“I’m glad something positive came out of it, but I plan to talk with AJ about his swollen head and how absolute power corrupts absolutely when we get home,” Grace said, loud enough for her fiancé to hear.
“Good thing there are plenty of couches I can sleep on,” AJ joked.
Zane shaking his head and looking a bit unsettled, turned to Cooper. “I thought you said AJ threatened you with jail, but nothing came of it?”
AJ clapped Cooper on the back. “Cooper was smart. He didn’t test my friendship by calling my bluff.”
“Did I forget to mention that?” Cooper asked sheepishly.
Zane rolled his eyes, but before he could respond, the band announced they were slowing things down for a couple songs, and Zane moved to stand in front of McKenna. He held out his hand. “You promised me a dance.”
As she placed her hand in his, electricity jolted through her bringing with it memories of being in his arms earlier. How the world faded away. How she’d felt desired and desirable, in a way she’d never felt before. On the dance floor, when his hand slid around her waist, her breath hitched in her chest. This wasn’t a romantic dance. She had to keep reminding herself of the fact. This was a good faith display. A musical form of a handshake sealing their deal to work together and compromise in the office.
Too bad her body refused to acknowledge the fact.
Chapter Ten
McKenna’s body possesseda different opinion than her head as to what was happening between her and Zane. Cravings coursed through her, fueling her need, obliterating her common sense.
As she floated around the room in his strong embrace, every feminine gaze locked on them, soon shattering her warm, fuzzy tingles. This was what her mother had experienced. Men like Zane and her father drew women the way manure called flies. Her father had never discouraged the admirers, instead thriving on the attention. When he failed to deter them, the women grew bolder, and her mother shrank further into the background. At least until she divorced him. For the first time, McKenna truly felt the ramifications of ignoring her mother’s warning.
Desperate to lighten her mood, she said, “Maybe I should be worried about my job security since it appears you’re the only eligible bachelor within six counties. I wonder why no one told me? But this could be trouble. After all, no single men, no weddings.”
Zane’s brows furrowed in confusion, apparently not understanding her joke. “What makes you say that?”
“Don’t you see the attention you’re gathering? The single women who aren’t drooling over you are glaring at me. Makes me worried someone might jump me on my way out tonight.”
Instead of scanning the room to verify her contention as she expected, Zane’s gaze remained riveted on her. “If you need a bodyguard later, I’m available and willing.”
She laughed, thinking he’d made a chivalrous joke.
His hand tightened around her waist. “I’m serious.”
Her heart raced, and the hot tingles returned in truckloads making her toes curl inside her practical shoes. She perused the room again, this time noting Campbell parked at a corner table. As they said in Texas, with eyes cold enough to chill a side of beef.
“I may take you up on that. The look Campbell’s giving me makes me nervous after today.”
Zane shook his head and frustration lined his features. “Since she’s in Susannah’s wedding and you’ll have to deal with her, I’ll talk to her. This is ridiculous.”
McKenna stumbled and Zane’s arm tightened around her, pulling her closer to keep her from falling, and she bit her lip to keep from sighing at the contact. This was so bad. Dangerous even. They’d been better off not getting along. Anything was better than this. Definitely safer.
Forget that and enjoy this moment.
After tonight, being in Zane’s arms couldn’t happen again. She had career plans to focus on. He was Ginny’s grandson, and technically her boss for the next few weeks, and then he’d return to California.
But that didn’t mean she couldn’t have tonight. She’d spent her career giving brides their perfect days while she’d missed so many typical high school experiences. Between moving, being average looking, smart, and opinionated, she hadn’t been invited to homecoming or prom. In college, she’d focused on her grades to maintain her scholarships.
She deserved tonight, and for the next two and something minutes, McKenna pushed out every thought except being in Zane’s arms. She whirled around the dance floor with the town’s most sought after bachelor and pretended this was real. As she soaked up the sounds, every flutter or surge of desire, she filed them away to savor.
When the music ended, McKenna stepped out of Zane’s arms and a chill swept over her. She’d been the belle of the ball, but her Cinderella midnight moment had arrived. She peeked at Campbell and the woman stood. Probably about to head straight for Zane. Heaven help anyone in her path. Unwilling to handle another prize fight with the maid of honor from hell, McKenna nodded toward Zane’s friends still dancing. “Tell them goodbye for me, will you?”
“Is it Campbell?”
“No,” she lied. “Enjoy the rest of your night.”
She turned to leave, but Zane remained beside her, escorting her back to the table. She grinned at him. This Zane wasn’t half bad. She might go as far to say she liked him. “Don’t let Campbell rip off your clothes. You don’t want to land in jail for indecent exposure,” she teased as she grabbed her purse.
When she headed for the front door, Zane kept pace beside her. “What is it with you and Campbell?”
