She looked into his eyes and smiled slowly. “I owe you."
She climbed off his lap and straightened her clothing, enjoying the admiration and lust she could see in his face as he watched her. He ran his hands through his hair and straightened his tie, but otherwise he didn't look any worse off. Her reflection, on the other hand, revealed a wanton woman with tangled hair, swollen lips and just the faintest hint of whisker burn on her chin. She rolled her lips in as she dug in her little purse for her lipstick.
He stood behind her, stroking her long hair back off her face and running his fingers through it to tame it. “I don't have a hair brush,” she whispered.
"It looks fine,” he told her. “Very sexy."
She stood up and turned to face him. He was sexy. Insanely sexy. She kissed him lightly on the mouth, then rubbed the lipstick away with her thumb. “Thank you,” she said softly.
"Don't forget. You owe me,” he reminded her with a wicked gleam in his eye.
He let her leave first as a scout. She checked the hallway and finding no one there, beckoned him. He then disappeared into the men's room so she wouldn't go back into the ballroom with him.
Erin walked casually back to her table. Kayla and Brent were sitting there.
"Hey,” Kayla said, looking Erin up and down. “Where were you?"
"Dancing,” she replied, picking up a half-drank glass of wine.
"Oh. ‘Cause Wendy and Melissa just came back. Apparently there's a couple getting it on in the ladies’ room."
Erin fought to control the heat that would make her cheeks pink and hot. “Really?” She tipped the last of a wine bottle into her glass.
"Are you okay?” Kayla asked. “You look kind of flushed. Maybe you've had enough wine."
"There you go, being a mother again,” Erin teased. “I am totally fine.” Although she did feel a nice little buzz. She sat back in her chair and wondered where Dex had gotten to. Oh, man, did he know how to get a girl off. She'd been so wound up and hot for him it had hardly taken anything. Now they just had to hope that no one would realize it had been them in there.
She looked around at the party. It was getting late, and some people had started to leave. In fact, Kayla was picking up her purse and looking for her husband.
"Do you want to come with us?” she asked Erin.
"Um...” She wanted to see Dex again. But if she didn't get a ride with them, she'd have to take a taxi. She looked around the room for him, but didn't see him. Since they'd left the ladies’ room he'd disappeared.
Oh no. Maybe she'd been a bit too aggressive. Maybe she'd scared him away.
They'd been having so much fun, she'd really thought he was as attracted to her as she was to him and that maybe this evening was the start of something more. What an idiot she was.
She bit her lip. Oh, God. Had she just made a total fool of herself with the director of finance? What on earth was she going to say to him the next time she saw him in the office?
Trying to maintain her composure, she smiled brightly at Kayla. “Sure, I'll take that ride."
Chapter Five
"Please turn that music down,” Erin begged Jason the next morning. He'd brought in a CD player and had Christmas songs playing at full volume. Her head pounded, her eyes hurt, and her stomach felt a little iffy.
"Someone had a bit too much to drink last night,” he teased, but he lowered the volume a notch. That silly red plush Santa hat perched on his head again.
"And someone was getting very friendly with the director of finance last night,” Cheryl added with a sly smile.
"Not as friendly as that couple in the ladies’ room,” Melissa put in. “I'm dying to know who that was."
"You and everyone else,” Cheryl agreed with a laugh.
"Does everyone know about that?” Erin asked with a frown. She took a big gulp of the Grande Starbuck's coffee and scalded her lips.
"Are you kidding? Of course! Now that is juicy gossip.” Melissa looked at her speculatively. “Hey. Maybe it was Erin and Mr. Mitchell."
Erin's brain pulsed. She tried to wave a casual hand and gave a little laugh. “Please. As if."
The others all looked at each other and raised their brows, and Erin knew the rumors were going to fly. Great. Just what she needed.
"I'll find out who it was,” Cheryl said confidently, and Erin's heart skipped a beat. Cheryl was the mistress of the office grapevine and, if anyone could find out, it would be Cheryl. But surely she and Dex were the only ones who knew, and he would never say anything ... would he? She bit her lip.
"Here,” Cheryl said unexpectedly. “This is for you.” She handed her a little wrapped present. Erin stared at it in dismay. She had nothing for Cheryl! Why on earth was she giving her a Christmas present?
She took it slowly. “Thank you, Cheryl,” she said uncertainly. Could she run out and pick something up? God, there was no time. They finished work at noon, and it was eleven-thirty. In fact, most people would be leaving soon. She took a breath. “I'm sorry, I didn't get anything for you...."
Cheryl waved a cheery hand. “That's okay. It's just a little something. Merry Christmas, Erin."
Damn, she hated that. Why hadn't she thought to pick up a couple of extra little things? Probably because she'd been so busy and stressed running around buying all the staff gifts, organizing the party, and trying to figure out what she'd get her own family. She sighed.
As the others all started to leave, calls of “Merry Christmas” and “see you in the new year” were exchanged. Kayla gave her a hug, and Jason came over to wish her Merry Christmas and plunked the foolish Santa hat on her head. Erin sat in her cubicle and stared at the spreadsheet on her computer monitor. If she could finish this report today, it would be ready to go when everyone was back in the office in January.
Too bad the top of her head was coming off, though. The Aspirin she'd taken earlier had done nothing, and she really, really wanted to sleep. When the office was quiet, she slid down in her chair and leaned her head back, closing her eyes. Ah.
In a few minutes she'd tackle that report. Too bad there was a damn spreadsheet in it. On the best days that was an issue for her, never mind when she was hung over. When she was done, she'd scoot out and pick up the other gifts she had to get before the stores closed and be over at her parents’ by six o'clock as required.
"Nice hat."
She opened her eyes and met those of Dex, standing in the opening to her cubicle, watching her with amusement, eyes gleaming, dimples flashing. Her heart stopped for one beat then picked up a painful thumping in her chest.
"Thanks."
She sat up and went to remove the hat.
"No, leave it,” he said, coming closer and adjusting it on her head. “It looks cute."
She gazed at him wide-eyed. “Um ... do you need something?” She was completely, hotly mortified to see him after what had happened last night. She wanted to slide right out of her chair and under the desk.
"Oh, yeah,” he replied softly. “I need to collect my debt."
"Huh?” She looked at him blankly.
"Remember? Last night you said you owed me."
Oh. My. God. He could not be serious. She felt her cheeks scorching and put her hands up to them.
"Look, I am so sorry about last night,” she began, her voice trembling. “I had way too much to drink and kind of got carried away...."
He paused. “So ... what are you saying? It was just a drunken mistake?"
"Um...” God, she didn't know what to say. Why was he here? Why was he doing this to her? Surely he didn't just come here expecting her to ... her mind couldn't even go there.
He drew back a bit, and his face had a look on it that was almost ... hurt. His eyes shuttered, and the amusement that had deepened his dimples and curved his mouth was gone.