Page 60 of Third Chances (Men of Manhattan 2)

She bit her lip. I wanted to be the one doing that.

"Go, Momma Bear," Kristen said from across the table.

Daphne immediately put her hand in mine and I pulled her to her feet. I interlaced my fingers with hers as I escorted her to the veranda. The air was much cooler at night. The warmth of her hand was surprisingly comforting. I spun her around as we walked toward the other dancers. My eyes fixed on the twirl of her hair and the smile on her face.

She laughed and put her hand on my chest as I spun her back toward me.

"What, you didn't think I knew how to dance?" I gave her my most charming smile.

"I just wasn't sure what you meant by dancing. I thought this might be more of a bumping and grinding kind of dance. I'm glad it isn't."

"You're very up on the lingo for a teacher." I moved my hands to her hips and made sure our torsos were pressed together.

She laughed again. "Maybe." Her hands clasped behind my neck. She didn't seem at all upset that the song was a slow one.

I couldn't pull my eyes away from hers. She looked even prettier in the glow of the lanterns. I wanted to be alone with her. I wanted to explore how good this electricity between us really could be. I had a feeling it was going to be mind-blowing.

"What?" she said shyly as she looked up at me.

"I'm not sure I've ever danced with someone as stunning as you."

She laughed. "Stop."

"I'm serious."

"Mhm." She shook her head and looked over toward our table.

"So, why do your friends calls you Momma Bear?"

Her fingers seemed to stiffen on the back of my neck. She looked up at me again. "I have no idea."

"Come on, tell me."

She sighed. "I don't know. I'm responsible. I don't take risks. I'm good at taking care of people."

"Good at taking care of your friends?"

She tilted her head away from me again. "Yeah, I guess." Her voice suddenly sounded sad and I didn't know why. The angle of her head exposed her neck to me. There was a mark that she had poorly tried to cover up with makeup.

I reached out and ran my index finger down her slender neck and over the hickey.

She looked back up at me. "You look happy with yourself."

I smiled. "I kind of am. Now everyone knows you're taken."

"Taken? Have you ever even been in a relationship, Rob?"

Relationship? That was jumping the gun a little. But for some reason I didn't want to run. I wanted to hold her like this for as long as I could. Her hips fit perfectly in my hands. And her hands fit perfectly behind my neck. This felt right. "That depends on what you mean by a relationship."

"I mean a committed relationship.

Where you call each other boyfriend and girlfriend. And you go on lots of dates and talk about your feelings and your hopes and dreams."

"Oh, that. Hmmm."

She laughed.

I liked the sound of her laughter. I slid my hands slightly down her hips, precariously close to her perfect ass. "And what about you, beautiful?"

---