One Night(4)

“You all know how this works,” the M.C. said as he turned the music up louder. “Everyone starts dancing, and then I will start asking couples to leave based on how long they’ve been together. The couple that has been together the longest will be the last ones on the dance floor. Make sense?”

“I can’t believe you are forcing me to participate in this,” I hissed in William’s ear as the dancing began. I normally tried to avoid all wedding clichés, and this was a big one. Right after the chicken dance.

William pretended not to hear me as he guided us in a slow circle. “Could you just relax for a minute and try to enjoy the night?”

“It’s obvious you don’t know me very well.” I tended to be wound tight at all times. “I do like this song, though.”

“Well that’s something.” William smiled faintly. “A Sinatra fan?”

“My grandfather loved Sinatra. He used to sing this song to me when I was little.” I don’t know why I told William that. It was pretty personal information to be sharing with a stranger.

The M.C. was back to interrupt us. “If you’ve been together less than a year, please leave the dance floor.”

I tried to walk away but William wouldn’t let me. “My grandfather was a Dean Martin guy.”

“And you? What kind of guy are you?” I knew the music was still playing and the dancers were still moving around us, but none of that registered with me. I was completely focused on William. Our bodies had drifted closer as we danced and his face was just a few inches away.

“That’s a good question. I’m not sure I know the answer.” William’s eyes grew darker and his playful smile was gone.

“Two years. Less than two years, please move off the dance floor.”

Again, William stood firm, and he pulled me even closer. A few of the bridesmaids left the floor with their husbands and I could feel their eyes watching us. “How long do you intend to keep us out here?”

“As long as it takes.”

“To do what?”

William didn’t answer for a long time. His unblinking eyes stared into mine as he contemplated the answer. The M.C. chased away even more dancers. William leaned close until his lips were a breath away from my ear. “To convince you to come back to my room tonight.”

His words were so bold that I was caught off guard. I sucked in a breath and my hand tightened on his shoulder. As surprised as I was that William Connor had invited me into his bed, I was even more surprised when I said, “Let’s go.”





CHAPTER TWO

I would like to start by saying that I am not a one-night stand type of girl. I wasn’t even that type in college when it was still at least mildly acceptable to be that type of girl. So when I agreed to follow William Connor to the eighth floor of the Pentmore Resort Hotel , it was completely against my nature. As I waited in the lobby while William chatted with the concierge and slipped him some cash, I felt anxious and self-conscious. But I also felt completely liberated.

“What was that about?” I asked when he returned. He put his hand on my back and steered me toward the elevators.

“You’ll see.” William led me past the main bank of elevators and turned the corner. I stared suspiciously at the single elevator door in front of me. He noticed my doubt as he used his room card to call the elevator. He said, “This elevator leads directly to my suite.”

“Of course. You have the penthouse?” I turned away so he wouldn’t see me rolling my eyes. I really had no room to judge considering I was about to have sex with him in his penthouse.

“My assistant booked it for me.” He didn’t sound particularly defensive. “It has a great view of the ocean.”

“I’m sure it does.” The door slid open silently and William stepped inside. I tried to follow but my feet didn’t want to cooperate.

“Cold feet?” he asked with a sly smile. “I thought that only happened to the bride at her wedding.”

“It’s a good thing you are rich,” I said as I finally got my feet to move forward. “Your personality could use some work.”

“Surprisingly, you’re not the first woman to tell me that.”

The penthouse elevator was spacious, but somehow William and I ended up standing close enough that his arm brushed against mine. My inner bad girl thought about tackling him right then. He was rich, smug and overly confident- exactly the type of guy I usually couldn’t stand to look at, much less go home with. But when it came to William Connor, the rules didn’t seem to apply.

“Your ego hasn’t seemed to suffer,” I commented as the doors opened and the penthouse suite was revealed. My first thought was that William was right- it did have an amazing view of the ocean.