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Sure enough, he took her glass and set it on the bar, along with his. Then he twined their fingers and gave a tug.
“Come on. Let’s dance.”
Her heart fluttered. Her brow crooked. “You dance?”
“Why not?” He led her out onto the packed floor. Pulled her into his arms as the music slowed to a less head-banging beat, morphing into a more manageable one so that they could move together.
Their bodies melded, her breasts nestling below his pecs and his thigh wedging between her legs. Scarlet stared up at him as the zings ricocheted through her.
With everything inside her instantly going haywire, it was a wonder she could latch on to a sane thought, let alone speak.
Somehow, she found the ability to ask, “Are you just doing this in hopes of getting me to back off the case?”
He held her even tighter, tucking her more firmly against him.
His erection rubbed along her hip and he muttered in her ear, “Does it feel like I’m just doing this so you’ll back off?”
Her free hand curled around the nape of his neck while her fingers remained tangled with his, their hands resting against his chest.
A tinge of vulnerability crept in on Scarlet. She’d spent so much of her life following her gut instincts, getting her high from solving puzzles, that she’d had neither the time nor the inclination to pursue romantic relationships.
More than that, she’d never really met men worthy of a career derailment. Perhaps it’d always been the skeptic in her that made her automatically assume there was a personal agenda being pushed, a shady angle that would somehow be to her detriment. She was suspicious by nature—went with the territory given her ancestry—and that made her wary of deceit and betrayal.
Therefore, she did not typically engage in endeavors such as this that would leave her wide open for epic emotional failure. She’d been shattered once before, with her parents’ deaths. No need for a repeat performance or additional heartache.
But she couldn’t deny she was mesmerized by Michael’s compelling gray-blue eyes and the sensual sway of his hips. The possessiveness of his embrace. The way they fit so perfectly together. The way they moved as one, as though they’d been doing this forever, were meant to be this glued to each other.
There were professional lines Scarlet didn’t cross as a rule. But she was dying to know more about this man beyond what Bayli’s research had unearthed. Therefore, Scarlet was willing to cave to some of her inquisitiveness. Just a little.
She said, “So I already know you graduated from Princeton, which makes it understandable how you have such keen business sense. But I’m confused as to where the commodities knack comes from.”
“My great-great-grandfather owned one of the largest sugar plantations in Hawaii. The significance of commodities, including the importance of buying and selling them, was passed down to me.”
She gave a slight nod. “I did discover a deed in Oahu belonging to M. Vandenberg. I figured it was in your father’s possession.”
“No, that’s my personal holding, also passed down to me. Though I sold off a portion of the plantation when I first inherited it. That’s how I ended up with the five million you mentioned earlier.”
“And why did you keep the rest of the land? I hardly take you for a harvester of cane sugar.”
“Actually, the history and the current state of affairs related to sugar production and exportation is tumultuous. With past strangleholds in Hawaii and strict governmental policies, there are a lot of constraints and complex variables that affect the economy and the labor force, even here on the mainland as it pertains to sugar manufacturing and importation. The majority of plantations on the islands have closed; mine’s on the cusp. I have different plans for the acreage, still in soft commodities since I have future contracts at stake in the exchange market.”
“Can’t be easy keeping track of all of your investments.”
He chuckled. “I have people who do that for me.”
Scarlet gave this some thought, then said, “I don’t believe you’d rely too heavily on them. You seem to be the type who keeps his finger on the pulse of his business.”
“And business is really the last thing I want to discuss this evening.” His impish expression held her spellbound. “I’m finding this current twist of fate much more fascinating.”
His hand at the small of her back inched lower until he palmed an ass cheek. With the dance floor as crowded as it was, she knew no one took note. He squeezed roughly and it sent a wicked thrill through her.
“You’re big on taking liberties, aren’t you?” she asked.
“Can’t help it. You’re irresistible.” He pressed his thigh more firmly between her legs. Used his hand on her butt to grind her apex against his flexed muscles.
Good Lord, he’d been right. This was a risky game to play.
His warm breath teased strands of her hair as he said, “You smell damn good. Feel even better.”
