The best accessory is confidence.
—Paige
“Head straight for the best-looking guy in the room.” Paige’s voice echoed through the speaker on Eva’s phone. “Text me his name and Jake will do a background check and see if he has any hidden habits you need to know about.”
“How can he do that? Actually, forget it, I don’t want to know.” Wrapped in a towel, Eva leaned closer to the bathroom mirror as she stroked mascara onto her lashes. “Why are you all so suspicious? You and Frankie are worse than Lucas, and that isn’t a compliment.” She slipped the mascara back into her bag and checked her reflection.
She already knew who the best-looking man in the room would be, but he was off-limits. There was chemistry, but he seemed to have no problem resisting it.
He didn’t want what she wanted. And that was why she was resisting it, too.
“You can’t be too careful, Ev.”
“Being too careful is probably the reason I haven’t had sex in so long. I’m happy to make a mistake once in a while.” But there was one mistake she wasn’t going to make, and his name was Lucas. Her hand hovered over her choice of lipsticks. “I will not be texting you and you will not be conducting illicit background checks or whatever else you have in mind. Tonight I am using that old-fashioned method of doing a check on someone. It’s called using my instincts.”
“Not sure that’s foolproof in a place like New York City.”
“Relax.” She went with a shimmery pink. “And now I have to go. I still have to get dressed.”
“What are you wearing?”
“I don’t know why you’re asking me that when we both know I only have one dress suitable for a black-tie event.”
“The black one? You look great in that.”
“We both know it’s boring, but I couldn’t afford to splurge for just a few hours. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” She turned and gave a gasp of fright.
Lucas was standing in the doorway watching her, the expression in his dark brown eyes stealing the breath from her lungs.
“Holy crap, you scared me.” She pressed her palm to her chest. “Is this another of your horror-writer party tricks? Lurking in the doorway and giving your victims a heart attack?”
He was already dressed, the fabric of his dinner jacket hugging the dense muscle of his shoulders.
“I knocked. You didn’t hear me.”
The fact that he was dressed made her all the more aware of her own seminakedness.
She clutched the towel self-consciously. “So you thought you’d come right on in anyway and make me jump out of my skin. An innovative way of skinning your victims.”
His smile connected straight to her insides.
She tried to hitch the towel higher but realized that just revealed more of her thighs. The bathroom felt too small and there was a tension in the air that hadn’t been there earlier. A slow, lethargic heat spread through her. Her nerve endings tingled and her stomach contracted into a tight knot. It was the same feeling she always had around him, but she knew she had to ignore it. “What do you want, Lucas?” Frustration made her unusually irritable.
“I bought something for you. It’s on the bed.”
She walked past him into the bedroom and stopped.
There, carefully spread out on the bed, was the blue dress she’d admired in the window.
“It’s the mermaid dress.” Her heart in her throat, she turned to look at him. “I told you I couldn’t afford it.”
“But I can, and it’s a gift. Not that I’m an expert in the whole fairy-tale approach to relationships, but when a girl meets Prince Charming,” he drawled, “I’m guessing it’s probably best not to do it while wearing a wet towel.”
He’d bought her a dress? “I already have a dress.”
“A dress that didn’t make you excited. If we’re going to this damn ball, then at least you’re going to feel excited. I’ll leave you to change.” There was a raw, sexy quality to his voice that suggested that if he didn’t he’d be helping her undress.
She stared after him for a moment and then shook her head to dispel the dizzy clouds of longing.
He’d bought her a dress. Not just a dress but the dress.
She should probably refuse, but it was gorgeous. Easily the most gorgeous thing she’d ever owned. Refusing would be rude, wouldn’t it? And the fact that he’d seen how much she wanted it, and bought it for her—
Her imagination raced, taking her pulse with it.
Why? Why had he bought it? What did it mean?
She hadn’t even realized she had tears in her eyes until she had to blink to clear her vision.
Crap.
It didn’t mean anything except that he was generous. She absolutely couldn’t get soppy about Lucas. The point of going to the ball was to meet someone, not fall for a man who didn’t want a relationship.
* * *
Lucas poured himself a drink. He knew it was going to be the first of several if he had any hope of getting through the evening ahead.
His tux felt uncomfortable, as if it belonged to someone else, but he knew the problem didn’t lie with the clothes. It lay in the woman in the next room.
“How do I look?” Eva’s voice came from behind him and he downed the whiskey in the glass and turned.
He was grateful that he’d swallowed before looking.
“You look—” His mouth dried and he licked his lips. What the hell had he done? He was finding it hard enough to keep his hands off her, and he’d just made it even harder.
“What? You were going to say something?” She stroked her palms over the curve of her hips and gave him a shy smile. “It fits perfectly.”
“Yes.” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “Good.”
“How?”
He tried to absorb the question but his brain had ceased to function normally. “How what?”
“How does it fit so perfectly? Did you drug me and measure me in your sleep? Did you steal one of my dresses and send it to the store?” She lifted her hand to her mouth, her eyes wide. “Listen to me! I’m starting to sound like you. You’ve turned me into a suspicious cynic in less time than it takes to bake a cake. Are you proud?”
He wasn’t sure what he was, but it was very uncomfortable.
“Say something.” Her hand dropped. “It isn’t easy finding clothes to fit me. I’m a weird shape. How did you do it?”
Her shape looked perfect to him.
“I called your friend Paige. As I’m officially now a client of Urban Genie, it entitles me to full concierge services. I can ask you to send flowers to my grandmother, bake me a cake or walk my dog.”
“You don’t have a dog and I just spoke to Paige a few minutes ago. She asked me what I was wearing.”
“I guess she was trying to work out if I’d given you the dress.”
She twirled, throwing him a cheeky look over her shoulder. “So what do you think? Am I going to get lucky tonight?”
He looked past the dazzle of blue to the irrepressible smile. It was a sure thing. What man in his right mind wouldn’t want to go home with her?
“I think it could happen.” And he felt a flicker of unease, because she was so willing and ready and open to love. She had no barriers, no fears, no filter.
Had he ever been that way? Maybe, before life had ripped at his hopes and sprinkled the remains around him like confetti.
“I expect you to introduce me to everyone you know. And if you’re going to score tonight yourself, you need to look extra handsome.” She stood on tiptoe and adjusted his bow tie, the soft scent of her perfume enveloping him. She smelled like summer, like a bunch of freshly picked flowers, like sunshine and long lazy days. He wanted to bury his hands in her hair and taste her mouth. And he didn’t want to stop there.
He could do it right now. He could take this thing to its natural conclusion and he was confident she’d be right there with him.
And then what? What happened afterward?
Heat rose inside him and he tried holding his breath, hoping that whatever she was doing to his bow tie, she’d get it done fast.
“I gave up ‘scoring’ in my teens.”
The backs of her fingers brushed against his throat. “I’m sure. But maybe that’s the first step forward for you.”
“Maybe I don’t want to take that step.” He couldn’t stop looking at her mouth. The lipstick she’d chosen was barely more than a shimmer, but it was enough to hold his attention. “Maybe I’m happy staying where I am.”
“Not an option, Blade. Now smile.”
“I’m going to a ball. Why would I smile?”
“Because your smile is sexier than your scowl, and for you, tonight is all about pulling women.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying that.”
“I’m your wingman. My job is to help you get the girl.” Her husky voice curled around his senses like wood smoke.
“I don’t want the girl, so I don’t need a wingman.”
“I know you’re scared, but I’m right here for you cheering you on.”
“I’m not scared. I’m uncomfortable, and that’s because I don’t like dressing up to make conversation with people who have no more interest in me than I do in them.” And because she was standing so close he couldn’t concentrate.
“You’re going to be fine, Lucas.” The kindness in her eyes took his breath away. His heart, frozen for what felt like a lifetime, started to beat.
“I’m the writer, not you. What does ‘fine’ even mean?”
“Before you continue with your insults, I should remind you that you had writer’s block until I came along.” She nudged him. “I’m going to find you a gorgeous blonde with a pretty smile who will make you forget your fears.”
“I’ve told you, I don’t have fears.” Hell, he didn’t want this. He didn’t want the emotions stirred up.
“Everyone has fears and some people are afraid of showing them, which in fact makes you doubly scared. You’re scared, and you’re scared of being scared. That’s a whole lot of scared.”
“Are you done psychoanalyzing me?”
“I’m just getting started. Why are men so afraid of admitting fear?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because I’m not afraid. And blondes aren’t my type.” He kept his gaze away from her blond hair. “I prefer brunettes.”
“Then I’ll find you the perfect brunette.”
“Don’t waste your time. I won’t talk to her.”
“Because you’re scared.”
“Fine, I’m scared. Is that what you want to hear? I’m so scared I’m thinking of staying here.”
“You said ‘fine.’ And you can’t stay here. We had a deal, Blade.”
“You’re a sadist.”
She covered his lips with the tips of her fingers. “Quiet.”
All it would take was the slightest movement of his lips and her fingers would be in his mouth.
He lifted his hand and closed his fingers around hers. “Why are we talking about me when tonight is all about you?”
She seemed to be barely breathing. Her fingers shook slightly in his.
He’d had no idea there could be so much tension between two people who weren’t even looking at each other.
Gently she eased her hand away. “You’re right. Tonight is all about me, and we should go.” Her voice was bright and she kept her eyes away from his. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime evening. I don’t want to miss a single moment. It’s going to be amazing.”
A once-in-a-lifetime evening where he got to watch her flirt with other men.
Lucas reached for his jacket, wondering how in hell that was going to be amazing.
* * *
The Plaza hotel was decorated like a snow palace, complete with towering ice sculptures lit by a dazzle of fairy lights.
It was like entering a grotto. Sensing that Lucas was about to turn around and walk out, Eva quickly handed her coat to a waiting attendant.
“It’s like something from Narnia, although it’s funny to think they’re using fake snow when there is so much of the real stuff right outside the door.”
“I guess they didn’t want the gray slush or the inconvenience of ice and cold.”
To anyone listening, their conversation would have sounded comfortable, as if they’d had a thousand similar exchanges over the course of their relationship. What wouldn’t be so easy to detect would be the undercurrent of tension that had simmered between them since that shared moment in the apartment. They were dancing around each other and it wasn’t the sort of dancing she’d had in mind.
In the end Eva had chosen to pretend it hadn’t happened. That nothing had changed.
Nothing had changed, had it? They’d had a moment, that was all. And it wasn’t the first time.
She walked through the doors into the ballroom, noticing the way heads turned toward Lucas. Despite his reluctance to attend, he looked more the part than anyone else in the room.
She felt a deep ache in her chest. She couldn’t afford to want what she couldn’t have.
“All right.” She injected enthusiasm into her voice. “We should separate.”
Lucas turned, his gaze intense and unsmiling. “Separate?”
“If people think I’m with you, no one is going to ask me to dance, let alone anything else.” She saw his mouth tighten.
“I’m not leaving you alone.”
“Lucas, you have to leave me alone. That’s the idea.”
“This place is a meat market.”
“I hope not, because I’m vegetarian.” She glanced at him, wondering if any man had ever looked this good in a dinner jacket. He was temptation in a tux. “Would you smile? You look as if I’ve dragged you to the dentist.”
“I promised to accompany you. I didn’t promise to enjoy myself.”
“Let yourself go a little. It’s so long since you’ve been out, you might be surprised how much fun it is to talk to real humans. You spend too long in the world of serial killers.” She gestured with her head. “Do you know that guy over there? The one smiling at me?”
“That’s a fake smile. You can tell by the way his lips pull over his teeth. He’s hunting.”
“Hunting?”
“For his next victim. Look at the focus in his eyes.”
Eva was finding it hard to focus on anyone but Lucas. “You think he’s a serial killer?”
“More like a serial adulterer. He’s been married four times. His last wife was eight months pregnant when he left her.”
“You can tell all that by looking at the way he smiles? That’s impressive.”
“I can tell all that because I know who he is. His name is Doug Peterson and he’s a partner at Crouch, Fox and Peterson. They’re a law firm. Do not under any circumstances be tempted to smile back.”
“The purpose of tonight is for me to get out and meet people.”
“Not people like him. He’s coming over. I’ll deal with him.”
She was about to protest that she was perfectly able to deal with him herself, but Doug Peterson was already standing in front of them.
“Lucas. Good to see you back in the saddle.” He grasped Lucas by the hand, kept eye contact for a fraction of a second and then turned to Eva. “And who is your charming date?”
If only. “I’m not—”
“This is Eva.” Lucas clamped his hand around her wrist in a possessive gesture. “We won’t keep you, Doug. I’m sure you have a busy night ahead.”
Doug’s gaze lingered on the dip in Eva’s neckline and then he smiled, flashing perfect white teeth.
Like a shark before a meal, Eva thought, resisting the temptation to tug at her dress.
“Got to hand it to you, Lucas, when you come back, you do it in style.” He walked away and Eva stared after him in disbelief.
“You let him think that we—”
“Yes.”
She could feel the firm grip of his fingers around her wrist. “You didn’t need to do that. I could have handled him.”
“I handled him for you.”
“Don’t do it again. If you keep ‘handling’ people, I’m not going to meet anyone. Everyone is going to think I’m with you.” And being with Lucas was something she was trying not to think about. Each time he touched her, each time he looked at her, it was getting harder.
“If that’s what it takes to keep you safe.”
“I don’t want to be safe! I want to live.”
“When we find someone I think can be trusted, I’ll make it clear we’re not together.”
“If we’re waiting to find someone you think can be trusted, we’re going to be here all night. You don’t trust anyone.” She glanced down at her wrist, still encircled by his strong fingers. “Are you going to let me go?”
He didn’t loosen his grip. “I’m keeping you out of trouble.”
“That’s why I’d like you to let me go. I’m trying to get into trouble, and you’re preventing it.” She scanned the room and saw a pretty brunette on the far side of the dance floor. “She has a nice smile. How about her?”
“You’re bisexual?”
“I was thinking of you. She’s your type.”
“How do you know?” There was an edge to his voice. “You saw the pictures of Sallyanne, and you thought you’d find someone just like her, is that it? The perfect replacement?”
“No. You told me you didn’t like blondes, and that you prefer brunettes.” She saw a muscle flicker in his jaw.
“I apologize.”
“Don’t apologize for feeling sad and for finding this whole thing difficult.” There were people milling around, but neither of them paid any attention.
“I shouldn’t have come. It was a mistake.”
“I think the fact that you find it hard is a good reason to have come. It will be easier next time.” She slid her hand into his. “I’ll stop matchmaking. Don’t be mad. My intentions were good, just as yours presumably were when you sent that guy packing just now.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“It is. We’re both interfering in each other’s lives, so here’s the deal. I’ll butt out of yours, if you butt out of mine.”
His gaze was fixed on the dance floor. “What if you decide to leave with a sleaze?”
“I have a PhD in dealing with sleazy men. Ask that woman to dance. She has a lovely smile.”
“You said you weren’t going to interfere.”
“I lied.” She poked him in the arm. “She looks nice.”
“Nice? What sort of word is nice?”
“Don’t mock me. If you made me a scrambled egg and it wasn’t perfect, I would simply say thank you. I wouldn’t point out all the ways you could have made it better.”
“You’re right. I apologize.”
“It’s okay. I know that it’s being here that’s making you moody and it’s my fault because I forced you to come. But we’re here now, and I’m going to enjoy it so stop scowling.”
He turned to look at her, his eyes glittering dark under the lights. “Maybe I’m not afraid. Maybe I just don’t want what you want. Has that occurred to you?”
“You don’t want friendship and love? Well, of course you don’t, because those two things are pretty horrible. Having someone who cares about you and brings out the best in you? Yuck. Much better to be lonely and unloved, that way you know for sure you’re never going to get hurt.”
“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you.”
“No? I thought it was the perfect accessory for your scowly face.”
“Scowly isn’t a word.”
“Well, it should be. And don’t be superior.” But her mind wasn’t really on the argument because she was thinking about what he’d said. “Are you serious?”
“That scowly isn’t a word? Yes.”
“I meant, were you serious about not wanting love?”
He paused just long enough for her to know that she had her answer.
Her heart ached for him. “It hurts that much?”
He stared across the room, his gaze fixed on the dance floor. “Yes.”
She wished they weren’t having this conversation here, surrounded by people.
“When something is hard, the best thing is to just get out there and do it.”
He turned to look at her. “Have you ever been in love?”
“No, but it’s on my bucket list.”
“If you haven’t been in love then you’re not in a position to judge whether it’s something a person would want more than once in a lifetime.”
“I wasn’t suggesting you go out there and fall in love. I was thinking smaller. Start with a dance. Even if you’re not going to, then I am. I’d like to spread my feathers.”
“You mean your wings. Feathers are ruffled.” But the light banter held new layers of intimacy. It was superficial because they chose to keep it superficial, not because they didn’t each have a deeper understanding of the other.
“I’m starting to understand why you’re still single. If you keep correcting people it makes them want to slap you, not seduce you. At least talk to a few people. There isn’t a woman in this room who isn’t secretly hoping you’ll dance with them.”
“That’s because they know I have money.”
“It’s more likely to be because you’re pretty hot when you don’t scowl. Being your wingman is hard work. I might have to charge you overtime.” She nudged him. “Smile. Try it and let’s see if you’re mobbed. I’ll stand on the other side of the room and watch.”
He frowned. “No. Eva, you can’t—”
She forced herself to walk away, even though all she wanted to do was stay by his side. He needed to meet someone who interested him and that was never going to happen while she was standing there. And she wouldn’t meet anyone either, if only because while Lucas was close by he was the only man she noticed.
She was going to forget the fact that he was better-looking and more interesting than anyone else there. She was going to forget the way he listened so attentively and the way he made her feel.
She was going to meet someone who actually wanted a relationship.
* * *
Why had he agreed to come?
On the far side of the room he could see Eva, laughing up at a man who had his back to him. Was it someone he knew? The raw, gut-wrenching jealousy was something he’d never felt before and he certainly hadn’t expected to feel it tonight.
“Lucas! It really is you.” A female voice interrupted his thoughts and he turned to see a beautiful redhead smiling at him.
“Caroline.” He leaned forward and dutifully kissed her on both cheeks. He could smell the alcohol and see the extra bright glitter of her eyes.
She’d been an acquaintance of Sallyanne’s, although not one of the inner circle.
“I didn’t expect to see you here. Are you alone?” She slipped her arm through his. “We should dance. Celebrate being young and alive.” Her expression froze as she realized what she’d said.
The look in her eyes took him back to the time of his wife’s death, when everyone had walked on eggshells and he’d found himself comforting those who had no idea what to say to him. His role had been to convince them that he was all right, and then to make them feel all right.
Social situations were almost invariably fake, but since Sallyanne’s death they’d become even more so. Fake smiles, fake jollity.
And Caroline, having put her foot in it, now seemed determined to make up for it by being extra concerned and caring. “How have you been, Lucas?” Her hand stroked over his sleeve, lingering just a little too long for friendship.
Across the room he saw Eva laugh again and watched as the man turned slightly and moved closer to her.
Now he had a better view, and—
Shit. It was Michael Gough. Single man of the town. Eva wouldn’t stand a chance against him. However good her radar was, she was unlikely to detect the flaws in Michael. On the surface he was a charmer, but Lucas knew with one hundred percent certainty that he’d use that condom of hers and then break her heart.
“Lucas?” Caroline was still next to him, standing a little too close.
“Have a great evening, Caroline.”
“Oh, but—”
He didn’t hear the rest of her sentence because he was striding across the ballroom, half-blinded by the sparkle and dazzle of the dance floor and the light, avoiding spinning couples. The music was nothing more than a faint background noise, barely audible through the pounding of blood in his head.
He reached Eva just as Michael leaned closer.
“You,” he purred, “are the most interesting woman I’ve met in a long time. You have the most incredible breasts. And beautiful hair. I want to see how it looks on my pillow.”
Anger misting his vision, Lucas opened his mouth, but before he could speak Eva reached up and tugged out a strand of blond hair.
“Here.” She handed it over and her voice was kind. “You can take this one and find out. Unfortunately my breasts are attached to me, so I can’t give you one of those to take home.”
Lucas stilled. He knew Michael was considered a catch and he’d expected Eva to fall hook, line and sinker for his smooth patter.
Instead she’d done what few women did. She’d rejected him.
Michael recognized the snub and his mouth tightened, but he wasn’t about to give up, particularly when he realized Lucas had overheard. “Let’s dance.”
Eva shook her head. “No, but thank you.”
“You’re a very beautiful woman. I’m interested in getting to know you better.”
“Are you?” Eva studied him thoughtfully. “How about my brain? Are you interested in that part of me? Or my feelings? What makes me laugh and cry?”
Michael looked mildly alarmed. “I—”
“I didn’t think so. When you say you’re interested in me, what you really mean is that you’re interested in taking me somewhere dark and having sex with me. There’s nothing wrong with that, except that I’m not interested.” She smiled up at him. “Thank you for the compliment. Enjoy your evening.”
With that she turned and walked slap into Lucas.
“My turn for a dance, I think.” He took Eva’s hand in his and hauled her against him, ignoring her startled look.
Michael’s brows rose. “Lucas? Didn’t realize you two knew each other.”
“We’re living together.” Lucas saw Eva’s eyes narrow in a warning and Michael smiled, the anger gone from his face.
“That explains everything. You always were a man of excellent taste. Enjoy the ball.” He walked away and Eva turned back to Lucas.
“Why did you do that? Why did you say that?”
“He was making a move on you.”
“And I handled it! But now he assumes that the reason I refused him is because I’m with you, not because he was behaving like a douche bag.”
“It’s better that way. He’s a man whose ego means a lot to him. I know him, Eva.”
“You know everyone! Unfortunately I don’t, and I never will unless you stay on the other side of the room.”
“I’m watching out for you. I’m here to save you from yourself.” He ignored the little voice inside him that told him his intervention had little to do with her and everything to do with him.
“Did I look as if I needed saving?”
“Eva, he’s a serial heartbreaker. And he has a wife.”
“I know.”
“You do? How?”
“He has a pale ring of skin on the finger where his wedding ring should be. Proof that he only takes it off when it is no longer convenient to be married.” She sighed and slid her arm into his. “I’m touched that you cared enough to come shooting over here to save me. It’s a lovely trait, but I’ve been dealing with guys like him since I was a teenager. Guys who stare at my chest and my hair and assume I can’t string a sentence together.”
“A first meeting in a place like this is almost always predicated on sexual attraction.”
“True, but I can tell when a guy just wants to get inside my pants and when someone actually likes me enough to want to know me better.” Her smile dimmed. “It’s probably the reason I’ve been celibate for so long. The sad truth is, most men don’t want to know me better, so that probably makes me an idealist.”
He thought it made them idiots, but didn’t say so.
He didn’t want to think about them at all.
He let go of her hand, and slid his hand around her waist. “Let’s dance.”
“You hate dancing. You only suggested that to get me away from Marauding Michael.”
“But you love dancing.”
“I do. That’s the main reason I wanted to come tonight. I want to dance until my feet hurt and my head is spinning.”
He could think of a hundred ways to make her head spin that had nothing to do with dancing, but he pushed the thought down quickly. “So let’s dance.”
Several men were looking at her and Lucas swept her onto the dance floor before one of them had a chance to claim her.
He wasn’t sure he wouldn’t have punched them and laid them out cold.
Eva put her hand on his shoulder, keeping a respectable distance between them. “I love dancing. I took ballet classes until I was fourteen.”
“I bet you danced the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy?”
“Yes, but how did you—?”
“Never mind.”
“Grams used to take me to watch the New York City Ballet every Christmas. It was our routine, and I loved it. Snowflakes, glitter and beautiful music. It always put me in a Christmassy mood. I used to come home and twirl and wish I was a proper ballerina.”
He looked down at her, imagining her in pink tights and shiny ballet shoes, dancing in a dream. And he wondered how she’d made it to adulthood without losing those shiny illusions about life and people.
She danced as she had in the kitchen, her movements smooth and fluid, her hair spinning around her bare shoulders, her megawatt smile lighting her face.
“This is so much fun.”
He didn’t disagree. “It’s certainly a lot better than making small talk with boring people.”
“You’re very rude.”
“I am. You’d probably be well-advised to avoid me.”
“I tried that. But apparently you can’t resist interfering with my love life. And I have to watch you closely so that you don’t end up being tomorrow’s headline.”
Their efforts to talk above the music brought them closer.
“Do you blame me? You’re reckless, and I made a promise to your friend Frankie.”
“I’m an excellent judge of character.”
“If you research homicides, you’ll discover that most people are killed by someone they know.”
She pulled away slightly, her eyes bright with exasperation. “We’re at a ball, Lucas. A dreamy, romantic ball. And you’re telling me I’m going to be murdered by one of my friends?”
“I’m telling you that if you were murdered, it would, in all likelihood, be by someone you knew. I’m trying to educate you. Encourage a little caution.”
“You have a twisted view of life. And we’re having one dance, that’s all. First because if I talk to you for too long I’ll have to sleep with the lights on, and second because if I’m dancing with you I’m never going to meet anyone. And neither are you.”
The music slowed and Lucas expected her to pull away but instead she leaned her head on his chest and slid her arms around him. Awareness flowed over his skin and seeped into his bones. His mind emptied. His brain felt slow and heavy and he couldn’t find any words that seemed to fit the occasion, but fortunately Eva had plenty to say.
“Have you made a New Year’s resolution yet? Because if not, I have the perfect one for you.” She was soft and pliant, her body melting into his.
“I can guess what it is,” he managed to respond, which he saw as an achievement given that he could hardly breathe.
“I’m sure you can’t.” She rested her palm on his chest, over his heart, and looked up at him.
“You want me to promise to get out there and start dating.”
“Wrong. I want you to stop always looking for a person’s hidden bad side.”
“It’s the way I’m made. It’s not something I can turn off.”
“Of course it is. Your work has made you that way. You need to make a distinction between work and real life.”
They swayed together, eyes locked, insulated from the people around them.
“If I told you to start being more suspicious of people, could you?”
“Maybe, but I don’t think it would be a very nice way to live.” She snuggled closer and he tensed and then let his hand slide to her back.
He felt the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her dress.
The dress he’d bought her. Silk and sin.
Giving up on restraint, he drew her closer still, molding the soft curves of her body against the hard planes of his. She slid her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. Easy. Natural.
Desire rushed through him, brutal and sharp. He reflected on how a person could want something so badly even knowing it was a mistake.
He should let her go. He should make some flippant comment about needing to talk to people and mingle, but he didn’t. He held her closer, blanketing himself in her warmth, taking what he could, while he could. He didn’t hear the music and he didn’t see the people dancing close to him. He didn’t care what other people thought or what they said. He didn’t want to think about them, or about Sallyanne.
All he cared about was dancing with Eva and making this moment last as long as possible.
It was like lighting a candle in the dark. He didn’t know how long it would take for the flame to burn out, but until it did he was going to savor every moment of the light.
Beams of light played over the ceiling of the room, turning Eva’s hair to shiny gold.
Her head was bowed and all he could see of her face was the sweep of her upturned nose and the soft curve of her mouth.
The music changed again but she showed no sign of wanting to move away and he had no intention of letting her go, so they danced on, locked together, the rhythm of their bodies following the rhythm of the music. He wondered why he’d never before realized that dancing could be almost as intimate and personal as sex.
He felt the light touch of her fingers on the back of his neck and the warmth of her body against his palm, and he knew in that moment that he didn’t want her to go home with anyone else.
He wanted her to go home with him. And it had nothing to do with protecting her. Those reasons would have been selfless and his were all selfish.
Because they were wrapped together so intimately, he was aware of the change in her, too. He could feel it in the way she held herself, in the almost unbearable tension of her slender frame.
“Let’s get out of here.” He murmured the words into her hair, half hoping she’d resist. “Unless you want to stay? This ball was your dream.” He asked the question and felt her still in his arms.
She lifted her head and he felt the warmth of her breath on his cheek.
“You want to leave?” Her words were a whisper in his ear. “I wanted you to meet someone interesting.”
There was a long silence while they both wordlessly admitted what they already knew.
Finally, when the tension had almost suffocated them, he eased away from her and looked deep into her eyes. “I’m with the only person who interests me.”
She swallowed. “Me, too.”
Pretense, humor, reticence all fell away and were replaced by naked honesty.
They were no longer moving, no longer pretending to dance or be part of the party that swirled around them. They were in their own secluded, private world. Separate. Apart.
Rose pink spread across Eva’s cheeks and her eyes sparkled sapphire blue under the lights. “Let’s go.” She took his hand but still Lucas paused, held back by the knowledge they were about to do something that couldn’t be undone.
“Are you sure?”
“Sure? Oh, Lucas—” She touched his face with her palm. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”