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Kia rolled her eyes. "I caught her taking them. I'm not completely dense. "
"It's too bad he isn't here. " Jaci looked around. "You're driving him insane, you know. "
Kia leaned back and crossed her legs negligently at the comment. "Actually, I'm not. I haven't seen him in days. "
"Don't count on it to last. " Jaci snorted.
Kia was counting on exa
ctly that. She shook her head and leaned forward, following her father's conversation with Ian and Cameron as they discussed the property Ian Sinclair wanted to sell and a security issue in another area.
She listened to the sociable negotiations disguised as polite conversation and, as always, her father's business world both fascinated and amused her. She had never been able to keep up in a social setting. Her mother had taught her one thing: talking business required the appropriate locale.
Besides, the dance floor was filling up, and the quarter glass of wine she had allowed herself to consume had her foot tapping as Cameron and Jaci moved onto the floor.
"Kia, remember to pull up the projections of that warehouse when you get to the office in the morning," her father stated. "I want a full account of projected profits versus the outrageous price Ian wants. " He cast Ian a mock fierce glare.
"The property is worth every penny I'm asking for it," Ian argued with a grin. "You're just as tightfisted as you ever were. "
"Can you believe him?" Timothy waved his hand toward Ian with playful fierceness. "Tightfisted, greedy kid. I can't believe I'm attempting to do business with him. "
"And you're loving every minute of it. " Kia laughed.
A forced laugh. She was sitting here, watching, listening, and she was remembering Chase. Which was worse? Knowing he didn't want to be seen in public with her or being in public without him?
"Se?orita Rutherford, I fear I must demand a dance. "
She turned, staring up at Sebastian de Laurents, the Spaniard Ian had hired as his club manager.
Sebastian was from one of the elite families in Spain, a rogue, a renegade, and a black sheep. She'd liked him the moment she met him more than a year before.
"One dance. " She rose to her feet, the fast beat of the music racing through her blood, joined with the wine, making her brave.
Sebastian was dark blond, so unlike Chase. His eyes were brown rather than green, his body broader, his features less defined. But the club was dark, and she was desperate. Two days, two sleepless nights. She wanted to pretend, just for a few moments, nothing more.
He pulled her onto the dance floor, graceful and adept as they moved together to the quick beat. He touched her waist, her wrist, her fingers. He smiled down at her, and she wondered if his gaze was as knowing as it appeared. If he knew as much as he seemed to when he looked down at her.
"As graceful as the breeze itself," he complimented her as the music ended. "One more, and then I will have mercy on you. "
One more. Another fast beat and they were moving within the crowd. Kia felt the energy of the dance fill her. She had always loved dancing, but Drew hadn't. He refused to even slow dance or to hear of her dancing with friends. This was like a balm to her femininity even as she ached.
Turning, twisting. Her eyes swept over the tables—and locked with light green eyes.
The music faded. She felt the rhythm of her body, she was aware of Sebastian behind her, but in that, moment she saw only Chase.
Unblinking. Hunger filled her, gnawed at her. Sleepless nights and aching need swirling through her. She forced herself to turn her eyes away. Hearing the end of the tune, she thanked Sebastian for the dance and began to move back to the table.
"Not yet. "
She turned. Chase's arm wrapped around her waist as a heavy Latin beat fired up, and she stared into his eyes.
She felt his body move to the dance, and she followed. Her hips twisted into his, swayed. One hand gripped her hip, the other clasped her hand. Sensuality washed between them with tidal force, locking them together as she felt him around her, moving her.
The hard beat of the music flowed between them like sex, like the hunger raging between them. They were hip to hip, then she was turning, twirling him, his arm going around her waist, bringing her back to his chest as his other hand gripped her just beneath her breast, and they swayed. Hips rolled and rubbed and against the sensitive tip of her nipple she caught the quick flick of his thumb.
She felt lost within him. When the music slowed and spilled into a slower tune he turned her in his arms, locked her to him as he brought her hand to his neck and clasped it to him.
"I need you. " He half snarled the declaration, his eyes narrowed and fierce. "It's going to happen, Kia. You know it is. "
