Page 30 of Seducing Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“He split from Jessica about six months ago. He talks about you a lot.” It would be petty of me to feel happy they hadn’t worked out. Instead of thinking about it, I change the subject.

“Dance?” I ask Nick, but he’s already dragging me to the dance floor.

“I hope you can keep up,” he quips.

He embraces me as a classic salsa tune starts playing. We laugh as he leads me into multiple turns, lifts, and various moves that make me feel feminine and sexy; it’s like I never stopped dancing. The crowd parts to give us room to move, and I feel so alive and free. After three more songs, I tap out. I mime tipping my hand back over my mouth, silently telling him I need a drink. Nick nods and saunters off to find his little brunette.

Making my way over to the guys, Harry the barman hands me a peach schnapps and lemonade.

Aaden chuckles. “I always thought you’d be a bourbon kinda girl.”

I swirl the ice in the glass. “You should know by now, Aaden, I don’t conform to people’s expectations.”

Zee stares at me with an expression I can’t place. “I didn’t know you could dance like that.”

I scowl. “What did you think studying dance for three years would lead to?”

“I thought it was ballet and pompous shit.”

I laugh. “Common misconception. There are many types of dance, Zee; otherwise, we’d all be pointing our toes and performing pirouettes in a nightclub. Although I think you’d look sexy in a tutu.” Aaden chuckles, and I turn to him. “You, too, twinkle toes. A nice pale blue tutu would complement your eyes.”

I down some water then start sipping my peach schnapps. We chat about inconsequential things. Aaden tells us about growing up on a pig farm and reveals his parents’ disappointment that he became one of the best technological intelligence analysts in the world rather than taking on the family pork business; his younger brother reluctantly took that role. Zee shares that he used to work as a volunteer rescuing animals from abusive owners, which is quite the revelation. They grill me on my childhood, where I reveal my teenage obsession with Justin Timberlake and all things Disney. It’s easy for them to gather that my grandparents raised me. However, my parents’ abandonment still remains a mystery to me. The weak-assed excuse they weren’t ready for parenthood has always sat uncomfortably with me.

An hour and three drinks later, I encourage the guys to join me on the dance floor. They stay rooted to the spot, under the guise of having to watch from the bar for my safety. I roll my eyes and begin to make my way around the crowded dance floor, looking for Nick. He’s nowhere to be seen, and neither is the brunette—excellent.

I start swaying my hips with my hands in the air, losing myself to Ed Sheeran singing about how he likes the shape of his woman. My eyes are closed, lost in the lyrics, when warm hands grip my hips from behind. Assuming it’s Nick, I step back, tucking my body against his, and blindly wrap my hands around his neck.

“You get lucky?” I ask, chuckling.

A deep, smooth voice whispers in my ear. “Not yet, but I’ve got my eyes on the sexiest woman here.” His mouth is so close, he’s almost nibbling on my ear. I gasp and spin around.

Archan chuckles. “Lost for words, Miss Waterford?”

He pulls me against his hard body and guides us deeper into the crowd. I scan the room for Zee and Aaden.

“Don’t worry, your protectors are fine.” My heart starts thumping so loud and fast, he must feel the vibrations from my chest. We begin swaying as he looks down at me.

“You are exquisite when you dance… your every move beautiful, graceful.” He leans down and pulls on the ends of my hair, tipping my head back. “And I love your hair down.” He releases my hair and places his hand on the bare skin at the base of my spine. Velvet heat spreads from his hands, over the curve of my ass, then down the back of my thighs. It caresses the sensitive flesh at the back of my knees before continuing down my calves. Liquid fire pools in my belly.

He watches my reaction, and his ethereal gold eyes swirl with desire. A look of pure masculine satisfaction spreads across his face. My mind goes blank. Hooking a hand under my thigh, he brings it up to his hip. Keeping the other on the base of my spine, he dips my body, arching my back until my hair touches the floor. His breath plays over the exposed skin between my breasts, and my nipples pebble.

“Stunning,” he rasps, as he brings me back up. I tip my head back to stare at him. Our breath mingles as his gaze traces my lips. The music changes to an upbeat song, snapping me out of my trance.

I stiffen in his arms. “What are you doing here?” My voice is embarrassingly husky.

“I am joining you.”

“You weren’t invited.”

“I don’t need an invitation to come to a public bar. I am glad I came. Seeing you dance is something I won’t soon forget. Now, are we going to continue to dance, or would you like a drink?”

He’s offering options? I want to refuse both, but I need to check if Aaden and Zee are okay.

“Drink.”

He steers me off the dance floor, his grip on my hand firm but painless. As we approach the bar, I notice Aaden and Zee are missing. My anxiety steadily increases.

Once at the bar, Archan asks, “What’s your pleasure?”

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