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Emma repeated the words over and over as she followed Stacy back to the party. She was so engrossed in persuading herself that the words were true she didn’t notice Stacy’s sudden stop. Bumping into her back, Emma backed up a quick step with a mutteredumph.
“What the hell, Stace?” Rubbing her nose, she peeked around the taller woman, going still at the sight that met her eyes.
Maddox stood near the raised dais where the live band played, on the edge of the section designated for dancing. Of course, she couldn’t say that was what he was doing with the newest Ace-of-Spades hire. Nala was plastered to Maddox’s lean body, but the two barely moved. Nala Gentry was the type of woman any other woman would love to hate. She was tall, almost eye-level with Maddox, and had a body that would put a supermodel to shame. On top of that, she had brilliant blue eyes and thick blond curls that bounced as she walked. And she was freakishly smart.
“No woman is that perfect,” Stacy mumbled, echoing Emma’s thoughts.
Nala was a vision in a pale pink strapless gown that hugged her willow-thin shape. Standing there with her blond head close to Maddox’s, the two looked like an advertisement for everything beautiful and elegant. Emma suddenly felt fat and frumpy. What had she been thinking? How could she have let Stacy convince her that Maddox felt something for her? It was laughable. Why would he want Emma when he could have Nala—or maybe he already had Nala.
Was she the reason for Maddox’s sudden interest in Christmas?
“I have to get out of here.”
“No, Emma, don’t go.”
Emma squeezed the hand Stacy had clasped around hers, blinking back tears. She wanted to go home, get out of this stupid dress, eat an entire tub of chocolate ice cream, and have herself a world-class cry. Not necessarily in that order.
“I shouldn’t have come, Stacy. This,” she motioned toward her dress, “was a stupid mistake.”
“No, it wasn’t.” Stacy tightened her hold, willing Emma to listen. “I know he has feelings for you. If you would only….”
“Stop, Stace.” Emma barked a short, mocking laugh. “I think what we just saw proves otherwise.”
“Please justtalkto him,” Stacy pleaded.
Emma shook her head, suddenly too tired to think. “I don’t want to talk to him. I don’t even want to see him right now.”
“Um, that’s going to be kind of hard since he’s headed this way.”
Involuntarily Emma turned, her gaze following Stacy’s. Sure enough, Maddox was making his way back to them, the crowd parting like the Red Sea for Moses.
“Oh, no. I can’t do this.” She tried to extricate her hand from Stacy’s grip, but her friend was surprisingly strong. “Stace!” She hissed desperately as Maddox joined them.
“There you are. I was hoping we could have that dance now.”
“I…uh…I….”
“She’d love to.”
Emma felt Stacy pulling her forward, propelling her toward Maddox. She tumbled into him with a soft grunt, her eyes going wide as his arms closed around her, locking her against his hard frame.
For a moment, Emma forgot to breathe. She’d hugged and been hugged by Maddox in the past, but she’d never been fully aligned with every hard sinew. The feeling was almost drug-like, and, like any addict, she wanted more.
“You feel good.”
His words whispered into her ear, sending gooseflesh rising along her arms—and panic into her heart. Suddenly, a vision of Nala’s body against his ripped through her brain, and as much as she’d wanted to burrow closer into his arms just seconds ago, she now wanted to get away.
As close as they were, she had no doubt he could feel every jiggly inch of her, especially the extra pouch she carried around her middle. She held her breath, trying in vain to hold her stomach in. She’d bet her last pint of mint chocolate chip that Nala had no need to wear Spanx.
She looked around for Stacy, but she’d disappeared. Finally, she spotted her standing with Steven, watching them. Her face heated as she realized they were the center of attention.
“People are staring, Maddox.”
“That’s because you’re such a knockout in that dress.”
His hands wandered slowly up and down her back, making it incredibly hard to think. “Nala looks better. Why…” She shivered as his fingers found the indentation at her low back, “don’t you finish your dance with her?”
“Nala and I weren’t dancing.” Maddox fought the urge to move his hands to her lush hips so that he could pull her into his burgeoning erection. He wasn’t going to be able to wait much longer.
