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“Nice try honey, but you can’t fool me. I’ve noticed the way you’ve both been watching each other from across the room. He’s been eyeing you up like you’re his favorite piece of candy,” Rita said as she flashed a knowing wink.
“No, no, you have it all wrong...”
“No dear, you have it all wrong,” the woman interrupted as she rose from her chair. “Old Rita knows these things. You have a good night. I have to hunt down old Clarence and get him on the dance floor now.” She glanced about the room and then leaned back toward her. “He’s a good man dear, the best, be kind to him, I don’t think his heart can take another blow.” And with that, she was off.
As Rita departed, Joe approached, his step brisk. His gaze shifted from her to Rita and then back to her. He pulled out a chair and took a seat, his warm, brown eyes still on her. “Are you having a good time?”
Though he’d asked a simple question, words escaped her, but she did manage a nod before lifting her champagne glass to her lips. She emptied the glass. She wondered if Rita was right...did he have feelings for her? Oddly enough, she found herself hoping he did. Her breath caught and her stomach whirled. Just then, the waiter came by their table and dropped off two glasses of champagne. Elizabeth knew she probably shouldn’t but accepted another glass anyway.
After a short period of excruciating silence, her lips parted. “Rita sure thinks a lot of you.”
“She is a nice lady. She’s been with us since we started the firm about eight years ago. But sometimes, she acts more like my mother than my receptionist.”
“Based on my conversation with her, I can understand why you feel that way,” Elizabeth said with a smile.
Joe’s gaze stayed glued to her, and the corners of his mouth lifted upward. “Ah, she does actually smile. And a beautiful smile it is.”
Her cheeks heated and her fingertips tingled.
Joe turned his head, fixing his gaze on Rita. “I’m afraid to even ask what she told you about me.”
Elizabeth let her smile grow. She’d let him wonder.
The momentum of the music changed to a more subdued pace. Elizabeth watched as a few men enveloped their ladies in their arms and swayed them to the soft music. A strange desire to be held in Joe’s arms swept through her, and her mind raced for a way to make sure it would happen. The champagne intake seemed to have an unusual effect on her. She rose from her chair, stepped toward him, and extended her hand. “Would you care to dance?”
––––––––
Joe was caught off guard by her invitation to dance. Surprise, panic, and thrill jockeyed for position. Their gazes locked. He couldn’t help but notice how beautiful and soft her eyes looked, bright gold speckles mixed with emerald green. How had he not noticed this before?
Her invitation to dance tugged at something deep inside him, causing him to take her small, soft, fair-skinned hand into his, rise from his chair, and lead her to the dance floor.
He held her at a distance. Sheer discomfort saturated every cell of his being. He couldn’t figure out where to put his hands. It was like he’d never held a woman in his arms before. The walls closed in around him, and he was certain everyone was staring at them. He glanced around. Nobody was looking.
Her perfume hung lightly in the air around them. Pulling her closer allowed him to take in every ounce possible of her sweet, tantalizing scent.
Her soft curls brushed lightly against his neck and chin. Her small, soft body pressed against him.
Need swept through him.
He hadn’t experienced this sensation for quite some time. His heart raced, his mind spun, and his stomach whirled. He tried desperately to get them under control, but couldn’t. And though he wanted to release her in an attempt to regain his composure, his arms wouldn’t cooperate. In fact, they deceived him, pulling her more tightly to his needy being. He bathed in the comfort of their hold. It had been forever since he enjoyed the simple act of holding a woman.
––––––––
Elizabeth’s mind raced and her stomach swirled as she danced with Joe. At first, their stance was odd and stiff, but when he lowered his hand to the small of her back and pulled her toward him her breath hitched, and her heart nearly leaped out of her chest. All common sense escaped her, she couldn’t think, she could only do. The exhilaration surging through her caused her to lean into him. His firm, muscular body enticed her to press harder.
Stop doing this, Elizabeth. You’re being stupid and careless. You don’t have time for this right now...Good Lord this feels good.
His musky scent nearly drove her insane.
With a glance up, she caught the amused gazes of both Holly and Sam. Why were their smiles stretching from ear to ear? It took a moment for her to realize why, the momentum of the music was now fast paced, yet she and Joe still swayed together in a slow manner.
She hastily stepped back, breaking free from his hold. Awareness pinged in his gaze, and he led her off the dance floor toward Sam and Holly who stood near the bar. He ordered some more drinks and then excused himself from the group, “I need to go talk to Steve about something. I’ll be right back.”
He clearly bailed, leaving her with the assumption he was embarrassed as she was.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” Sam said as he followed Joe.
Holly’s grin seemed unstoppable, and she looked about ready to burst at the seams. “So, how’s it going with Joe? You two looked pretty comfy with each other on the dance floor.”
