Page 44 of Nico
Sliding his hand down Sadie's waist, he helped her up and kept her plastered to his side as they made their way from the room. Neither of them spoke, allowing the little girl to chatter away as they went into the kitchen.
Chapter 11
He wandered around the dazzlingly bright ballroom and smiled absently at the greetings from their guests. All the time wondering when the hell he could manage to discreetly take his leave. He wanted to be with her. Two days ago, something had changed between them, and he wanted to be with her. The inability to make that happen was slowly driving him crazy.
She had refused to spend the night with him because Gracie was going to be there and as she pointed out, it was too soon to have them sleeping in the same bed with his daughter present. And he did not have the heart to send Gracie back to the main house so he could be with Sadie.
He had had to put the little girl's need above his own monstrous ones. And they were huge and pressing as well as intense.
By the time an hour had passed, he felt as if he was suffocating. He was dressed like a damn peacock, and the tie was cutting off his air. And if one more damn woman sidled over to ask him for a dance, he was going to go mad. Stark raving mad.
Or hurt someone. He should have done the sensible thing and disappeared as soon as he read Gracie her story and she was tucked in bed. But some insanity had him agreeing to spend the night here and attend his mother's annual Christmas Eve ball.
"There will be questions," she had pointed out in what sounded like a reasonable voice. "People want to see a united front. The ladies at my bridge and book clubs as well as the charities we're responsible for are speculating about Gracie. We could put everything to bed if you just attend this one ball. That's not asking too much. Besides, you'll want to be present in the morning when she wakes up. She's expecting you to spend the day with her."
It had all sounded so tidy, that he had agreed.
But he was yearning to be with Sadie. To make love to her, to wake up on Christmas morning with her wrapped around him.
"Dance with me."
He was about to snarl a quiet no, when his sister tugged at his arm and gave him no choice.
Bottle green eyes stared up at him as they circled the dance floor.
"You looked so fierce, I had to do something about it."
"And your solution is to dance with your brother?" He lifted his head and scanned the crowded room. "Where the hell do all these people come from? And why aren't you with that spineless ass you've been seeing?"
Lifting a hand to his cheek, she tried for soothing. "Irritable and frustrated. Two very dangerous combinations. And Gregory is not spineless. He might be a mama's boy." She shook her head. "You're right, he's a bit of a weakling."
His eyebrows lifted. "Why are you with him?"
"The sex is not bad." She grinned at the pained look on his face. "What? You don't think your little sister has sex?"
"Please." His face relaxed as he settled in her company. He had always been able to get along with her and found her presence soothing. "What caring and loving brother wants to hear that?"
"I won't mention it again." She studied his face. "You want to leave."
"Is it that obvious?"
"As clear as glass. Where is she now?"
"At home. She worked tonight and got off a few minutes ago. Said she's just going to go to bed and sleep late." He scanned the room and saw his mother playing hostess to a bunch of nosy and overdressed matrons. The party was an excuse for them to show off their overabundance of jewelry and gowns that probably cost more than the earth. The entire scene was wearing on him.
"Why does she do this every year? To what end?" he wondered.
"Mother loves a good party and it's tradition."
"One that should be done away with." He jerked one shoulder restlessly. "And I allowed myself to be roped in."
"Usually you just disappear."
"Now I know why." He made a sudden decision as soon as the song ended. "Make my excuses, will you?"
"Darling--"
"I'll be here bright and early before my daughter wakes up. If she does, tell her I'm on my way."
