When Tina finished showcasing her moves, Cindy took to the stage, flapping her feather boa provocatively. She was an amazing mover—her lithe, slim body incredibly beautiful and her expression sultry and sexy. She even treated the guys to some up-close-and-personal belly dancing, which generated several wolf whistles from the front row. I glanced at Rick again. He was chatting quietly to Phoenix and apparently oblivious of the show he’d paid an extortionate amount for.
As if he felt my gaze he paused, turned and gave me a cheeky, lopsided grin, creating a dimple in one cheek.
A flush traveled over my skin. What is it about his smile? It turned me to mush and created a warm glow in my belly and my chest. Not an unpleasant sensation, just new and impossible to ignore.
The show lasted an hour and afterward, as the players wandered back to the kitchen in search of more food and drink, I heard several of them admiring the athletic qualities of the dancers. Though many, of course, were discussing their female attributes and wondering what other positions their supple limbs could twist into.
Tina and Cindy quickly collected their bags from the bedroom and I met them at the front door to say goodbye.
“Thanks for dancing so wonderfully,” I said, handing Tina an envelope thick with bills.
“No, thank you, Dana,” Tina said, folding the envelope in half and shoving it deep into her purse.
“The guys seemed to enjoy it, even though we stayed covered,” Cindy said, her expression one of wonder. “Didn’t even get my puppies out and they were hooked.”
I smiled. “Not quite as Neanderthal as you thought, huh?”
She shook her head. “No, quite sweet really.”
I laughed. Sweet wasn’t an adjective I’d use for the crowd of hungry, loud men roaming around the kitchen.
“Don’t be a stranger, Dana,” Tina said, reaching out and resting her hand on my shoulder. “Raif still asks about you. He’d love to see you sometime.”
“I’m sorry, life is hectic, but I will stay in touch. And please, give Raif a hug from me.”
“I will.” She reached forward and tugged me into a tight embrace. “And remember what I said earlier, you could do a lot worse than Ramrod.”
“There’s nothing going on.” I pulled back.
She sighed. “I might just be a dancer and I sure as hell don’t have any qualifications, but if there is one thing I know it’s men.” She cupped my chin in her hand. “And that man looks at you as though he wants to throw you over his shoulder and carry you off to his cave.”
“He does not.”
“Oh honey, he so does,” Tina laughed. “And if you ignore it, you’re not as bright as I thought you were.”
Cindy opened the front door. “Come on, Tina, let’s get going. Rodrigo will be a complete shit if we’re late.”
“Think about it,” Tina said, giving me a quick peck on the cheek. “There’s not many times in life a decent man passes your way. If I were you, I’d be grabbing him by that hot tushie of his and not letting go.”
* * * * *
“Have they all gone?” I asked Rick an hour later.
“Yeah, they need their beauty sleep,” he said with a laugh and bolted the door.
“Then it’s time for me to go too.” I reached for my purse from the chaise.
“Please, Dana, wait.” Rick wrapped his fingers around my wrist.
“Why?” My breath hitched as I looked up into his face.
“Because I want to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“The, er, girl, the dancer.” His voice quieted. “With the blonde hair. You knew her?”
My lips tightened and my knees jerked as if they’d been whacked from behind. Oh shit, he saw Tina giving me a hug goodbye.
“It doesn’t matter how,” he went on. “I just…” He shook his head and his jaw clenched. “Damn it, Dana, talk to me. Quit with the games.”
“They’re not games, it’s how I feel.”
“Then explain why you feel this way.”
“Explain why I don’t want a man in my life?”
He dropped my wrist and I folded my arms over my chest.
“Yes, that would be a good place to start.”
I shrugged. “What do you want me to say? That I’m not attracted to you?”
“If you did that would be a lie because I know you’re attracted to me. I can tell by the way you look at me. By the way your body reacts whenever I touch you. By the way you call out my name on a breathless pant whenever I give you what you really need.”
I sighed and shivered at the same time, goose bumps rising on my flesh at the memories. “Rick, what do you want from me?”