Page 24 of One Quick Obsession

“Should I thank you?

“For saving you? Let’s just call it tit for tat.” I raised a brow, and her cheeks pinked. “Not in a dirty way, you freak.”

“Is there something you really wanted to talk about?” I asked, ignoring the way she felt against me. I could feel her nipples pressing against my chest, and it was all I could do not to lean down and lick her lips. Or inhale the sweet and spicy scent of hers. There’s something wrong with me.

We swayed back and forth, and I continued to ignore the knowing looks as well as the interested ones.

“I didn’t have a question, only wanted to get you out of Ms. Patty’s clutches. But now I’m regretting all of this.”

I grunted. “Can’t be seen dancing with me?”

“You’re my boss and everyone will talk.”

I shook my head and then twirled her around. She snorted, considering this was a slow dance, and I brought her back to my chest. Where she belonged. No, I wasn’t going to think that last thought.

“I’m not your boss.”

“I work for your family. And this town loves gossip. I was just getting you out of that awkward predicament since it didn’t seem that Harper or Isabella was going to do it.”

“Traitors,” I grumbled.

She laughed against me, and we continued to dance.

I didn’t like this feeling, the odd warmth spreading through my chest. I didn’t like how she felt right against me. There was something wrong with this, but there was no easy way out of it.

“Thank you,” I ground out.

“You sound thankful,” she whispered.

“Now that I had this dance though, I can leave. I did my duty.”

She looked up at me and studied my face. “So this is all duty?”

“What do you want me to say, Scar?” Because I had no idea what I was supposed to be thinking in that moment.

The song ended, and I took a step back, letting my hands fall.

“Thank you for the rescue.”

Then I turned on my heel and practically ran from the building. I was a coward, and we both knew it.

“Hudson!”

I turned as Scarlett ran up to me. She held out my phone, and I frowned. “I dropped my phone? Hell. I’m sorry.”

“It must’ve been hanging out of your pocket earlier, or maybe Ms. Patty was trying to steal it. You know, to check your schedule.”

“I wouldn’t put it past her.” I slid it in my back pocket, wondering how exactly that had happened, and shook my head. “I guess it’s the night I should be thanking you.”

She stood in front of me, as I swallowed hard. She was so damn close. What the hell was wrong with me?

I looked down at her, my breath quickening, and I licked my lips. Her gaze went right to the gesture, or maybe I was just seeing things. But I reached out, doing the unthinkable, and pushed a strand of her hair back from her face and tucked it behind her ear.

“I like your dress by the way. I didn’t really say that before.”

And I did like her dress. She wore red that faded into a pale pink and matched her name perfectly. It was one of those older-type dresses that flared around her knees and had a heart neckline. Or at least that’s what I thought it was called. Either way, it made her breasts stand out, and I really needed to stop thinking about her breasts.

“Thanks. I don’t get to wear dresses like these often. I’m usually in more business attire.”