TheTadashi was so worth it. Even these ankle-breakers were worth it. Yep, you areone sexy chica tonight.
Whenshe re-entered the fray, she spotted Beckett’s tall, broad frame across theballroom. As she drew closer, she stopped to ogle him. His profile was to her,and he stood at the bar. God, he was devastating! He could have wornoil-stained overalls and still looked good. But tonight he sported a blackArmani dinner jacket and vest that fit him like a glove, white shirt, and darkpatterned bowtie. Beckett wore refinement well. His short brown hair wasbrushed off of his face, and a five-o’clock shadow added ruggedness to hisextraordinary looks. He’d been turning heads all night.
He tooka step back, and that’s when Paige saw a striking young woman wearing abrilliant smile as she fixed adoring eyes on him. She was his kind of woman:tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed, and olive-skinned. Paige’s heart dropped.
Whydo I care?
Sheinched closer and caught the woman saying, “I’m a big fan. I used to watch youplay hockey. On TV, I mean.” She tossed her long hair back. It added sultrinessto her sensual features.
“Really?You hardly look old enough.” Paige couldn’t see Beckett’s expression, but sheheard his usual charm in the inflection.
Thewoman let out a deep, delicious laugh. “Well, my parents were fans when welived in LA, so we watched lots of games. You were always my favorite. Stillare.” She placed her hand on his forearm. “You’re wonderful.”
Abartender handed Beckett two drinks, and Paige’s heart dropped a littlefurther. Then Beckett nodded to the woman. “Happy New Year.” He turned away.
“Wait!”she called. “Are you here by yourself?”
Slowly,he pivoted back. “No. But you probably already knew that, or you wouldn’t havewaited until I was alone at the bar.” The charm was still there, but it wastinged with irritation.
Thewoman shifted her posture. “Well, what I meant was … is she someone special? Ithought … Would you like to get together sometime?” She reached into her beadedclutch and pulled out a card.
Paigecould hear him sigh from where she stood despite the racket. “The lady I’m withis my longtime girlfriend—I’m keeping it that way.”
Thegirl looked pained.
Heturned away and began scanning the crowd. His eyes landed on Paige, and hisface lit up. Her heart leapt back into its proper place—maybe even a few incheshigher.
“Thereyou are!” He strode to her, surprising her when he pecked her cheek, and handedher a drink. “This is for you.”
Hesteered her to a far corner and leaned down to her ear. His Old Spice, orwhatever it was, wafted over her, and she checked the urge to pull in a deepbreath.
“Whatdid you hear, pixie?”
“Enough.”She clinked his glass. “Congrats, Beckett. You just turned down a propositionfor the first time.”
“Notthe first time. How long were you standing there?”
“Notlong. Why? What did I miss?”
“Nothing.C’mon. I want to introduce you to a few people.”
Aninvisible tether attached her to Beckett, as though she were an astronaut goingfor a spacewalk and he was the capsule. And it kept her anchored to him for therest of the evening, but somehow she didn’t mind. She wasn’t sure if it was thealcohol or something else at work, but her body buzzed with an insistent,sensual thrumming.
CHAPTER 18
Dance with Me
Beckett’s patience was flagging, but it was almost midnight,and by God, he would get his New Year’s kiss. Where had Andie’s provocative,lace-wrapped body gone? He glanced toward the dance floor, and there she was:the bloom in the middle of all the buzzing bees, and her petite frame was justabout swallowed up. Jesus! He’d been rescuing her all evening from pervertedold goats and horny young ones. She’d been eye-fucked so many times he wouldn’thave been surprised if she wound up pregnant. It was good he was there. Shecould thank him later.
Beckettput his big body between her and Hammacher, just short of hip-checking the oldfart off the dance floor. Billionaire or not, to hell with him. “It’s nearlymidnight, Martin, and I saw your wife looking for you,” Beckett lied. Hammacherthanked him and hurried away.
Andietugged Beckett’s coat sleeve and crooked a finger at him, a devilish, dimpledsmile on her beautiful face. “Dance with me, Beck.”
Herhair had worked itself loose on one side, and it fell over her eye. She brushedit back, pulling his gaze to her throat, her chin, her chest. And all thatlace, all that skin, and the exposed swell of her breasts. The heavens aligned:a slow song came on.
Hellyes!
Shepulled him to her and threw her arms around his neck, her body rocking. Beckettstifled a groan. Damn, she felt good; she fit him perfectly. Her silky hairbrushed his cheek, and her fragrance filled his head. Flowers, vanilla, soap.Somewhere in the back of his head, an annoying little voice insisted this was alousy idea.
“Andie?Let’s get you some water.”
“Why?”She pulled back, her eyes sultry as hell as she stared at his mouth. “Beckett,you are one gorgeous man, you know that?”
Shit!He’d heard itplenty of times, but hearing her say it did funny things to him, liketurn him rock-hard quicker than a referee could blow a whistle.
Shewriggled out of his grasp and turned her back to him, mesmerizing him with thesensual swivel of her hips, the swaying of her graceful arms above her head,and the way every gorgeous contour on her body moved in the dress clinging toher like a second skin. For a beat, he was jealous of
