Page 180 of Steamy Ever After

“Hey.” He pulled her close and kissed her hair. “Forget about them.”

She leaned into the shelter of his body and frowned. “I told you I don’t like being the center of attention.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you.”

She wanted to storm off, but for a moment when they were dancing, she’d been having fun, too. “It’s embarrassing.”

“What is? We didn’t do anything wrong.”

She couldn’t explain it to him. He didn’t understand what it felt like to feel so universally disliked, to know that they talked about her and never had anything kind to say. “All the women were staring at me.”

“Maybe they were jealous.”

“Hardly.”

He scoffed. “Did you see my moves? Fred Astaire would have been green with envy.”

She chuckled and shoved him. “Don’t make me laugh. It’s cheating. I’m mad at you.”

“But I like your laugh, even when it’s that little pitying one that follows my lame jokes.” He stepped closer, turning her so her body pressed to his. He slipped a finger under her shirt and tickled her side. “Come on, let me hear you laugh.”

She giggled and shoved his hand away. “Don’t.”

“Come on,” he cajoled, searching out that little spot where she happened to be extra ticklish.

She squirmed, but not before he found that tender slope just above her hip and dug his fingers in. She spun away, but he caught her by the waist, hauling her back to him.

He cupped her breast and growled. “You’re mine.”

“We’re in a parking lot.” She shivered, realizing she left her coat inside. “And it’s freezing.”

“Come back inside.”

She wanted to, but she was still embarrassed from the dance and now from making a scene. They all saw her run out. “What will we tell them?”

“Whatever we want. Tell them I farted and you needed fresh air. Who cares?”

“I do.”

He turned her face and kissed her. “Don’t tell them anything. Just go back in because you want to have another drink with me. We’re too cool to give a shit about what anyone else might think.” He took her hand. “Please.”

She couldn’t resist that coaxing look in his dark eyes, so she reluctantly followed him into the bar. Everyone was back at the table and Sue was taking another order of drinks.

“Two more rum and cokes,” Giovanni ordered.

His cousins praised his fancy footwork and bitched that if he kept it up their wives were all gonna make them take dance lessons, but other than that, no one mentioned anything.

The conversation circled around family and work, the occasional celebrity gossip cutting in. By her third drink, Erin was starting to unwind.

Mallory got up to use the restroom and Finn leaned close and asked, “Did you do anything for your birthday?”

Giovanni stiffened beside her. Erin looked at Finn with wide eyes and stiffly shook her head. Finn’s gaze lifted over her shoulder and regret flashed in his eyes. “Sorry.”

She pressed her lips tight. What could she say? Slowly, she leaned back and glanced at Giovanni. He wasn’t smiling anymore.

He wasn’t even looking at her. Pulling a few bills out of his pocket, he tossed them on the table and stood. “Talk to you guys later.”

She had more than half her drink left and wasn’t ready to leave, but as he stared down at her expectantly, she figured it was best to go. Without a word, she stood and pulled on her coat. Giovanni’s jaw was tight as he walked her to his car.

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