Page 33 of When You Are Mine

She flashed him a chagrined smile, shifting her slim hand under the table to his knee, where she squeezed for good measure.

“A girl’s gotta try.” No shame. “One day, Walsh, you’ll be ready and I’ll be right there waiting.”

“Don’t hold your breath.” He made sure not to smile so she’d know he meant it. “There’s a line of guys waiting for you, Sof. Don’t wait on me.”

“You’re the one I want.”

“It’s not gonna happen.”

“We’re still young.” She patted the knee she’d just squeezed. “You have wild oats to sow.”

“We’re friends. Leave it there.”

“Walsh,” his mother said from the head of the table a few feet north of him and Sofie. “Will you open the dancing with me?”

Walsh lobbed a silent yes-get-me-out-of-this expression to his mother. She returned with a mama-always-knows smile. Walsh walked the few feet down the table to extend his hand to his mother. She certainly didn’t look fifty, whatever that was supposed to look like. They stepped to the center of the floor cleared for dancing.

“No Sam Whitby tonight?” Walsh asked.

“No Sam Whitby, period.” She twisted her carefully painted mouth into a resigned smile. “He’s just a friend who got the wrong idea. Thanks for working the crowd, by the way.”

“I have no idea what you mean.” He kept his face perfectly straight.

“I saw you talking to Mr. Donovan. You know he’s one of our biggest donors.”

He swirled her with a flourish, smiling at her girlish laugh.

“I do recall.”

“Hmmmm.” She smiled up at him, the no-strings love and maternal pride clear for him to see. “You’re such a good boy.”

“Not too loud. I have a reputation to maintain.”

“Like you need it with Sofie around. That girl has been chasing you since the fifth grade.”

“Actually, since first grade, but she hasn’t caught me yet, and she won’t.”

“Try telling her that.”

“Ihavetried. She doesn’t listen.”

“Now here’s a man who’s been caught.” Kristeene looked past Walsh’s shoulder, affection softening her expression. “Cam, where have you been all night? I haven’t seen you since you first got here.”

“Well, you’re seeing me now.” He danced Kerris over closer to them. “Walsh, lemme cut in for a dance with the birthday girl.”

Walsh and Kerris shared a knowing glance. Finally, Walsh nodded, handing his mother over to Cam and stepping aside to stand in front of Kerris. His palms moistened, wet with the excitement percolating in his belly. Tension marbled his shoulders.

“Wearein the middle of a dance floor.” He slipped the words between tightly held lips, reaching for her elbow to pull her into his arms. “Seems crazy to just stand here.”

The heat of her body this close made him forget where he was and what he wanted to say. Her sweet vanilla scent seduced him. The muscles in his abdomen contracted, drawing the tension of the moment into his core. Her eyes were trained on the top button of the dress shirt he wore without a tie. The silence lengthened and tightened, a thread on the point of snapping. She gnawed the pillowed flesh of her bottom lip. He exhaled a short breath.

“This is ridiculous.” He pressed the small of her back, forcing her to look up at him. “Let’s get this out of the way. I’m sorry I kissed you at the hospital.”

“Shhhh!” She conducted a quick, furtive survey of the dancers around them. “Good gosh, could youbeany louder?”

“I’m sorry.” He swallowed an ill-timed chuckle. “I didn’t think I was that loud.”

“Can we just forget it happened?”

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