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Darryn glowered at him. “Don’t be an idiot,” he said in a clipped voice.
Feminine giggles floated over to them, and Dale turned to stare at the three bridesmaids sitting on the other side of the table. They watched the dancing. Dana was beautiful, David was right. And so was Hannah. But it was Zoe to whom his eyes kept returning, no matter how many times he tried to look away.
“Oh, look. Caitlin’s mom is on her way over. I’ve never seen anyone her age with so much energy.” David waved at the smiling older woman walking in their direction.
Her face lit up when she saw them and she rushed closer.
*
Hannah looked overZoe’s shoulder. She cussed under her breath and grabbed her bag.
“Oh, hell, Mom is on her way. I’m going to the ladies’ room…” But Hannah was too late. Their mother swooped down on them and waved to the three brothers behind them.
“Why aren’t you young people dancing?” She laughed. “It’s a wonderful night, you’re young, all gorgeous, come on!” She motioned for the three men to get up.
She bent down and whispered to them, “Bridesmaids are supposed to dance with the groomsmen at least once, you know. Especially if they look like those three! Come on, girls, bat those eyelashes.” Her eyes twinkled. “Haven’t I taught you anything?” She ended on a loud whisper.
Zoe closed her eyes and wished the floor would swallow her up. She loved her romance-writing mother dearly but, at times like this, Zoe could cheerfully throttle her. She was forever trying to find husbands for her daughters. Zoe hoped now that Caitlin was married, her mother would back off, but obviously she had no such plans.
Smiling, her mother waved at them and moved away. The music changed again, and the next minute Dale stood in front of her, holding out his hand for a dance. Zoe glanced towards Hannah and Dana, but the other two Cavallos held out their hands towards her sister and their friend as well.
There was no way she could refuse this dance—her mother would never forgive her. Okay, she’d do this and then nobody could accuse her of not behaving properly.
This was such a bad idea, but short of causing a scene, she couldn’t say no. She took a deep breath and, without looking at Dale, put her hand in his—her last rational act.
The next minute Dale had her on her feet and spun her around. Then he pulled her in and kept her close to his body as he danced around the floor with her. Her feet followed his as if she’d done this a million times before, as if they’d always been dancing together. His movements were flawless, graceful, intoxicating.
This close to him, his scent filled her nostrils, seeped through her skin into her bloodstream from where it filled every cell in her body. His powerful muscles flexed under her hands, his breath caressed her check, and his big, warm hand stroked her sensuously up and down her bare back, leaving every centimetre of her flesh craving more. Their bodies were fused together. She closed her eyes and let the music and the man take over.
This would end in a few minutes; she would probably not see Dale again very soon, if ever, but for the moment she was tired of denying herself this sensation.
Desperately, she tried to get her sluggish brain cells to work, tried to rationalize what she was feeling. If she thought about it, her reaction was normal. She was young and unattached; he was a sought-after, rich tycoon—what girl wouldn’t swoon a little bit? And anyway, this was probably the way he always danced with any woman. She’d read enough about him to know he seldom had the same girl on his arm. So this was just for tonight.
Slowly, she became aware that the music was farther away, that they’d moved on to the wide terrace overlooking the sea. He steered her around a pillar. And for the first time, she looked up at him.
His eyes were dark with an expression she’d never seen before. What was it? Desire? But that was impossible; it had been obvious from the start he could hardly stand the sight of her. Surely he wasn’t interested in her in that way, was he?
“Zoe, this is exactly the reason why I’ve stayed away from you, why I haven’t danced with you tonight. This is so not what I want, but I can’t seem to help myself around you…”
Before she could ask what he was talking about, he kissed her.
His lips were warm and demanding and with a sigh she surrendered. It never even occurred to her to deny him this. To deny herself this pleasure.
Because that was what it was. Pure, unadulterated pleasure.
With a shaky exhale, she pulled him closer and thrust her fingers into his hair. He groaned while his hands restlessly explored her body. Don’t stop, please don’t stop. For a split second she worried she’d said the words out loud, but quickly remembered her mouth was otherwise engaged. As far as she was concerned, it could stay that way forever.
His lips moved from her mouth and he kissed a trail down her face, her neck, until he reached her cleavage. Breathing became impossible. His one hand cupped her curves and his tongue flicked out, following the line of her pushed-up breasts. His other hand found her bare leg under the short dress. Restlessly, his fingers caressed her leg until all her nerve endings screamed from an overload of impulses.
Her legs wobbled, and without lifting his head, he pushed her against the pillar so she’d have support. Heat spread from her belly throughout her whole body; she was going to burst into flames at any minute.
“Dale!” someone called.
“Zoe?” She heard her sister Hannah’s voice from far away.
“Dale, where are you?” The voice was much closer now.
Dale’s head jerked up, and breathing heavily, he pushed himself away from her.
