Page 30 of Fiancé for Hire

“Coming right up. I’ll be back.” He winked and strolled off.

She and Tamera stood in silence as they watched Drevon’s tall frame saunter away. His long, confident strides and laid-back gait carried him to the bar in no time.

Dang, even his walk was sexy.

“Ooh wee!” Tamera whispered-shouted as she tugged on Antika’s arm in excitement. “Girrrl!If I wasn’t in love with Shawn, I would challenge you to a duel to win that man’s attention!”

“Don’t start. Remember, this is temporary. None of this is real,” Antika said only loud enough for Tamera to hear. This was also her way of reminding herself of that fact.

“Whatever.” Her friend waved her off. “That is one fine brother, and he istotallyfeeling you!” She squealed but slapped her hand over her mouth and pulled Antika farther away from the tables. “You better not mess this up. I mean it!”

Antika turned and grabbed Tamera by the shoulders. “Listen to me,” she said, staring her friend in the eyes to make sure she was hearing her. “There is no me and Drevon. He’s not mine.”

“Yeah, but he could be,” Tamera fired back, then cackled.

Antika huffed out a breath knowing that when Tamera got something in her head, she was like a dog with a bone. She was never going to let this go.

“I’m serious, Tam. Nothing is going to happen between me and Drevon.”

A mischievous smile spread across Tamera’s perfectly made-up face. “Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. I’ve seen how he’s been looking at you. This might’ve started as an arrangement, but I have a feeling it’s going to end up being so much more.”

* * *

Drevon was in trouble.

Antika had gotten under his skin.

That wasn’t supposed to happen.

Those were the thoughts floating through his mind as he held her close while they slow-danced to one song after another.

Tonight, when he first arrived at the party and spotted her, he had been speechless. There’d been an aura…an energy around her that practically knocked him out of his Cole Haan loafers. He’d been drawn to Antika like a magnet to metal, and he was defenseless to resist her.

Since then, and throughout dinner, he hadn’t been able to stop looking at or touching her. That was a problem. This whole situation had gotten out of hand. He was only supposed to be doing a favor for his aunt. Not falling for this beautiful, sensual woman who beguiled him.

But Antika…damn. The woman had it going on. Pretty, smart, funny, and despite her being thirty-nine, there was an innocence about her that was endearing. And don’t get him started on her body. God, she had a smoking hot body, and the seductive strapless dress and jewelry she was wearing had her looking like a Nubian goddess.

Yeah, he was a goner.

The song changed and Michael Jackson’s “The Lady in My Life,” flowed through the speakers. Without releasing Antika’s hand, Drevon gently eased her back, lifted her arm over her head, and slowly spun her before pulling her back against his body.

She laughed and looped her free arm around his neck. “All right, Mr. Fred Astaire, I see you have moves.”

Drevon held onto her other hand, pressing it to his chest as they swayed in sync to the beautiful melody. As she snuggled against him, he moved his mouth close to the side of her head and placed a gentle kiss against her ear.

“You smell amazing,” he said, thinking that her enthralling scent of vanilla and some spice added to her seductiveness.

“Thank you. You do, too,” she said, her breath warm against his neck, and an involuntary shiver slid up his spine.

This woman was affecting him mentally and physically. The smart thing to do would be to put a little space between their bodies. He couldn’t. Not with how good she felt against him. She fit perfectly in his arms, like she was made for him.

Drevon tightened his hold around her waist and started singing along with the song. Some of the lyrics expressed how he was feeling. Like the part about how he could make her feel all right, and about how he’d make this a night they wouldn’t forget.

Yeah. I’m a goner. And he wasn’t mad about it. He wanted to know this woman better. She intrigued him.

Antika leaned her head back slightly and smiled at him. “You model, you act, and you can sing? Is there anything you can’t do?” she asked, admiration in her tone. “You’re full of surprises, and you’re nothing like I expected.”

Drevon heard her words, but he was a little distracted by her sexy lips that were inches from his mouth. Yesterday, before leaving her to go and meet up with the guys, he had promised Antika—no kissing her again. Why he made that promise was a mystery to him since he doubted he could keep it.

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