Page 21 of Piece Of Me

“Which one?” she quipped, that smile now prominent.

He liked this flirting thing. “Do I need to repeat it?”

“No, Taz Pullman, I don’t want to get out of here. I’ve been stuck at home all week.”

Someone bumped her and she stumbled, her arms landing on his chest to stop her from falling. The touch was light as a feather, but he felt it like a hammer. She didn’t pull away, and she sure as hell didn’t stop him from pulling her closer. He whispered in her ear.

“What do you want to do then?”

“I can tell you what I don’t want to do.”

“I’m all ears.”

“I don’t want to stand here for one more minute while my favorite song in the world is playing.”

Another slow song filled the air, and he took a moment to listen. It was a Cal Bridgestone classic, Fall Into Me.

“You asking me to dance?” Taz said, watching her carefully.

“You saying yes?” she shot back, one eyebrow raised dramatically.

That was it. He was done with the flirting. He reached for her hand. “I guess I am.”

With that he led her toward the dance floor, his entire body on fire with the kind of need that was going to be a problem. Because Scarlett Bridgestone was the kind of trouble he generally tried to avoid. The kind of trouble that could hang a man if he let it.

And yet, Taz pushed all of that aside, because right now she felt like heaven and damned if he was giving that up. At least not tonight.

CHAPTER 7

She was crazy.

Hell, she was more than crazy. Scarlett was sitting on top of Crazy Mountain and if it weren’t for the strong arms that held her, she’d be floating all the way up to Crazy Heaven and beyond.

What. The. Hell.

She should have taken Danny up on his offer to twirl her around the dance floor. Danny she could handle because he was the opposite of dangerous. Heck, he was so far from dangerous, vanilla was his middle name. But Taz Pullman? She was playing with fire.

He pulled her deeper into the crowd, then stopped in the middle of the dance floor, turning her slowly as he slid his arms around her. She had no choice but to wrap hers around his waist and after a moment of hesitation, rested her cheek against his chest.

His heartbeat was steady and strong, and God, he smelled good. Taz didn’t say a word to her, just held her while the song fell from the stage and rolled over the crowd. A ballad her brother had written years ago, it was about unrequited love, full of wistful lyrics and a melody that both haunted and inspired. It tugged at every heart string she owned.

Taz’s hand was at the small of her back; his imprint burned through the thin T-shirt she wore. She nestled against him, helpless to do anything but indulge in the feel of a man pressed against her. It had been ages since she’d been held like this. And even though they were in the middle of at least fifty people, there was in intimacy, a familiarity she couldn’t shake.

The thing of it was, Scarlett wasn’t so sure she wanted to shake it off. Or him for that matter.

So, she let Taz hold her as close as two humans could possibly be without straying into X-rated territory. They moved together like they’d done this dance a million times before, swaying to the music, neither one of them uttering a sound. She liked this feeling. Sheltered. Cared for. Still, it wasn’t enough to keep her mind from wandering to a pub in Ireland on a hot summer night when the ale had flowed, and the band played until dawn. A night when she’d given everything to Malcom David.

It was the turning point. The before to her now.

Damn, she thought, slamming her eyes closed. I don’t want to think about him. I don’t want him inside my head.

“What was that?”

Startled, her eyes flew open. “I…” she stumbled over her words, aware the song was over, the band was taking a break, and more than a few people were staring at her and Taz. “Nothing.” She stepped out of his arms, instantly missing the heat, but suddenly unsure of herself.

“Are you okay?” His voice was gentle.

“Of course, I am.” Her answer was sharper than it should have been, and she sighed. “I just…hormones I guess.” Her throat was suddenly tight, and she looked up, eyes on the ceiling because dammit now there were tears poking the corners of them.

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