcome by the urge to kiss him. Bite him, right on the lower curve of his full, very bitable mouth.

But he still hadn’t answered the question of whether he was there with somebody, and even my impulsive nature would wait for that. I didn’t have a lot of rules, but there was one very clear, very firm one.

I didn’t cheat, and I didn’t touch guys who were cheaters.

Okay, so that was technically two, but they went together, so I only counted it as one.

“Are you?” I asked again, easing in closer.

He blinked, looking confused. “Am I what?”

Nice to know he wasn’t as unaffected as he seemed.

“Here with somebody.” I tugged on the lapel of his jacket, impatient now.

His pupils spiked, and that just added to the intoxicating, surreal beauty of his eyes. He reached up and covered my hand with his, the roughened skin catching me off-balance. I wouldn’t have expected callouses from someone so refined-looking.

“I’m here with you.”

The words were a rough rasp against my skin, but I shook my head, needing my answer before I could let myself completely swoon. “Either you’re being difficult, or you’re a serious flirt. I meant, did you bring a date?”

He blinked then, and his eyes cleared.

He shook his head. “No. I’m not...here with anyone, I mean.” He started to take a step back.

“Okay.” I tightened my grip on his lapel to keep him from going anywhere and leaned closer. “Where are you going?” I purred.

“Didn’t you say you had to be going somewhere?” His voice was gruff, eyes still so dark, I could have gotten lost in them. “Didn’t you say you had a friend waiting for you?”

“I do.” Lifting a shoulder, I placed a free hand on his chest, just inside the material of his suit jacket. I could feel the heat of him, the firm muscle, and I wanted to feel more. “She’s a good friend. She can wait for a few minutes.”

“Wait for what?”

His heart thudded against my palm, and his eyes locked on mine. I had a feeling if I moved in any closer, I’d feel his cock, hard and erect against my stomach.

But…if I did do that, he’d probably jerk back, ending our game.

And I was having so much fun.

“I’m supposed to be playing hostess with her.” Lifting a shoulder in a casual shrug, I edged in as much as I dared. “This is the kind of thing that I hate about parties. I’m more comfortable talking to people one on one…getting to know them.”

I dropped my gaze to his mouth then, wondering how long I’d have to wait before he’d make his move. A moment later, one hand came up and gripped my hip.

One corner of his mouth tipped upward. “Has anybody ever told you that you’re a menace to civilized society?”

The words startled a laugh out of me, and I threw back my head, delighted at the very idea. Seconds passed before I was able to control myself enough to respond. And the first time...

“I’m a menace–”

Laughter overtook me again.

The hand on my hip tightened.

That movement was enough to jerk me back to the present. If I wasn’t one hundred percent certain it would have sent him running, I would have been all over him, climbed him like a tree.

“What’s so funny?” he demanded.

“It’s not funny.” Grinning up at him, I corrected, “It’s flattering.”

A frowned furrowed his brow, and he shook his head. “Flattering?”

“I’m supposed to smooth things over and keep the conversation going. Be supportive and smile in all the right places. You know, be everything a good little wife should be.” I stopped, realizing he might think the wrong thing. “Not that I’m married. Mom might be giving up on that, but according to her, that’s just what a woman like me does. I go to college, get a completely useless degree that sounds socially acceptable, but I never do anything with it before I get married.”

He looked a little dazed by my impromptu speech.

It wasn’t the first time I cause that kind of reaction.

My occasional word avalanche had knocked more than a few people for a loop.

“I take it that you’re not planning on getting married then.” He rubbed at his temple as he spoke and looked around.

I wondered if he was looking for an escape.

“I might.” Wiggling my eyebrows at him, I asked, “Are you proposing?” With another playful tug on his collar, I quickly assured him, “I’m teasing. I shouldn’t, I know. You gave me a compliment. A ‘hazard’...no, I’m sorry...’a menace to civilized society.’ I think that’s completely delightful.”

Something in his eyes softened at that.

And part of me wished I’d never started down this tangling trail of babble. Because I knew that look.

Understanding.

It wasn’t quite the same thing I felt the first time I’d met Piety, but it was…it almost felt like it was a connection.

“I guess it’s better to be a menace than to be a bore.” Rough fingers closed around my wrist, and I shivered when he pressed his thumb against my pulse. “Somehow, I don’t think that’s anything you’ve ever been accused of, being a bore, I mean.”

“No.” He was stroking my wrist now. Did he even know he was doing that?

I had no idea why, but it was amazing how such a small, simple touch managed to affect the state of my knees.

“I need to get going.” His gaze dropped to my mouth again.

But he let go of my wrist.

“Yes. I’m sure. But…”

He wasn’t walking out of here as quick as that, I decided.

He hesitated at my words, clearly waiting, for what I didn’t know, but something. What the hell. Rising to my toes, I curved my hand over the back of his neck and tugged.

If he was at all reluctant, it sure as hell didn’t show.

His mouth met mine, hard, firm, certain.

Licking at the seam of his lips, I hummed in surprise at the taste of him as he opened his mouth. For somebody who seemed so proper and rigid, he tasted wild...dangerous. And so fucking good. Coffee, chocolate, and something that could only be defined as him.

He slid his tongue along mine, one big hand coming up to cup my cheek, adjusting the angle of my head as his long fingers caressed my skin. The feel sent a shiver racing through me.

More…

I curled my hand in his shirt as the kiss deepened. His teeth scraped across my top lip first, then my bottom, each one making me moan. The sounds seemed to spur him on, and he tangled his hand in my wig, threatened to dislodge it. I did some exploring of my own, yanking at his shirt until I could finally touch him. Skin stretched hot and tight across lean muscles, and I felt a shudder wrack him as I skimmed both palms up his sides. I was pretty sure he had at least a six pack. Maybe eight.

“…you in there?”

The voice didn’t penetrate.

“Oh. Well. I guess you are in here.”

My mystery man froze, his mouth a breath above mine, his breaths coming as fast and harsh as my own.

“She’ll go away if we ignore her,” I said, staring into his eyes.

But he shook his head and pulled away. While I stared at him, he smoothed a hand over his hair, settling it into place. I watched as he adjusted his jacket, fixed his shirt.

It took him less time to fix the damage than it had taken me to cause it.

Feeling a curious gaze on me, I finally looked past him and found myself staring at a woman who was vaguely familiar. A smile quirked at her lips, and she inclined her head. “Hello.”

“Hi.”

If she wanted anything more than that, she should have waited until…I don’t know, when he and I were done.

The thought startled me. What did I mean by done? Had I seriously been considering having a quickie with a stranger in my best friend’s father’s office while dressed as a mermaid?

That was a bit much, even for me.

I pulled away from him, reaching up to adjust my wig.

“Let me help,” he offered.

I sidestepped when he reached for me. “I’ve got it.”

I didn’t know why I felt so put out. It wasn’t like I’d planned on coming in here and having some hot guy walk in so I could put the moves on him.

Turning on my heel, I headed into the bathroom tucked off the side of the library. I didn’t precisely storm away, but I wasn’t exactly all grace and sex appeal, either.

Behind me, I could hear him talking to the woman in a low voice, and I hurriedly fixed the damage he’d done to my wig. Still, even though I’d done a haphazard job, I came out just as they passed through the door.

“Jerk,” I muttered.

He walked in on me, kissed me–

“All right, I kissed him,” I admitted to myself. Still, it wasn’t like he’d been an unwilling participant.

He’d been more than into it. I could still feel the press of his fingers, the heat of his skin.

And he’d just walked out like that?

Like hell.

Hurrying out the door, I moved as quick as a mermaid skirt would let me. It wasn’t very fast, but it was the least I could do.

I caught sight of him just before the crowd in the ballroom would have swallowed him whole and locked on that position. By the time I cut through the crowds, I had a blistering comment on my lips.

Then I saw who he was talking to and that comment died.

He was talking to Silas. Or maybe Piety. Or both?

Yes, definitely both.

And the woman who’d interrupted us was also there.

Piety caught sight of me and waved, beckoning me over in a way that made it clear if I ducked her, she’d hunt me down. Resigned, I started in her direction and even managed to smile as she gushed over my costume the moment I reached her side.

She’d done as I’d suggested and dressed up as Belle from Beauty and the Beast, and she looked amazing.

“Where’s the Beast?” I asked lightly, ignoring the burning gaze of my annoying mystery man just a few inches away.

“Oh, he’s off somewhere.” Piety rolled those expressive eyes of hers. “He loves parties, but he doesn’t love this part. Can’t say I blame him.”

This part. I knew exactly what she meant. She and I had been raised for this part, and both of us were good at getting people to open their wallets.

“Let me introduce you,” she said, easing right back into the conversation she’d been having before. “You know Sondra Thatcher, right?”

The name clicked, and I met the level eyes of the woman who’d walked in on me and the hot guy. “Of course, Senator Thatcher. How are you?”

“I’m afraid you’ve got me on the name.” She gave me a polite smile without any indication of where she’d seen me before. “You look familiar, but I can’t quite place you.”

“I imagine you meet a lot of people, Senator,” I said vaguely, refusing to feel insulted that she hadn’t realized she was at my fundraiser. Okay, not mine entirely. But Piety and I had set it up together. Granted, Piety’s name was more well-known than mine, but the Traore and Van Pelt families were both staples in Philadelphia society.

Piety rushed to fill the silence as I looked over at the quiet man at my side, but he wasn’t looking at me. He actually was speaking to Silas. Quite intently too.

Senator Thatcher said something to me, and I made a half-hearted response, but I was more focused on Silas and the man who’d yet to be introduced. I wanted to know why he was here, how he knew Senator Thatcher. I’d always been a curious person, but he’d gone beyond piquing my interest. He intrigued me.

“…how many do you think you’ll have when you’re at full capacity?” Silas asked.

“I’m hoping for thirty. It’s not much, but rehab works better when there’s time for one on one, when the people we’re trying to help can get to know each other and the support staff. That’s a crucial step in getting better, I’ve always thought.”

Piety’s father nodded. “It sounds like you’ve put a great deal of thought into this, Dash. Shame you’re starting on the West Coast. I’d love to have a place like that near here. But make sure I get your contact information. I’d be happy to give a donation.”

Two things hit me at once. Donation. Dash.

His name was Dash, and he was here for a donation. At my fundraiser.

What the hell?

This was my fundraiser, mine and Piety’s, and some senator from California showed up with this guy and started soliciting for funds? Who the hell did that?

“Now that you’ve gotten your hand out,” I interrupted, smiling brightly. “Are you interested in hearing about the shelter this fundraiser is actually for?”

Two pairs of eyes turned toward me, only one set of them amused.

Silas patted my shoulder. “I’ve already given Piety a check, sweetheart. Are you going to twist my arm for another one?”

“You’ve thrown open your home and donated more than once, Congressman. You know me better than that.” I kissed his cheek before focusing back on the other man.

He was finally looking at me again, his expression unreadable.

“How about you?” With a falsely bright smile, I met his eyes. “Are you interested in what we’re doing here, or did you just come to sell your own idea?”

There was a flash in his eyes, gone too quickly for me to identify. Then, slowly, a red flush crept up his cheeks. “I’m happy to hear about your cause.”

That look in his eyes, followed by the blush was…disappointing. No denial, but no apology either. He’d totally just asked my best friend’s wealthy father for a donation at someone else’s fundraiser. In front of the people throwing said fundraiser.

Without blinking, I turned and grabbed one of the flyers from the table next to us. Slapping it against Dash’s chest, I said, “Here. Have fun.”

Then I turned and ducked into the crowd. I heard Piety saying something behind me, but I didn’t stop.

I didn’t know why I was so upset.

But I was.

I most definitely was.