“Don’tyou have something to cover up with?”
“Oh,right. Thanks for reminding me.” She scurried into her bedroom and came outwith a sheer, glittery gold wrap she threw over her shoulders.
He juststared at her. “No, I meant … don’t you have a coat? I can see your skinthrough the lace.”
“That’snot my skin. It’s flesh-colored lining.”
“Still,aren’t you sort of … ah … exposed? Maybe you should put that thing across, youknow, like this?” He demonstrated a draping motion across his chest.
Shegiggled. “No, silly. That would hide the lace detail of the neckline.”
He blewa breath through his nose, and it whistled. She giggled again. He rolled hiseyes, utterly exasperated. “Do you have something else to wear? I’ll wait.”
Herbrows crashed together. “I thought you liked it.”
“I dolike it. It’s beautiful on you, but men are bastards, and they’ll look atyou and get all kinds of ideas. Shit, I’m not saying this right. Do you wantmen hitting on you? Because that’s what’ll happen.” He parked his fists onhis waist. “I’ll have to fight them off all night.”
“Why doyou have to fight them off?” She rearranged the shawl, and it slid offher shoulders. “I should wear a calico dress with an apron and bonnet? Why am Idifferent from your other women? Not that I’m one of your women.”
“Becauseyou’re you!” he bellowed.
Andiesmiled broadly and patted his cheek. “That’s so sweet, Beck, whatever it means.Can we go now? I’m hungry—and thirsty.”
Shepivoted toward the door. Beckett threw his hands up and stomped after her. Whenthey stepped into the hallway, he pulled the wrap from her shoulders andrearranged it like a lobster bib. She looked at him in astonishment, but he ignoredher.
“Beckett,you’re acting rather peculiar.”
“Forsuch a smart woman, you can be pretty fumbling clueless, you know that?” Hegrabbed her bare arm, and his fingers tingled. An impulse to caress every inchof her silky skin burgeoned inside of him. If she were his, he could run hisfingertips over it, slide them under …
Heshook off the thought, and now a string of curse words danced through hisbrain. One minute, he averted his eyes from the gorgeous woman on his arm andstole peeks the next, like a moony sixth-grader darting glances at the objectof his desire a row ahead of him in class. Damn! Next he’d be throwingspitballs at her.
Theyentered the ballroom decorated in gold and silver balloons and all types ofspangles, landing amid a throng of decked-out people. The women glittered, andthough Andie wore no jewelry except a pair of dangly earrings, she outshonethem all. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her. And he wasn’t the only one. Menwere giving her the once over, which made him want to step in front of her andgrowl at them all.
On onehand, he wanted to fucking pound his chest because he had the mostexquisite woman in the whole damn place, bar none. On the other hand, everydickhead was undressing her with his eyes. On the third hand, she wasn’t his,but they didn’t have to know that. On the fourth hand, upholding his scout’spromise would be torture.
Hestuck close to her as they glad-handed their way around the room, introducingher simply as Paige. If they believed she was his wife, it was fine by him.
Beckettpulled her aside, leaning down to her ear. “See that short, stocky guy overthere?”
Andiediscreetly flicked her gaze to four huddled men. “The pasty-looking man? Theone with more salt than pepper in his hair?”
“That‘pasty-looking’ man says, ‘Jump,’ and the entire business world says, ‘Howhigh?’ Ever heard of Martin Hammacher?”
“TheCEO of Goldworth Industries?”
“Yep.He’s interested in acquiring DeFunked.”
Andielooked incredulous. “Wait. Goldworth is courting you?”
“It’swhy we’re at this shindig, dancing the schmoozer’s two-step. And herecomes Hammacher now.”
Hammacherwound his way toward them, his hand extended in greeting. As he and Beckettshook, Hammacher said, “Mr. Miller! So glad you could join us. And this lovelylady must be …”
Beckettsmiled down at Andie and gave her a possessive squeeze. “This is Paige. Paige,Martin Hammacher.”
Andie’slight green eyes lit, and she held out her hand. “Mr. Hammacher, a genuinepleasure to meet one of my heroes. Your book on goal-setting is the textbookI’ve built my business on. And I’ve heard so many nice things about you fromBeckett.”
Beckettwould hug her later. She was good.
Hammacherpicked up her hand and kissed it, then held it captive in his. Without takinghis eyes from Andie, he said, “Miller, I congratulate you on your choice ofcompanions. This one has beauty and brains in spades.”
Damnstraight. WhenHammacher was out of earshot, Beckett grumbled, “What a smoothie.”
“Jealoushe might out-smooth you, Beck?”
“Don’t letthe charm fool you. He’s a total prick. And whatever you do, don’t let the oldgoat corner you alone. If he does, tell him I have a quick temper and a wickedright.”
“So ifhe buys you out, will you and Joe make a lot of money?” Her expression was peculiar,almost one of concern.
“Ohyeah. And I’ll pay back your eighty grand with interest—no arguing—and maybeshop for some hockey collectibles.” He grinned.
“Andyour cars?”
Heshrugged. “I had a 1960 Corvette in two-tone Ultra Blue Metallic & GalaxySilver. I’d love to have it back.”
Sheseemed not to register the Corvette. “And your lifestyle?” This she said rathersadly.
Hestared at her while he tried to unravel her comments. “Uh …”
Sheopened her mouth, but nothing came out. A beat later, she said, “I have to findthe ladies’ room,” and headed away from him, her dark copper hair glossy in thelight. He feasted his eyes on the sight of her swaying hips and shapely calves.
A manaccosted her, and Beckett tensed. Glancing over her shoulder at Beckett, shesaid something to the man, and he followed her gaze. His eyes widened. Beckettresisted the urge to flip him off; instead, he folded his arms over his chest,feeling every bit the rooster. Not with my girl, asshole. The man gavehim a nervous smile and withdrew.
Shit!I am in so much fucking trouble tonight.
.~ * * * ~.
Paige tottered to the ladies’ room on her open-toed navystilettos. Who invented these anyway? They must have been hatched as somemedieval torture device.
Beckett’stalk of a big payout wasn’t
