Page 11 of After-Party Consequences

‘You’re a natural,’ he said, tugging her back towards him. Her palm flattened against his chest as the band’s set moved into a slow dance. He settled his hand on her hip to hold her close. She didn’t protest.

Her body pressed so intimately against his made the heat pound. Her eyes widened. Was she aware of the reaction he couldn’t control? Her lips parted, reminding him of their meeting four years ago, except that this time, they were irresistible.

But as the last note died, and the band announced they were taking a break, she stepped away from him.

He knew they probably ought to cool off, him especially, but he heard himself ask, ‘How about some hog roast?’

He waited patiently for her answer, while not feeling patient at all. Something had happened on the dance floor, something vivid and potent—and mutual. She’d captivated him, that much was obvious, but he needed time to think before he acted on this attraction. And considered all the angles. Even so, he knew he wasn’t ready to let her go.

Her face glowed from their recent exertion, but her expression became wary.

‘I should start networking,’ she said with a candour he had not expected. ‘To justify the exorbitant cost of my airfare.’

‘Is this about your designer brand?’

‘You know about that?’ Her face flushed with pleasure, and he realised her business couldn’t be the vanity project he’d assumed it was when Luke had mentioned it.

‘Luke told me you made a dress for his wife, and she loved it.’

Her face glowed. ‘Yes, I did. I’m so pleased he told you that. Cassandra Broussard has been wonderful. I’m sure she only invited me tonight because she knew how much it could boost my business...’

‘How so?’ he asked, genuinely intrigued.

He wished now he’d taken the time to check her out on the internet—something he’d avoided to convince himself he wasn’tthatinterested in her.

‘I’m modelling one of my own designs,’ she said, giving him an impromptu twirl, and filling his senses with another lungful of her intoxicating scent. ‘What do you think?’

‘Stunning,’ he said. Although he couldn’t help thinking while the dress was pretty enough, the woman inside was the real stunner.

Her grin widened. ‘You see, that’s exactly the reaction I was hoping for. But I need to get myself in front of all the potential clients here—who would be mostly female—and wow them with this dress, so they want to commission me,’ she added breathlessly. Then she chewed her lip. ‘Although...’ She glanced around as people filed past them, heading for the dining tables set up by the treeline or the terraces above. ‘I really did not expect anything like this.’

‘Like what?’ he asked, enchanted by the flush on her cheeks and the fierce purpose in her eyes.

‘Something fun and not at all formal. It feels a bit rude now to start touting for business, even incidentally...’

He captured her hand. ‘How about we eat some burnt pig while you tell me who you want to target,’ he said. ‘I may not need a designer gown,’ he added. ‘But I know most of the women here. So I can introduce you around.’

‘Is that a good idea?’ she said, sounding doubtful. ‘I want to sell bespoke haute couture by Trouble Maker, not piss off all your former lovers.’

‘Hey.’ He choked out a gruff laugh. ‘First off, we’re not dating...’Yet.‘Second, I don’t sleep with every woman I date. And last but not least, I’m not so prolific that I know every woman in the Bay Area in a biblical sense. You shouldn’t believe everything you read.’

‘Duly noted.’ She looked suitably chastened, but then she smiled. ‘You really don’t mind introducing me around?’

‘Of course not. I’m happy to boost your business any way I can,’ he said, surprising himself. Truth was, he wasn’t usually a sociable guy, and he never networked at parties. But he was more than happy to help her out, if it meant having her by his side for the rest of the night and keeping that flush of pleasure on her face.

‘Well...’ She chewed her bottom lip some more. ‘That’s actually an offer I’m not sure I can afford to refuse...business-wise.’

‘Then don’t... But let’s start with the offer of burnt pig,’ he said.

‘Absolutely,’ she said. ‘I’m starving.’

He chuckled at her enthusiastic response, her smoky voice arrowing straight into his groin.

‘Cool.’ He patted his belly, enjoying the way her gaze tracked down his torso. ‘The dancing has made me ravenous, too.’

Although it occurred to him that roast pork wasn’t going to satisfy the main reason he was ravenous right now—forcing him to reconsider his priorities again as he led her toward the barbecue pit.

CHAPTER THREE

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