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Where Samuel had set out to disarm her with his skilled charm, he was the one getting effortlessly sucked in by her. Captivating, that’s what she is. And like no woman he’d ever met.
For the next few moments he simply regarded her, content to scan her features and try to discern what she was thinking – and if she was sending out the signals he wished for.
“Well, could I be right? You seem the type to possess esthetic faculties. Since I’m an artist, I can mostly tell these things, you know,” teased Dina, enjoying the look on his face, as if he wasn’t sure what to make of her. Dina wasn’t sure herself why she seemed all too eager to flirt with this handsome stranger. He triggered something reckless inside her, and at first she’d been wary of her inexplicable reaction to him. She’d tried to stay remote and had circled her way around him for most of the evening. Yet somehow, she’d found herself drawn right back like a moth to a flame.
“Interesting observation,” murmured Samuel. He collected art as a hobby as well as a business, had in fact studied it for his personal enjoyment. Mostly his focus was paintings, and the old masters. It was indeed surprising when Dina told him she did in fact paint and quite well too. She was such a contradictory combination – delicate beauty amassing such deep intelligence as she talked to him about her art, her love for the gift she had to create beauty for the senses. Samuel watched her come alive when he matched her in insight, sharing with her some of his knowledge on the subject so obviously close to her heart.
She had a mesmerizing effect on Samuel’s jaded consciousness. It was only after almost an hour of discourse that he snapped back to reality and noticed they’d drifted to an alcove away from the noise and crowd. Had he been so absorbed in their tête-à-tête, he’d reflexively pulled her in to this private spot, or was there a more sinister intent? Maybe it was both. He did want them alone, and thankfully Dina had been just as engrossed while sharing her views that he’d pulled off the stunt without suspicion.
But when she suddenly burst out laughing and shook her head, Samuel was curious to know why, even as his lips quirked in irrepressible amusement. Seeing her smile, hearing her laugh, had the effect of warming him in ways that surprised him. Even her laugh was beautiful, thought Samuel with an inner shake of his head in wonder.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, tucking a chocolate-brown strand behind her ear, glad when she didn’t flinch from his touch. She even seemed comfortable with the cozy contact.
Dina shrugged. “The fact that we might come off totally pretentious to anyone who overheard us talking about art at a nightclub.”
“As opposed to doing what? Getting drunk or high?” teased Samuel. Not that he ever made the mistake of over-imbibing, nor did he do drugs.
“Of course not. I meant dancing.” She playfully smacked his shoulder. Samuel grinned. The more she seemed at ease with him, the more he liked it. Much too much, he realized.
“If you wanted to get me to dance with you, all you had to do was ask,” said Samuel, cocky smirk in place. “I guess I can be obliging even if I don’t do the dancing thing.”
Dina huffed. “Why, because you can’t dance? I bet you can’t.”
Samuel threw back his head and laughed. He really shouldn’t be here, hiding out in this alcove with her. He was paid a whole load of dough for each appearance and here he was, stealing time with his mysterious beauty, when he should be mixing and doing promo for the club. But he couldn’t seem to tear himself away from Dina, not just yet.
“What’s the wager if I prove you wrong?” he asked, eyes narrowing with inky intent.
“Since you’ll get to dance with me, that should be reward enough,” was her saucy reply.
She made to move on back for the club, but Samuel’s light hold on her elbow brought her to a stop. “How about this, if I turn out to be a better dancer than anyone you’ve danced with tonight, I win a second dance – and I get to choose which song. I’ll settle your bar tab if I lose.”
Dina’s lips curved in a smile that said she was biting the bait. “Looks like a win-win for me.”
Samuel was startled but pleased when she slipped her hand in his and turned them to head back inside the main club area. He hid his sly smile, intending to enjoy their little wager. He knew Dina would be surprised to find out he actually had moves for a white guy. It came naturally to him – and he wouldn’t have his party boy pedigree if he couldn’t rock the dance floor.
Dina had already tried out the dance floor with a few partners earlier. It had been fun but she’d been more curious about finding Samuel, especially when he didn’t join the crowd dancing to the high-pressure music. The talented DJ had been spinning music from all genres – hip-hop, house/electronica, techno and a bit of top 40. It had had even Dina wanting to dance all night. But this was the first time tonight she was dancing with someone she really wanted to, which made all the difference.
