Doug stood next to her chair, his eyes locked fiercely with his boss’. Never had Kelsey felt more bone-like.
After a moment, he looked away, his innate discretion winning out over whatever urges warred within him. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Kelsey.”
“Good night,” she said faintly, standing up to go. “Good night, Sis.”
Jared led her away from the table, her hand locked safely in his. They wended their way through the crowded room, stopping several times to greet people. Kelsey had been with the agency long enough to have developed a reputation and made contacts in the community.
When they finally made it to the ballroom door, having said their last goodbyes and air-kissed the last acquaintance, Kelsey’s hand was still tucked in Jared’s. It felt surprisingly good, being held onto so securely when she felt shaken by the evening’s debacle. The confrontation with Doug troubled her almost as much as Amy’s statements about her in the restroom. Was she really emotionally detached and uncaring? Was falling for a lot of unrealistic, hurtful romantic hooey the only way to be a caring person?
Still, with Jared's solid, masculine presence shepherding her, she could understand how women succumbed to the fantasy of believing one single man would always be there.
“This way.” Jared tugged her away from the hotel entrance.
“Where?”
He punched the button for one of the elevators.
“Where are we going?” she asked, intrigued.
“Up.”
The elevator door opened and Jared swept her inside. “You got cheated out of a dance. Elevators always have music.”
Kelsey started laughing as he pulled her into his arms. “You know, they have places people go specifically to dance.”
“Ah, but none so…private. And we have an affinity for elevators, the two of us.”
His voice was a low, velvet rumble, the heat of his body surrounding her. Kelsey’s voice vanished. He smelled so wonderful, felt so solid and right.
His hand was sure at her back, guiding her steps inside the tiny space. The music, soft and almost nondescript, faded as the drumbeat of her heart sounded in her ears.
Who would’ve thought a man with the knack of annoying her could trigger so many other, much more pleasant responses?
She felt the imprint of each of his fingers, splayed across skin, the thin material of her dress the only barrier between them. Surrendering to an urge, Kelsey closed her eyes. He was strong and sexy as sin. She could understand now how infatuation made people think they’d found the end of the rainbow. Falling in love felt good even if it was a delusional experience.
But falling in love with Jared would be a bad, bad thing, she reminded herself. He was too complicated, too irritating, too much…everything.
The texture of his dinner jacket was soft beneath her hand, cuddled against his shoulder. She wanted to curl into him like a kitten, to snuggle against him, to seek his mouth with her own.
Being held so close, her body effortlessly following his movements, made her want to throw caution to the winds. Made her want to forget the realities of love and its inevitable demise.
At one point, the elevator stopped on a floor, the door opening in front of a startled elderly couple.
“Sorry, this car’s taken,” Jared said pleasantly, still dancing to the music.
The door closed on the couple’s garbled apologies.
Kelsey laughed softly into his shoulder, leaning her forehead against him. “You are crazy.”
“Mmmm.” His arms tightened around her.
After a few more minutes, the elevator returned to the lobby and Jared led her out.
“Thank you,” she said past the lump of some unnamed emotion in her throat. “That was different…but lovely.”
“You’re welcome.” He smiled.
They stood out in the warmth of the busy street, waiting for the limo. Kelsey couldn’t find the words to chat lightheartedly. The evening had left her with too much to think about.
In the limo, she sat on her side of the car, her gaze fastened on Jared’s hands where they rested on his knees. He had strong hands, well-shaped and skilled, she was sure.
The thrum that had started in the office elevator days ago, buzzed louder between them now. Despite the fact that she’d dated her share of guys, Kelsey didn’t view sex as a natural conclusion to every social evening. Even if her sister did think she was a heartless, dating machine.
But tonight, she wanted a man like never before. Jared. That was the only coherent thought she could form. It was a lousy thought, fraught with poor logic. But it was all she had.
The limousine pulled up in front of her building and Jared helped her out. He walked with her into her lobby—without telling the driver anything, she noticed.