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'Yes.' Why not? she thought. It was a party and she deserved some fun, and, slipping out of his arms, she began to gyrate with the music. Her green eyes clashed with his. 'If you can,' she goaded him. And he could. . .
He danced the same way as he did everything-—perfectly. She should have guessed. Beth had thought him the sexiest man on two legs before, but watching his long body move with sinuous grace to the heavy beat was a lesson in eroticism that made her respond in kind.
As if by some unspoken agreement for the next half- hour or more they danced, and laughed, and teased each other with their bodies in perfect harmony. When eventually the music returned to a slow beat and Dex pulled her into his arms, Beth went willingly.
'My little cat, my fantasy,' he murmured against the top of her head. His hands stroked up and down her arms, one hand finally settling at the base of her spine, holding her tightly against him, and his other hand curving around her chin and tilting her head back. 'Will you purr for me, Beth?' he asked, his dark eyes intent on her flushed face. 'Fulfil my fantasy?'
'My turn, I think.' Mike's voice cut in before Beth could answer.
'Okay. . . ' Dex said, his hand falling from her chin and turning her deftly towards Mike. 'I'll go and find us all a drink.' He was in complete control in a second, while Beth was fighting for breath.
Beth didn't know whether to be grieved or relieved as Mike whirled her around the floor. 'Why the haste, brother dear?' she managed to get out when she had recovered enough to speak.
Stopping dead at the edge of the dance floor, Mike looked straight at her and demanded, 'What exactly is going on between you and Giordanni?'
'Nothing. Nothing at all.'
'This is Mike, your brother. I know you, and I remember the gooey-eyed look you had after you met the man at the boss's party. So what gives? Have you been dating him ever since?'
'Don't be silly. I went out with him a couple of times, and realised he wasn't my type. I haven't seen him for weeks.'
'So why is he almost devouring you on the dance floor? And why did he call at your apartment tonight?'
'Mike, you're beginning to sound like Big Brother with all your questions. I have no idea why Giordanni called at my apartment, and Í don't really care.'
But she did care, and she couldn't believe her own oversight. She had spent the last hour with the man actually enjoying herself, if she was honest, and it had never occurred to her to ask Dex why he had called. She had to pull herself together. So far she had been reacting, not acting.
'Sorry. But according to Elizabeth you needed rescuing. Don't ask me why. "Women's intuition," she said, and, as her wish is my command, consider yourself rescued,' Mike informed her with a wry smile.
'You're a fool, but I love you.' She was touched by his protective attitude.
'As long as you're not a fool over Giordanni.' Mike's blue-eyed gaze was suddenly serious. 'He is a handsome devil, and I know he's a brilliant businessman, but his reputation with the ladies is the pits.'
'Who are you maligning now, fiancé mine?' Elizabeth arrived and tucked her arm through Mike's.
Beth glanced around the room, her eyes widening on the voluptuous lady, who was now exposing one breast, and shot quickly back at Elizabeth. 'The rather lively lady who has just lost a fig leaf,' she improvised, and immediately the attention of Mike and Elizabeth was diverted to the dance floor, much to Beth's relief. The disc jockey was yelling it was midnight, over the music, and the crowd was going wild.
'Oh, my God. Don't you dare look, Mike,' Elizabeth exclaimed, putting her hands over her fiancé's eyes, and laughing with Beth over his shoulder.
'Spoilsport!' Mike cried.
'Here, have a drink and cool down.' Dex's deep voice joined the conversation. Beth spun around to find him standing behind her, miraculously carrying four glasses of champagne in his large hands.
They all took a glass. Beth drank hers straight off; she needed it. She had been perilously close to forgetting why she had left Dex in the first place, and she hated her own weakness.
Suddenly she found the noise was deafening. Her head was beginning to ache, and the hood of her costume was feeling tighter by the minute. She glanced up at Dex. He was hovering over her like a vampire bat, she thought, her imagination running riot. If she didn't escape soon, she would faint. Elizabeth was saying something, Beth knew, but she could barely hear above the noise.
'What did you say?' Beth asked, as Elizabeth and Mike put their empty glasses on a convenient table and hand in hand turned to Beth.
'This party is turning rather wild,' Mike said, sharing a very male look over the top of her head with Dex. 'We're leaving.' And, grabbing Elizabeth's hand, he set off for the exit.
Dex took her glass from her nerveless fingers and set it on the table. 'So are we.'
Arrogant, domineering swine. . . 'No, the party's just warming up,' she challenged, not because she had any desire to stay, but simply to thwart him. He was so damn superior.
'If it gets any warmer, it will be illegal,' Dex replied. Catching Beth's wrist in his large hand, he added, 'Mike and Elizabeth need a ride home. Come on.'
And, weaving through the crowd, he dragged Beth behind him.
