Page 24 of A Mutually Beneficial Proposal

I shake my head. “No, not here at this party, but here in Saint Lucia.”

I don’t miss her shoulders going rigid or the tightening of her jaw. “I like the beach.”

Her answer is forced, and she begins to drink her vodka tonic faster.

I want to press for a better answer, but given I’d ignored her last question, I don’t push. This time, I change the topic. “What do you do for a living?”

She lets out a small breath. “I work in lending for a bank.”

I don’t know why, but I’m surprised by her answer. “Do you like what you do?”

Ella smiles, and her eyes wrinkle at the sides. “I do. My boss allows me to do what I believe is right, not only for the client, but the bank, and encourages us to speak our minds. I’ve been there three years and don’t have any intention of leaving.”

My fingers grip my glass tighter. “That must be a nice feeling.”

She nudges me with her hip. “I’m sure if you found a new employer, you might know what that’s like as well.”

“Maybe.” I half-smile.

“How many times a year do you go on trips like this?” she asks, staying close to me.

“Like this? Just once, but there are other smaller functions that happen usually every quarter. Though, we stay in the States for those. Jack likes to surround himself with people that boost his ego.”

She cocks her head to the side. “Are you one of those people?”

I shrug. “I used to be. I still do what he asks because he’s my boss, but I don’t kiss his ass like the others.”

“That’s a good thing, Owen. You shouldn’t sound so ashamed of that.”

Ella nudges me playfully and our eyes lock. Something unfamiliar unfurls in my chest, making me want to pull her flush against my body. I reach a hand out to do just that, but she clears her throat and backs away. The moment is gone, and I’m more disappointed about that than I should be.

I’ve only interacted with Ella a few times, but I’m already certain I need to know everything that I can about her. My relationships may have mostly been superficial in the past, but I’ve always been honest. I’ve never made promises to a woman I couldn’t keep. I’ve never wanted to be the reason someone went to bed with fresh tears on their cheeks.

The more I get to know Ella, the more I hope I’m able to show her that I’m different from her ex for all of those reasons.

The music increases in tempo, and the sun has fully set. Most of the guests are now a couple of drinks into the evening celebrations, so I’m not surprised to turn around and find the dance floor is beginning to fill with employees.

“Care to dance?” I ask before finishing off my drink.

Ella reaches around and sets her nearly finished tonic on the table under the canopy. “Why not.”

There’s a flush in her cheeks and a slow dilation in her eyes making me wonder if the alcohol is already taking effect or if she’s more affected by our closeness than she’ll admit with words. Either way, I don’t hesitate to grab her hand and pull her across the rooftop.

Jack is still standing at the center with a crowd growing around him. Our stares meet and I nod, pretending nothing is wrong.

My only real concern is making sure Ella has a good time.

Once we’re on the dance floor, I lift her hand and spin her in front of me before wrapping my other arm around her waist, forcing her to dip backward.

She squeals, and there’s a wide smile on her face when I bring her back up. Our chests are pressed together from my moves, and I don’t loosen my grip.

Ella raises her brow. “Someone knows how to dance. Did you also work at a studio?”

The teasing tone in her voice makes me grin. “No, but my mother loved to. She insisted that I know my way around a dance floor, that it’s the only true way to a woman’s heart.”

I expect Ella to retreat from my mildly serious answer, but instead her smile matches mine. “Your mother was a smart woman.”

Our closeness is causing the simmer inside me to grow into a blazing inferno. Though, instead of acting too boldly on my increasing desire, I hold her tighter while leading us on the dance floor. Without missing a beat, she matches my enthusiasm and keeps close to me as our feet and hips move to the music.

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