Fuck, they’rea lotdistracting.
But I soldier on. “Make some magic happen for me on the dance floor. You take Jillian for a whirl, and I’ll grab her guy, since I need a quick chat. And then you and I can dance together to our hearts’ content.”
“Whatever the lady wants,” he tells me, his eyes traveling down my body, then back up, “the lady shall get.”
“Are you mentally undressing me?” I ask, feeling quite bold.
“Seems I was,” he says, unrepentant and confident as hell. “What do you know?” With a wink at me, he moves over to Jones and whispers something, nodding my way. Then they switch places, Harlan asking Jillian for a dance and Jones locking eyes with me.
“May I have this dance, Katie?”
“You absolutely may.” We step onto the parquet floor, and I set my hands chastely on his shoulders as we sway to an Adele tune. “I was hoping to chat with you.”
His eyebrows shoot into his hairline. “Let’s talk, then.”
Jillian is head-over-heels crazy for Jones, and she’s about togo out on a limb for him career-wise. I need to make sure he’s the kind of man who will treat her like a queen. “Listen,” I begin. “I’m a ride-or-die kind of gal. I’ve known Jillian since college, and she’s my girl. I’ve got her back anytime she needs it. You know what that means, Jones?”
“Means I don’t want to run into you in a dark alley?”
I flash a big Texas smile. “You got that right, partner,” I say, slipping in a touch of my once-upon-a-time Texas twang.
“I hear ya, boss.” Despite our slip into comic stereotype, Jones gives a crisp nod of understanding.
“You better treat her well,” I add.
Seeming earnest enough, he answers, “I will.”
But I’m taking no chances. “I mean it. If she risks her job and her reputation for this romance, do not let her down. I know that you’re a foot taller than I am and probably a hundred fifty pounds heavier, but I don’t care. I will kick you in the balls if you hurt her.”
He flinches. “Damn.”
“Exactly.” Jones seems like a good guy, but I am not messing around when it comes to my friend. “She is the best person I know, and she prizes honesty and integrity. If you make a play for her, it had better be for real. You better put your whole heart into it.” I hold his eye with a knife’s-edge look and flint in my voice. “Or you will answer to me and my steel-toed cowboy boots.”
Jones meets my gaze without flinching, intensely serious. “You will never need to break those out with me.” Then he nods in a that-explains-a-lot way. “I can see why you’re her best friend.”
“Then we have an understanding.” I let go as the song ends,stepping back to swipe one palm across the other. “That’s done. Good luck with the game this weekend. I will be rooting my ass off for the Renegades like I always do.”
Before Jones can reply, his handsome friend taps his shoulder, but Harlan’s oh-so-charming smile is aimed at me. “Hope you don’t mind me interrupting, buddy, but the lady and I have twenty dances to work through, and I’d like to start right now.”
I’d like that too. My night will end far too soon, and I want to make the best of the next few hours.
Chapter 3
Katie
Goodbye, Jones. Hello, Harlan.
“Let’s see what your quicksilver feet can do,” I say, and Harlan moves right in, sets his hands on my waist, and dips me.
I am going to have so much fun with this hottie.
From his million-dollar smile, to his lush, golden-brown hair, to his dreamy eyes, the man has heartbreaker written all over him.
And that’s fine by me, since my heart isn’t on the table.
“So, what sort of dancing are we talking about?” I ask. “Do you dance likeMagic Mike?”
He tugs playfully at his tie, jutting out his hip à la dirty dancer. “If that’s what you’re looking for, Katie. I’m more than happy to offer you a lap dance.”
