He’d watch for an opportunity to swap partners with Andy before the end of the song. Andy, happily oblivious to Wyatt’s scheme, raised his hand, seeking a high-five.
“Hey, man. Good to see you out.” Andy then twirled Emma, who looked like she had to concentrate hard on keeping her rhythm now that Wyatt had drawn near.
“Look, Em,” Sandy said, proudly baring her forearm before casting him a sultry smile. “A body brand.”
Wyatt caught Emma’s brow-raise before her gaze locked with his. Something that resembled disappointment passed across her sparkling green eyes before they dimmed. “Lucky you.”
The sarcastic delivery seemed lost on Sandy. Wyatt contented himself to dance without saying much, although Sandy wanted to grind her ass against his pelvis. Normally he’d have played along, but with Emma watching him in her periphery, and Trip across the room laughing his ass off, Wyatt found himself counting down the final seconds of the song. Just before it ended, he clasped Emma’s hand.
“Let’s swap partners for the next song.”
Andy looked as if he might resist, but then handed Emma over and playfully dipped Sandy. Both ladies looked less than thrilled with the switcheroo, but Wyatt stayed the course.
The tempo slowed considerably, which he couldn’t have planned better if he’d tried. He wrapped an arm around Emma’s waist and brought her other hand to his shoulder.
“I didn’t want to sign her body, you know. I asked for a napkin.” Wyatt dipped his head to get a closer look at Emma. The perfumed scent of her hair aroused him. It took a lot of restraint not to press his mouth against the sensitive part of her neck, right beneath her ear. The only way to refrain was to pull back and look at her.
“Doesn’t matter to me.” That tight, polite smile she’d worn at the beginning of the week settled on her face. God, he’d grown to hate that emotionless grin. Her common retreat whenever he got too close.
“Then why are you so mad?”
“I’m not.” She scowled, her shoulders and arms turning rigid.
Clearly a joke or two was needed to loosen her up again. “Relax, Emma. I told you already, I don’t bite unless asked.”
She cracked a smile. A good start, at least. Wyatt tested the waters a bit by holding her just a little more closely. He watched her eyes widen and her lips part. Those plush lips made his heart thump a little harder—made everything in his body a little harder, actually.
Her forehead wrinkled as if she were gripped by indecision. Suddenly she glanced over her shoulder and noticed Trip watching. He tipped his Stetson with a nod, which pissed Wyatt off. The guy was determined to keep Emma on the hot seat.
Instead of retreating further, she surprised him with a steely look of determination. “Wyatt, tell me the exact terms of Trip’s bet.”
“I told you, I never shook on the bet.” He nudged a little closer, because holding her close made his body purr.
“Just tell me the terms.”
Okay, her focus was not where he wanted it to be. Best to answer her and get that out of the way.
“He bet me fifty bucks that I wouldn’t last the month without making a move, and another fifty that you’d turn me down.” Wyatt caught himself holding his breath.
Emma’s distant gaze suggested she was thinking again, so Wyatt remained quiet, content to feel her body heat seeping through her thin dress to warm his palm. The anticipation of her possibly brushing against his torso or resting her chin on his shoulder tormented him with longing.
With her focus elsewhere, he stole a few seconds and studied her face. Her lips, full and a deep shade of pink, begged to be kissed. Her scattered freckles did, too. He’d gotten lost in the details until he glanced at her eyes, which were now staring right at him.
“So if I make a move first, he loses both bets?” Emma cocked her head.
Every hair on Wyatt’s body vibrated with resounding force. Honestly, he hadn’t made those bets, but right now he wanted to see what she’d do next, so he didn’t reiterate that point. “I guess so.”
Another three tense seconds passed while she appeared to gather her courage. His body was strung so tight, he thought he might snap in two.
“Is he still watching?” Emma leaned closer to whisper in his ear, and he felt a shiver rush down his legs.
“Uh huh.” Wyatt gulped, his hand clasping hers a little tighter now.
She drew a deep breath before her hand curled around the base of his neck. “You owe me half your take,” she murmured just before she pulled him in for a kiss.
Emma’s sense of triumph scattered along with all other thoughts the instant Wyatt’s hungry kiss consumed her. He tugged her snugly against his body as he tilted his head to get a better hold on her. His other hand threaded into her hair, and she remembered how much he’d enjoyed wrapping her hair around his hands the last time they’d been together.