Page 35 of Inviting Trouble
Mad went up on tiptoe, brushing against him and gaining his undivided attention. Then she whispered in his ear, her voice a sexy purr, “You look hot in that suit.”
He swallowed hard because he now knew without a doubt the attraction went both ways. She’d desired him once, when she was too young, and he’d hoped that when he returned, she’d have moved on. He was damaged goods.
“Thanks,” he managed.
She brushed against him a second time as she stood flat on her feet again. His cock throbbed with need, his brain screaming at him to pull away.Danger. Off-limits. Not her.
She met his eyes, a small smile playing over her lips like maybe she’d noticed the effect she had on him. “It was like the beauty shop of horror with my friends before the wedding.”
“Horror?”
“You don’t want to know what women do behind closed doors.” Her breasts brushed across his chest as she swayed right to his sway left. Was she wearing a bra?Don’t look.
She went on. “But hopefully it’s all worth it.” She swayed left to his sway right, brushing her breasts against him again. He took the lead, a hand on her lower back, making sure she swayedwithhim to prevent any further brushing. “With pain comes beauty, least that’s what Hailey says. I’m not sure I buy it.”
He met her eyes, wanting to tell her how beautiful she looked. How jaw-dropping sexy. But it was Mad. His little pip-squeak to protect at all costs. Even if that meant protecting her from himself.
She sure as hell didn’t feel like a little pip-squeak right now.
She felt hot and sweet and right in his arms. She could never be his, he reminded himself. She deserved so much more than he could give. He just wasn’t made that way.
“You don’t have to say it,” she said like she could read his freaking mind.
“Say what?” he asked cautiously.
She gave him a smirky knowing look. “You dig the dress.” She clearly felt the proof during their dance and he saw no reason to deny it now.
He leaned down to her ear and whispered, “I nearly swallowed my tongue when I saw you.”
She pulled back to look at him, eyes wide.
He returned her gaze, letting her see it was true, yet knowing it had to end right here on the dance floor. He didn’t know how much time passed, the two of them just standing there, staring at each other. He suddenly realized people were leaving the dance floor. The song had ended.
He pulled away. “Thanks for the dance, little bit.”
And then he turned and walked straight out the door, through the hotel’s long lobby and outside, desperately needing to cool off in the winter air.
Chapter Nine
Mad strode as quickly as she could in her clunky heels over to her friends the moment Park left her standing on the dance floor like an idiot.
Hailey elbowed her. “So, how’d it go?”
“He practically ran away from me the moment the song ended,” Mad said with a scowl.
“He was holding you pretty close,” Hailey said.
“No, he wasn’t,” Mad said. “That was me pressing against him.”
“Did he say anything at all complimentary about your new look?” Charlotte asked.
The women leaned in, eager for the details.
Mad sighed. “He did say he about swallowed his tongue when he saw me.”
The women exclaimed excitedly over this news. “That’s great!” Ally chirped.
“A very good sign,” Carrie said.
