She followed his gaze and realized Emma was barreling through the crowd toward them, an older gentleman hot on her heels. 'I wonder what she's up to.'
Rina barely got the words out, when Emma reached their side, then tripped and knocked her full champagne flute forward. In shock, Rina put up her hand to ward off a spill and ended up tipping the glass onto Colin, too, so they were both covered in champagne.
Rina pulled at the damp shirt, lifting it off her skin. But the damage had been done, and when she released the fabric again, her sheer, lacy bra showed through. The one Rina wore for herself and not for her column and experiment. The one not meant to be seen by the public at large.
Rina didn't know who took notice because she was too caught up in Colin's openmouthed stare as he took in her now-damp, see-through blouse. As if they were alone and not in a room full of people, her nipples puckered in pure female reaction.
'Oh my, I'm sorry.' Emma began fluttering around Rina, ignoring the man by her side who had to be none other than Stan Blecher.
Rina lifted her hands to cover herself. 'It's fine, Emma, really.'
'No, no, it's not okay. Let me take you up to dry off.'
'Emma…' the man said, clearly wishing a moment of her time.
Rina studied the gentleman. He was tall and stood proud, with a full head of white hair and a nice smile. Dentures or real teeth, he cut a dashing figure. 'Emma, come on. Give the man a chance,' Rina whispered in her ear.
'Nonsense. Grace left some old clothes in her closet. I'm sure we can find a top for you to wear. And for you, Colin, Logan has a sweater or two I can surely scrounge up. Come, come.' She motioned with her hands and turned her back on Stan.
Knowing Emma wouldn't be deterred, Rina shrugged and motioned for Colin to follow.
'I'll be here when you get back,' Stan called.
'Lecher,' Emma muttered.
'I think he's cute,' Rina said on her way up the stairs.
Emma ignored her. Apparently, like Rina, the older woman preferred to be the matchmaker, not on the receiving end.
'Colin, this is Logan and Cat's room when they stay here. Which isn't often, but still…Feel free to go into the closet and find a shirt.' She opened a door, pushed Colin inside and slammed the door shut behind him.
'You're a bulldozer, Emma. And you can't run from Stan forever. What's wrong if you have dinner with the man?' Rina asked.
'I've been on my own too long.' Emma paused at the next door in the long hall. 'This is a bathroom. Go on in here and I'll bring you a shirt of Gracie's, okay?'
'That's sweet, Emma. I'd appreciate it.' Before the older woman could walk out, Rina felt compelled to add something else. 'Remember that alone's lonely.' And she wondered if she was speaking for her own benefit, as well.
Two minutes later, Emma returned with a white oxford shirt, as close a match as she was likely to get. The older woman excused herself, then said she'd meet up with Rina again downstairs.
Rina locked herself in the bathroom and began unbuttoning the wet blouse, parting the material. She found a guest towel she could dampen and turned on the water to wipe the stickiness off her chest when, without warning, a loud creaking noise startled her. She jerked around toward the sound, which had come from behind, only to discover the door didn't lead to a linen closet as she'd originally thought, but to the bedroom next door.
And the person who'd entered wasn't Emma but a shirtless, breathtaking Colin.
BEFORE EMMA HAD DOUSED them with champagne, Colin had been trying to get his mind around the concept of how important this job was to Rina and how he could accomplish
Then fate had interrupted in the form of an aging whirling dervish and all conversation and thought stopped, especially when he'd seen Rina in that see-through blouse. He'd broken into a sweat at the sight of all that lace and skin.
By the time he'd stepped into the bathroom to splash cold water on his chest to wash off the sticky champagne, he thought he had himself under control. He hadn't expected to find Rina there. Now that he had, one look and never mind a splash of water, he needed a full-blown, cold shower.
He'd wondered what she hid beneath her bulky clothes, and though tonight's blouse had given him a hint, he hadn't been prepared for the impact. White lace peeked out from behind a hand towel and, thanks to her bra of choice, small but sensually rounded cleavage pushed upward in a tantalizing, tempting V. He tried to swallow but his throat had grown dry.
'A gentleman would say excuse me, turn around and walk out,' Rina said wryly, not a hint of sincerity in her voice.
Even her attempt at covering herself had grown pathetic. Her hands trembled slightly and the towel revealed more than it hid. Her trousers were low-cut, allowing him a glimpse at her creamy skin, and the waist hit just below her belly button, teasing him with a slight indentation tailor-made for a man's tongue.
'I need to understand this,' she murmured.
He liked her intellectual side, the side that refused to give in to instinct without rationale. 'What's so difficult to understand? You're a beautiful woman and I'm attracted to you.' He took a step closer, inhaling the scent of champagne, wanting to lick the flavor off her skin.
'And you don't care which Rina you're looking at, the one with makeup or without, the one with the long hair or this
'That's right. And it's the woman who's researching your column who's surprised. But the woman in here-' He touched her chest with his callused finger. 'That's who you really are. And you know me-just like I know you. And I wouldn't lie just to…'
'Get laid?' she asked, tongue in cheek. 'No, I don't think you'd do such a dirty, despicable, male thing.' Her lips twitched and a sparkle lit her gaze.
She laughed, and he was glad she had a sense of humor about something many women would make an issue of. He closed the distance between them. They were alone in the small bathroom, not another guest within hearing distance. If Colin had to guess, even Emma was long gone by now. He was certain she'd somehow set them up or at least allowed them time to take advantage of the proximity she'd provided.
Something he had every intention of doing if the woman beside him was willing. And he intended to find out.
CHAPTER FIVE
SHOULD SHE or shouldn't she? Rina didn't want to think any more than she wanted to hesitate. She'd hoped for this moment and fate only provided so many opportunities. She wanted Colin, and it had been too long since a man had made her feel so desired, so needed. Gathering her courage, she dropped the towel and backed toward the vanity, grasping on to the Corian countertops with both hands. Her position had the erotic effect of pushing her breasts upward in silent invitation.
His gaze slid down to her chest and he let out a slow groan. 'Honey, that's going to have to mean yes.'
Yes to what, she wasn't certain, and at the moment she didn't care. Moisture settled low and dampened her
