Billionaires and Baby Rattles(53)

He strode away from the tittering behind him and didn’t look back. Near the entrance, but out of sight of the ballroom guests, he tugged his cell phone from his pocket. Then she appeared, standing in the doorway alone, regal and breathtaking. Her generous curves were enveloped in a cloud of silver, her cleavage almost hidden by the neckline of the gown’s design. He took in the bare arms and shoulders, soft and smooth mocha. She’d piled her dark hair on top of her head and left a few tendrils to escape and frame her face. She’d worn the diamond earrings and choker, he saw. They accentuated the long, graceful column of her neck.

She took a step forward, and the fringes shimmered. Now he viewed her from the side and knew he’d made the right decision in purchasing this particular dress. How it caressed her round ass and shaped her thick thighs, he felt his pants growing less roomy.

Relief flooded his being, followed by annoyance. She had kept him waiting, something he would not tolerate. When she turned her head in his direction, he raised an eyebrow and half turned away from her. Before he lost sight of her, he noted something he hadn’t when she walked in. The movement of the fringes was not the result of the gown’s style but of her trembling. Realization hit him like a fist to the gut. She was terrified. He’d never imagined she would be given her personality. She exuded confidence and friendliness, from what he’d seen, and seemed to thrive on interacting with people. Maybe his eyes played tricks on him.

On closer inspection, he noted how she clutched her purse with both hands, squeezing. When he had begun to turn away, her big brown eyes had widened further, and he thought he saw a quiver in her lips. Was it an act? Either way, she drew him, and he found himself walking to her before he knew he’d moved his feet.

“You’re late,” he groused.

She raised her chin, and he caught a glint of steel in her eyes. Keeping the grin from his face took effort.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” The shakiness to her voice confirmed his suspicions.

“I could have used your assistance a little while ago.”

She put a hand to her chest, drawing his eye. “I wasn’t sure about these, but I didn’t have anything that worked so well with the dress. The minute this thing is over, I’m giving them back to you in your hand.”

“I don’t wear women’s jewelry.”

“Ha-ha, funny. I’m not keeping them, Easton. I mean it. The dress either.”

He laid a hand on her lower back and turned her toward the ballroom. “But you look so good in it, and your ass is doing things to my pants.”

That pulled her out of her fear, and she glared at him. He chuckled.

“Anyway, tell me how you’ve screwed up already.”

“What makes you think I screwed up?”

“I know you.”

He ignored the odd feeling her saying those words gave him. Yes, he would definitely tell her about their new arrangement later. Surveying the crowd, he led her toward the side of the dance floor and nabbed a glass of wine from a passing waiter to hand to her.

“When I left Jocelyn, she seemed content.”

“That you were leaving her?”

He compressed his lips.

Two women passed nearby. “Who is that with Easton?” one asked the other.

The second woman spared Kenzie a haughty glance. “Nobody.”

Kenzie took a huge gulp of her wine and choked. He whisked the glass from her nerveless fingers to discard on a waiter’s passing tray and handed her a handkerchief from his pocket. She wiped her mouth.

“Are you okay?” He took a step forward, partially blocking Kenzie from view of those around them and glared at the retreating women. He’d forgotten how rude some in his circle could be.

“I’m fine.” Kenzie’s small voice concerned him. “I admit this isn’t my element. I feel like an ostrich let loose among the peacocks.” She forced a chuckle. “Weird analogy, huh?”

He ran fingers over her face. She didn’t wear false lashes, but she didn’t need to. The thick, dark fans made her eyes seem bigger even with a minimum of makeup. Now up close, he realized she’d worn a subtle perfume that teased his senses and blended well with her natural aroma. While he resisted running a thumb over that luscious bottom lip, he didn’t manage to keep the vision of her thighs spread and wrapped around his waist out of his head.

“You are not an ostrich, but I suppose you are right. Many of these women are like peacocks.” He meant his smile to calm her, but her chest heaved. That gave him ideas as well. They were both in trouble if he didn’t come up with something to distract them. “I asked Jocelyn what she thought of having babies.”