At last, he drew back slightly, breaking the kiss. His breathing was as labored as hers. He rested his forehead against hers and exhaled.
“Pretty amazing,” he said, his voice low and husky. “Even better than I thought, and I thought it would be great.”
“Me, too.”
He tucked a loose curl behind her ear, then brushed his thumb against her cheek. His eyes were bright with passion. She could feel the need radiating from him. Faint tremors rippled through his hands.
“Chloe, I—”
He lowered his head and she knew he was going to kiss her again. She also knew that this time they might not stop at kissing.
“There you two are. We’ve been looking everywhere. Isn’t the ballroom lovely? They always do such a great job with the decorations.”
Cassie’s voice cut through the quiet of the night. Instantly, they stepped apart. Chloe touched a finger to her mouth and wondered if her lips were swollen.
“Hi,” she managed, hoping that her expression wouldn’t give her away. The last thing she needed was Cassie’s knowing glances, or getting the third degree when they were both home later.
Cassie gave her sister a quick smile and turned to Arizona. “I wanted Joel to meet you.” She looked at her boyfriend. “Joel, this is Arizona Smith.”
The two men shook hands. While Arizona looked elegant in his tailored tux, Joel was obviously ill at ease in his too-small navy suit. He had the disgruntled air of a man who would rather be home watching a movie on cable.
Chloe suppressed a sigh. Joel was perfectly decent. A pleasant enough man, with short blond hair and pale blue eyes.
“Did you catch the Giants’ score?” Arizona asked. “When I left my room, they were ahead three to two.”
Joel’s sullen expression eased. “Dodgers tied it up in the eighth, but that was when we got here and had to park the car. I don’t know what it is now.”
“I’m sure they have a television in the bar,” Arizona offered.
“Great.” Joel turned his attention to Cassie. “Would you mind if we checked?”
“Of course not.” She gave a little wave, then took Joel’s hand. “We’ll see you later.”
“Save me a dance,” Arizona called after her.
Cassie giggled.
Chloe watched her go. “It’s only the beginning of the baseball season and already he would rather watch a game than anything. What on earth does she see in him?” She leaned against the railing, then straightened abruptly. “Wait a minute. How did you know Joel was interested in sports?”
Arizona shrugged. “Many men are and he looks like the type. I wasn’t trying to get rid of him, but I figured if he watched the last inning, he wouldn’t sulk when Cassie wanted to dance.”
“Good thinking. I wish…” Her voice trailed off.
“That he were a different kind of man?”
“Exactly. She deserves better.”
“But he’s the one she wants.”
“Is he?” Chloe wasn’t so sure. “He’s the only man she’s ever dated. How is she supposed to know what she wants? She should get out there and experience life. She deserves someone who will love her and cherish her. Someone intelligent. Not Joel.” She rubbed her temple. “It’s an old argument and one I’ve never won. After all, it’s her life.”
“You and Cassie are very close.”
It wasn’t a question.
“We always have been.”
“It’s none of my business, but why are you so angry at your aunt Charity?”
She couldn’t have been more shocked if he’d suddenly grown horns. Her first instinct was to ask him how he figured it out. Her second was to tell him to mind his own business. Her third was to wonder if she was that obvious.
“I don’t know,” she said at last, glad the shadows on the patio would hide her face. She didn’t want him to know what she was thinking. She did know why she was angry with her aunt, but she wasn’t ready to deal with it. She might never be ready.
“Want to talk about it?”
His perceptions suddenly annoyed her. How did he always know what she was thinking? How dare he always know the right thing to say or do! “Only if you want to talk about why, if your father is still alive, your grandfather raised you.”
“Touché,” he said. “I’m sorry. I should learn to leave tender ground alone. I’m sorry.”
She ducked her head. “No, I’m being snippy. I’m the one who should apologize.”
“Okay.”
She looked up at him.
He grinned. “I’m waiting,” he told her.
“I apologize.”