Page 65 of Partner Pursuit
Jake still had his arm about her, and she wanted to stay within his embrace.
Tim, surprised, said, “I understand.” He pulled outhis phone.
“What’s the party emergency?” she asked as Jake tugged her back tothe table.
“I need your opinion on which dip is better,” Jake said. “And I thought I’d rescue you from that guy who looks like a very serious work colleague. You’re off duty now, you know.” Grabbing her hand and pulling her through the crowd to arrive at the center table, he surveyed the dishes, took a cracker and spreaddip on it.
“Now, which dip do you think is better? Try this spinach dip, or maybe this one.” He handed her a cracker topped with a black bean and sweet potato dip. “Also, Eve is about to clear the food and put out the desserts, and I’m not sure you’ve even eaten.”
She hadn’t. “Mmm, yes, this one is good.” She tasted it. “But hostess duties mean I shouldn’t leave him with no one totalk to.”
“Shhh, he can fend for himself. Now try this bruschetta with tomato and avocado—really special.” He put the cracker up to her mouth, and she ate it; their glances met as his fingers touched her lips. She wasn’t sure what she’d just swallowed. She took another bruschetta to taste itthistime.
“There you go, he’s already been scooped up—by that woman with the very strict haircut—no nonsense there. They seemwell-matched. Another lawyer?” Jake asked.
“Yes, that’sColette.”
Tim was smiling at Colette. Colette handed him a drink, set hers down, and used both hands to pull her hair away fromherface.
Max was talking to Winnie. Audrey was relieved that Jake did not seem to find Colette attractive. What if Max, Tim, and Jake had all pursued Colette? It wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility inherlife.
She turned back to Jake. “Did I look bored?”
He handed her anempanada.
“You looked very serious. Not smiling,” he said. “And I could have sworn you were discussing a case because you have this little crease in your forehead when you are thinking hard.” He gently touched her forehead and smoothed it down, and sheshivered.
“We were. I’m amazed you figuredthatout.”
“I’m afraid it’s genetically ingrained. At my parents’ parties with work colleagues, we were all under strict instructions to pull my father away from any conversations that looked boring.”
“Really?” she asked. She had been worried that Tim was just going to talk about work, but the conversation had just shifted to be morepersonal.
“Absolutely. To his credit, my father said that parties were for getting to know each other better—not for discussing work. But some people just can’t help themselves. So which appetizer?” Jake asked.
“I can never pick. I love the chicken skewers with satay sauce, the pizzettes and the banana black bean empanadas. And the bruschetta with the basil and the surprise twist of mint. That seems to be the most popular. Wait until you see the desserts—they’re coming out next.” Pete and Max cleared the appetizer plates.
“I’m going to play ‘Sweets for my Sweet’ when Eve brings out the dessert, so I have to get back to the music, but I have a serious party hostess question: do you want this to be a dance party? After the desserts, we can turn this into a dance party if I switch the playlist and you dim the lights.”
“Definitely a dance party,” she said. So much for returning to talk to Tim. Anyway, she didn’t feel like battling Colette for him. He chose to come with Colette.
“Save the first dance for me. I see Eve now with thedesserts.”
Audrey helped Eve carry out the desserts as Jake played “Sweets for my Sweet” and some other similarly themed songs. The guests oohed and aahed as the pastries came out. Audrey was glad people were so appreciative. As everyone tucked into devouring the desserts, there was that moment of silence when the enjoyment of the baked delights and the sorbet precluded talking.
Upon finishing her dessert, Audrey caught Jake’s nod from across the room, and she went to dim the lights. “Holding out for a Hero” burst out and Jake’s eyes met hers across the room andhe smiled.
He crossed back and clasped her hand, pulling her to him and dancing swing with her, spinning her round. The party crowd moved back to clear space. Her hair spun out, and she felt a bit like a princess—like a teenage dream when you’re the center of attention at a party with a cute boy—she just needed a billowing skirt. He pulled her close, and she closed her eyes briefly, enjoying resting against his hard chest, breathing in his familiar fresh laundry scent. She looked up, and their eyes met. He smiled, his dimple appearing in his cheek. He spun her out again. They separated hands, but kept dancing close, mimicking each other’s moves, totally in sync. Others were now dancing around them (although not Tim or Colette). Winnie and Eve came out and joined them, dancing as all the women sang “I need ahero.”
“Are you trying to set impossible standards?” Max asked Jake as he joinedthe group.
“Just raising them,” Jake said. “Don’t worry. We’ve got a mix of musical messages coming up.”
The song switched, but Jake didn’t leave her. They separated from her group of friends to dancetogether.
A spark of electricity passed as their hands touched. She couldn’t tell if he felt it too. She turned away and shimmied back, and Jake did the same, their moves in perfect rhythm, their glances heated, his hand lingering at her hip as he spun her around.Is it just for the fun of the dance, or does itmeanmore?
A friend of Jake’s came to say goodbye, and Jake stopped to talk to him. She couldn’t hear what he said, but Jake leaned in to listen to him. They stepped away from the dance floor. As they did, Jake looked over briefly as if to excuse himself, and she nodded.
