Now, Please(28)

I sighed as he stepped forward, making me step backward with him. I felt the soft music drifting down around us as the light from the disco ball showered us. His grip tightened further and his steps became shorter, allowing for more contact between us. His cheek came in close to my face. His heat enveloped me along with his delicious smell.

“See?” he whispered in my ear. “Nothing to it.”

I closed my eyes and exhaled as I felt his body moving. His strong and sure lead left no doubt about his intentions within the dance, and as long as I matched those movements, and let my body melt into his, I had no problem keeping up. His heart beat steadily against our held hands. His lips softly glanced against my face, leading to the corner of my mouth. He stopped there and backed away, looking down on me.

Hunger infused his gaze, but there was also a softness I hadn’t been expecting. “I didn’t really need you to come on this trip.”

I stared at his lips, desperate to be kissed. Wanting to feel the electricity from the contact. “I thought you wanted me to make contact with Bruce.”

“I did, but that wasn’t the real reason I brought you.”

“And what was?” I asked in a breathy whisper. His mouth dipped toward mine. Longing infused his eyes.

He winced, glancing down at his side. He reached down to his pocket before taking out his phone. “Bruce wants to speak with me. Privately.”

There were many things I probably should’ve said, like “Exciting!” Or “That’s promising.” Instead, I uttered a disappointed “Oh.”

It wasn’t the most professional of responses.

He looked at me for a long moment. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

“Yeah! Of course you do.” I followed him back to the table. “I’ll just head back. I’m tired, anyway.”

“I think he wants to talk business.” I could see the regret in his eyes. “It might be a while. I most likely won’t see you tonight…”

“Hunter, you’re not a sex dispenser. Relax. But I’m taking my beer with me.”

He gave a small smile. The action had me stopping as I reached for my glass and staring.

His face transformed from extremely handsome to something indescribable. His eyes shone from within, infusing me until I felt a smile build in response. He was hotter than any model, and more charismatic than any celebrity. And that was just with the smallest of grins. I couldn’t imagine what a whole smile would do. Probably melt my panties.

“Sounds fair.” His thumbs flew across his phone before he slipped it back into his pocket. He peeled off a bill from a thick money roll and handed it to the waitress when she came around.

“I’ll just get your change,” she said, diving into her pockets.

“No need.” He put his hand on the small of my back and waited for me to step out in front of him.

“Are you sure?”

Hunter ignored her as he escorted me out. We were followed with a “Thank you!”

“You are so incredibly rude while being over-the-top generous. How do you pull that off?” I said as we made it outside and Hunter chose a golf cart.

“It’s a gift.”

“From a white elephant party, maybe.”

He handed me into the golf cart before walking to the other side and climbing in. “I overheard someone giving the staff an earful about having no carts at his disposal,” he said, as he started the engine. “He did not like having to walk.”

“Was he in our building?”

“Yes. And the staff said that they only re-park the carts, but that there are always carts available unless they’ve all been used.”

A sickening feeling came over me. “Would Rodge have moved the carts?”

“He doesn’t necessarily subscribe to ethics…”

“What a…” I stopped there. I had a few names I could use, and none of them were very ladylike.

We parked in front of our building, where the golf carts were once again in a line. Hunter escorted me to my room even though I protested I could get there just fine on my own. As I opened the door, I turned back to him.

“Knock ’em dead.” I smiled at him.

His eyes were serious as he beheld me. He stared for a long moment before turning around and walking the way we had come.

“Okay, goodbye…” I muttered as I closed the door. “Manners, anyone?”

I went to my suitcase and pulled out a few silky things, but then grabbed my oversized T-shirt. If he planned to be wheeling and dealing late into the night, he wouldn’t come in and wake me. I was hopefully safe in comfortable yet frumpy attire.





Chapter Eight