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Narisa was shaking her head, her cheeks blushing as Rick sauntered out before the DJ. We all started to laugh as he began moving his arms like a herky-jerky robot that had no relation to the rhythm of the music.
“We’d better save him,” Kate suggested. She joined Rick and began moving around the floor, drawing attention from the rest of the room. She was so confident and fun.
As for me, I was shriveling back into my comfortable shell of insecurity.
I can do this, I told myself as I watched Narisa skip out to meet Kate and Rick on the dance floor.
I’m Belle, tonight. Not Anna.
Of course, Belle was also the shy girl with her nose stuck in a book.
Screw it, I decided.
I joined my friends as the music shifted to something sultrier and more seductive. The tempo slowed, the bass was a low vibration surrounding me, and the sweet sound of a female voice poured through the speakers.
I began to sway my hips and allow my arms to move with freedom out in front of me. Maybe it was the alcohol, but for once I didn’t care what anyone thought.
People joined in on the fun, dancing all around us, including Sean and his blonde bombshell. Kate didn’t seem to care.
Good for her.
I couldn’t imagine if Adam had shown up with—
Oh God. He came. A slow, blustery feeling of desire swept through me as my eyes locked with his.
I stopped dancing—I could hardly hear the music. My heart raced, twisting in my chest as I stared at him. He remained standing in front of the doors to the main entrance.
He was in black slacks and a blazer, with a dark dress shirt beneath.
He looked like sin.
He’d come in costume. The billionaire businessman. But I could see the fighter beneath. He was virile—powerful. His flesh rippled beneath his suit like steel. He could crush someone with his fists.
But that wasn’t why he was dangerous.
No. He was dangerous because he could turn my heart to dust.
But maybe being with him was worth the risk of a broken heart.
Or maybe it would be a horrible mistake.
His eyes broke from mine, and he turned to walk toward a group of people in the corner of the room. My heart shriveled in my chest.
“Dance!” Kate hollered to me.
I tried to move, but my body would no longer obey. All of my mental faculties seemed to have gone out the window. Adam was talking to a man in a suit—someone unfamiliar to me. Maybe he was one of the wealthy donors to the McGregor Foundation. Adam laughed at something the man said, and then his mother was at his side.
I only knew it was his mom because Adam’s parents had introduced themselves at the start of the party. I remembered what Adam had said about being a disappointment to his mom, but I was sure nothing could be further from the truth.
I moved to the edge of the dance area, trying to get a better view of the McGregor family. His mom rested her hand on Adam’s shoulder. Even in the spotty lighting, I could see her eyes glittering with pride.
Adam glanced over his shoulder, catching my eyes, and my cheeks flamed with embarrassment. I turned away.
I should leave.
I couldn’t bring myself to leave, though.
I forced myself to dance again, but my arms barely moved and my feet just stepped side to side.
