He released her hand after belatedly realizing he'd been gripping it for long seconds. "I didn't see the two of you out on the dance floor tonight," he commented. "Though I'm not sure this band would be able to play anything that, uh, festive."
"Doubtful," she agreed placidly. "But a fancy wedding isn't exactly the right setting for something as earthy as salsa music. And you haven't seen me out there dancing with my partner because Miguel isn't here this evening. He flew back to Los Angeles a few days ago, and is probably out dancing at some club right now. With his new boyfriend."
"Oh." Matthew wasn't exactly sure why Sasha had thrown that last bit in, but for some bizarre reason he was glad she had clarified that the hot Spaniard she'd danced so sultrily with last week was actually gay. Not that it was any of his business, of course. "So you're here alone tonight?"
She nodded, taking another careful drink of her tea, as though she was savoring each sip. "I figured that any date I could round up wouldn't know a soul here. And since I'd be occupied doing, well, bridesmaid-like things, it wouldn't be fair to just abandon him to sit with a tableful of strangers. Plus," she added with a twinkle in those huge, curly lashed cat eyes, "most of the guys I tend to date would stick out like a sore thumb in a place this fancy."
Now Matthew was really intrigued, finding this woman with her wild curls and tiger eyes the most unusual, fascinating person he'd met in a very long time. "And what sort of guys would those be?" he asked, chuckling.
Sasha smiled, and that small movement lit up her radiant features, enough for Matthew to realize that Tessa's bridesmaid was seriously gorgeous.
"Oh, you probably couldn't begin to imagine," she began. "I mean, if you're one of Ian's friends, I'm guessing you're on the straight-laced side like he is. And he's such a kind man, a real gentleman, but I'm well aware that certain aspects of my, ah, lifestyle are pretty far removed from black tie dinners and mansions and five star resorts. Most people would call me a hippie just for starters, but it goes well beyond something that simple."
He glanced at her beautiful blue gown, silver high-heeled sandals, and the dainty diamond and sapphire pendant that hung around her slender neck - a bridesmaid's gift, he guessed, from Tessa. "You don't look anything like any hippie I've ever seen," he stated firmly. "You just look - lovely."
The look of pleasure on her animated face made him instantly and uncomfortably hard, and Matthew wondered what in hell had brought on that sort of reaction. He didn't know anything about this woman, had barely exchanged a few sentences with her, but apparently his dick didn't care. And evidently that particular part of his anatomy also didn't mind that he was a married man, one who definitely should not be reacting this way to a woman who wasn't his wife - no matter how pretty or interesting she was. His unwilling attraction to Sasha made him realize just how long it had been since he'd enjoyed sex with Lindsey - really enjoyed it, and not just gone through the motions.
"Well, thank you," replied Sasha charmingly. "But this isn't the way I usually dress. Not by a long shot. I did this to please Tessa, to make her happy. Because she's been a very good friend to me, and she and Ian are two of the best people I know."
The bartender caught Matthew's eye then, motioning to his empty glass and silently asking if he wanted a refill. It was on the tip of his tongue to say yes, but then he glanced at Sasha as she continue to sip her tea. He sighed, and asked the bartender for a bottle of mineral water instead.
She nodded in approval as he uncapped the bottle. "A much better choice than bourbon. Stick to water for the rest of the night, and it will help flush out the alcohol."
He regarded her curiously. "Are you a doctor in addition to a dancer?"
Sasha laughed again, and this time it definitely sounded like bells tinkling. "Neither one, actually. I'm a yoga teacher and masseuse mostly, but I've done some training as an herbalist as well. Not enough to get licensed, but I know quite a bit about the practice."
"Wow." Matthew shook his head. "I mean, we have masseuses at the health club I belong to, but they're these big, beefy guys. You're, well, less than half their size."
She shrugged. "It isn't always about raw strength, you know. And there are many different types of massage. Some have more benefits than others, and it all depends on the client and their particular needs. Ian was skeptical at first, too, convinced that someone he outweighed by more than eighty pounds wouldn't be able to dig deep enough to make him flinch." Her eyes twinkled with a mischievous gleam. "The first time I had him on the massage table I found a sore spot between his shoulder blades he didn't know was there. And all I did was press on it with my thumb and he yelled so loud the table shook."