“Don’t you think these things should happen naturally?”
“In a perfect world…maybe. But what if I left it all to chance and then I ended up alone?”
She looked genuinely stricken and Des had to resist the urge to wrap his arms around her. He was supposed to be here to help her on her manhunt, not to protect her. Not to comfort her.
“You would never end up alone, Gracie. You’re gorgeous and any guy would be lucky to have you.”
Her lip trembled for a moment before she plastered a slightly too-wide smile on her face. “I’m done with dinner, what’s next?”
“Music.”
Standing, he extended a hand and she took it, her delicate fingers intertwining with his. A short walk from the food area a band played jazz music.
“And dancing.” He led her to an empty space near the band, where a few people were moving to the music.
“Oh no.” She pulled back, digging her heels in and leaning away from him. “Rule number four, no dancing.”
He swayed his hips in time to the music and pulled her close. Someone nearby cheered. “I’m in charge tonight and there will be dancing.”
“Hell no, I don’t dance for anyone.” Her eyes were wide, pure terror rolling off her in waves. “Besides, there’s no way I’d meet a guy on the dance floor.”
The fact that Gracie Greene didn’t dance was a crime against humanity. Every single curve on her body looked as though it was made for music, for sambas, for jazz and gyrating. Releasing her hand, he watched as she shrunk back into the crowd, but he kept going, the beat running through his body.
Dancing was a part of his life in the most fundamental way. He’d grown up watching his Sicilian grandparents dance at every family function, every wedding, every Christmas. Dancing could convey all of the emotions that he couldn’t string into a sentence. His body communicated better than his mouth ever could.
More of the crowd joined in, but he kept his eyes on Gracie. Her luscious, cherry-colored lips were open, her eyes wide as she watched him. She inched closer, sticking with the group, but as more people moved to the music she gained confidence. Enveloped and concealed by the throng, she came back to him, but resisted dancing.
“The dance floor is a great place to meet guys,” he said, leaning forward to speak directly into her ear. “Guys who can dance are better in bed.”
Hot pink color flooded her cheeks and a nervous giggle escaped her lips. Gracie Greene getting turned on was about the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen—she seemed suddenly shyer, a little more tentative, a little more vulnerable.
“Ok, maybe I can sway a little.” She looked at him shyly, her small body venturing the most subtle of dance moves.
“You’re breaking your own rules,” he teased.
“I’m not dancing, I’m swaying.” Her hand found his and she stepped into his space. “It’s more like standing than dancing.”
As the density of people increased, they were forced together. Her body pressed against his, her movements causing her breasts to rub against him. He wanted to groan, but he had to hold himself together. He was on the verge of letting go, of bending down and scooping her into his arms. If he didn’t find some space soon, a groan wouldn’t be the only thing to alert her to how turned on he was.
He looped a hand around her waist and pulled her tight against him. Screw it, if he only ever got this one night with Gracie he wanted to enjoy it, even if it was under the stupid pretense of finding her another date.
Her hips swayed and he hardened.
This is not going to end well.
“Aren’t you going to check out any of the prospects?” he asked, motioning with one hand to the other men in the crowd.
“I have been.” Her cheeks flushed and he knew for a fact her eyes hadn’t been anywhere but on him.
He slipped his hand under her coat and ran it down the length of her back. The silk of her dress was heaven beneath his fingertips. Like everything else about her it was soft and sensual. It made his head spin.
“This is dangerous, Des.” He could barely hear her voice over the jazz music and laughter around him. “I’m almost breaking a rule.”
“Dancing?” He bent so his cheek rested against her hair, her lips brushed his jaw.
“Wanting more.” In a rush, her palms were against his chest and the cool air came between them like a flood. “I need a drink.”
His body raged, the absence of her touch felt like losing a limb. The chemistry zinging between them broke him down. It made him believe that they had something more in store than a single night borne of her wanting to forget her date’s rejection.
They wove through the crowd to find a stall with gourmet hot chocolate and coffee. Beside him, she stood rigid and tense. It was hard to ignore the crackle of energy that gathered whenever they were near one another, but she accepted her caramel hot chocolate and avoided his eyes.
“If nothing else, I can say that I got you to dance,” he said, blowing on a cup of rich, black coffee.
“If nothing else?”
“Yeah, if I don’t find you a date.” He sipped his coffee. “Or if I don’t get you to break any more rules.”
“You’ve already set the record.” Her eyes crinkled at the corners.
“At one broken rule?” He shook his head. “That is a sad state of affairs, Gracie Greene.”
“I feel that I need to even the score.” She watched the curling steam that wound up from her cup. “What are your rules?”
He shrugged. “I’m not a rules kind of guy.”
They walked to the edge of the market, the noise and people thinning out. It was black outside; the night sky was littered with stars and the spring air was cool on his face. He wanted to ask her back to his place for a nightcap and dessert, but something held him back.
Maybe because it’s the most terrible idea in the history of idiocy? You’re supposed to be helping her and instead you’re putting on the moves!
“Why am I not surprised?” She rolled her eyes. Her cheeks were flushed pink, the two spots of rose giving her a mischievous look. “Surely you have one rule that I can break.”
Des Chapman had made himself vulnerable for the first time since his fiancée had thrown her ring at him five years ago.
Rule already broken.
…
Gracie had left the dance area at exactly the right time. With Des close to her it had been all she could do not to reach out and touch him. He moved with the confidence of a man who knew his body, knew the power and strength it possessed.
Those kinds of men scared Gracie, yet Des pulled her in with an unrelenting invisible force. Even now, with space between them and a hot drink to keep her hands occupied, she wanted to lose herself in the thick waves of his dark hair. A shiver ran through her. Temptation was not a notion to be entertained.
Have you completely forgotten why you came out tonight? It’s nothing to do with Des.
Was it obvious to him how she’d ignored every other guy who’d glanced her way? She was so far off track, she’d taken a detour straight into the valley of stupid.
“Like I said, I’m not a rules kind of guy.” His frame loomed over hers. “If I was, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you’re dangerous, Gracie.” He reached out, his fingertip tracing the outline of her jaw. “A man could fall hard for you.”
“I’m dangerous?” She let out a shaky laugh, her body alight with awareness. “You’re the ‘no rules’ guy. That sounds pretty dangerous to me. What would happen if we didn’t set ourselves boundaries, guidelines?”