Page 48 of Desperate
Itwas always people like this that Salene truly admired, to be able to have sucha powerful talent of charisma. The type of easy-going personality that coaxedand eased people into thinking you could be lifelong friends despite justmeeting. Derek Cipriani was the poster boy for charisma.
"Youwere looking for me?" She dared to ask.
Grabbingtwo plates, Derek handed her one as he reserved her with a stirring look. Thesmile he gave her told her everything she needed to know. Walking together downthe impossibly long buffet table they filled their plates as they spoke. Theyfound a table with the familiar faces and sat down.
"Idon't think I have said it aloud to you," Derek leaned over and whisperedin her ear while the people at their table were speaking to a couple thatstopped by. "Though I have been saying it in my head since the moment Isaw you enter the ballroom. You look amazing."
Thecompliment was whispered in such an intense, earnest Salene didn't have theurge to make eye contact. Feeling her face heat up she whispered her own thankyou in return. Salene was taking a bite of the delicious canape when the chairnext to her was pulled out. Smoothly Gabriel sat down at the table giving her acool unreadable look before greeting the other members of the table—ignoringDerek completely.
"Hereyou are sweetheart," Gabriel gave her a small smile that Salene couldn'tbe sure if it was genuine or not. "I was looking for you."
Treadingcarefully she replies neutrally. "I got hungry."
Pickingup the salmon mousse canapé, she held it gingerly in front of his mouth. Thehard glint that was in his eyes when he sat down evaporated as he gave her ahalf smile. Obligingly he opened his mouth for her to feed him the horsd'oeuvres. Lost in his gaze, Salene knew they were secluding themselves fromthe table, giving her a wink he ate the canapé.
Ashort woman with a red dress and stylish black bob stopped at their table togreet them.
"I'mglad you guys are having fun, I just wish someone would go out there and dance."She moaned as she leaned to the side trying to see through to the otherside where the ballroom was.
"Salenethis is Trish," Gabriel introduced her. "Trish this is my beautifulSalene."
Thepossessive compliment made Salene's face heat in silent embarrassment. Saleneshook the woman's hand as Gabriel continued, "Trish here organizedeverything tonight."
"Yesand I also organized a huge band," Trish huffed. "And not one personis dancing." The complaint was a not-so-subtle attempt to gain volunteers.
"Don'tlook at me," Gabriel laughed handsomely as he sipped Salene's drink."Dancing is not my strong suit."
"Ican dance," Derek chimed in with a suave grin. "I am actually skilledat ballroom dancing. But I will need a partner."
Thelook of hopeful excitement on Trish's face tugged at Salene's conscience.
"Actually,"Salene barely had the word out of her mouth when she felt Gabriel's bodystiffen beside her. Looking directly at Trish, Salene ignored the man next toher. "I took ballroom dancing as an elective in college."
Gabrieldidn't get a chance to interject before Trish was pulling out her puppy eyes insilent begging. Excited about the prospect of seeing her and Derek dance theother occupants of the table urged them on.
"MayI have this dance?" Derek asked with a gleam of laughter in his eyes.
Knowingthere would be complete hell to pay if she just accepted and walked off Salenefinally turned back around to face Gabriel. Nothing needed to be said, hisgrave expression told her everything she needed to know—he wasn't happy.Kissing him quickly and fully on the lips she stood up and accepted Derek'sarm.
Salenewasn't sure why Derek loved playing with fire when it came to Gabriel, but sherefused to let that get in the way of having a good time tonight. Tonight shefelt beautiful, and she really did want to dance.
Thecrowd of conversing people seemed to part like magic once the band fired up.With deft grace, Derek pulled her close. All eyes were on them now, the heavysense of being stalked by a predator amongst the jungle of people surroundingthem only came from one man, however.
"Foxtrot?"Derek confirmed happily.
"Sure,"Salene agreed with a laugh.
Startingwith the music Derek led her gracefully across the shiny floor. Naturally, asif her body had never forgotten Salene stepped perfectly in time with the quicksteps. The occasional applause only made them both smile as they turned anddipped performing for the crowd. Salene was rather surprised by the strength inDerek's lean build, there was never a moment she didn't trust him not tosupport her firmly.
Theround of applause was thunderous. Two by two people slowly started to fill thedance floor. Salene was positive Trish was somewhere amongst the crowd sighingin relief. The band played a slow song for the new guest to the dance floor,allowing her to catch a much-needed breath. Feeling a bit awkward about thesilence Salene tried to come up with a topic of conversation while secretlyeyeing their position to the edge of the dance floor. It might have been herimagination, but it seemed Derek was intentionally keeping them in the centerof the large dance floor, making it nearly impossible to break away from himpolitely.
"Howare you liking the new job?" Derek asked casually.
"Ilove it I… Wait how did you know I had a new job?" Salene had never reallyhad a real conversation with Derek. So it was more than a little unnerving heknew such a fact.
"I'msorry, please don't look at me like that," he laughed. "I am not astalker or anything I just happened to ask a colleague about you, who went tothe picnic, and she mentioned you worked at a coffee shop. So…" He let theword hang in the air suggestively.
Shocked,she pinched his shoulder to urge him to continue. "So? So what?"
