He threw up a hand and waved her over. She’d guessed it wouldhappen sooner or later during the night, but she’d planned for later.
He took her empty glass. “What are you drinking?”
“Champagne.”
He motioned to the bartender and handed her a fresh glass. Shedrank it down quickly.
“What are you trying to do, get fucked up within the first hour?”
“That’s my plan.” She ignored his concern and glanced around theroom. “Where’s your wife?”
“Bathroom. She heard they have fancy giveaway soaps.”
“How did you get her to come along? Doesn’t she hate thesethings?”
“I told her Emilio was going to perform.”
“Is he really? At his own Christmas party?”
“Of course not, but she doesn’t know that yet. So don’t blow itfor me, okay?”
“Your secret’s safe with me.” She put her fingers to her lips andtwisted her fingers. She would be spending the least amount of time possibletalking to Grace this evening.
His eyes brightened, and Emma knew she was coming their way. Sheset her empty champagne flute on the bar and signaled the bartender foranother.
Grace squeezed up under Brent’s arm, peeked up, and waited for himto kiss her, which he did.
He handed her a drink. “Look who I ran into.”
“I didn’t think you’d come tonight.” Grace pressed her lipstogether.
“Same.” She lifted her glass and took a drink. The room swayedmomentarily, so she set the glass on the bar and leaned against it. She wasgoing a little too fast with the champagne. She hadn’t eaten anything except apiece of cheese today.
Brent glanced at the dance floor and then at Grace. “How about wetake a stroll on the dance floor?”
Grace gave him a strange stare as he took her drink, set it on thebar, and pulled her across the room. Freedom for at least a few minutes.
“You’re beautiful, you know that?” Dex’s voice was low and sultry.
A jolt zapped through Emma. It was uncanny. She’d felt Dex beforeshe even spoke. She took in a deep breath to calm herself before she turnedaround. “Hey, you.”
“I was hoping to see you tonight.”
“I wasn’t expecting to see you.” Emma was uncertain about thewhole thing and avoided eye contact.
“Emilio’s a client.”
“Oh,” she said as she glanced around the room. “The lights arebeautiful.” She reached for her champagne.
Before she could take a drink, Dex stole the glass from her.“Dance with me?” She didn’t wait for an answer. Dex moved her in front of herand guided her through the crowd.
This was a bad idea, but the pull Dex created in her was too muchfor Emma to resist. When they reached the dance floor, Dex spun her around, andshe melted into her. They didn’t speak. They just took in the essence of eachother. Emma couldn’t believe how good it felt to be in Dex’s arms again.
When the music came to a lull, Dex brushed her thumb across Emma’sface. “I’ve missed you.”
Although they were nice, they weren’t the words Emma needed tohear. She broke free from her arms and headed for the door. She couldn’t stayany longer, not with Dex here.
“Emma, wait.” Dex took her hand and pulled her into another roomoff the foyer. “I came here tonight because I knew you’d be here.”
“You did?” The familiar tingle captured her. She forced herself toignore it. “I don’t know what you want from me, Dex.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you.”
Emma stared into her eyes, waiting for more.
“I shouldn’t have let Grace come between us, and I won’t let ithappen again.”
There they were. That’s what she needed to hear. She melted intoDex and wrapped her arms around her. “I’ve missed you too.” Much more than she’dwanted to admit. She’d never felt the way she did when she was in Dex’s arms.Safe, cherished, loved.
Emma gazed into Dex’s eyes and kissed her, slowly, softly, andsweetly. They held each other and moved to the faint sound of the music fromthe party until it faded.
“We should probably get back out there.”
“Yeah.” Dex kissed her softly again before letting Emma lead herto the door. She opened it just a smidge to make sure the coast was clearbefore they went out. All Emma needed was for everyone at work to think she’dhad sex in Emilio’s study.
Everyone had gathered in the main room, where Emilio was standingon the band platform. “Thank you all for coming to celebrate the holidays withus tonight. The band is happy to take requests, and both the bar and the buffetare open.” Everyone clapped. “Please enjoy your evening,” he said and hoppedoff the stage.
“Come on. You probably need some food.” Dex moved Emma to thebuffet table.
“How do you know these things?”
“I watched you come in.” She scrunched up her face. “Was it two orthree glasses before you reached the bar?”
“Three.”
“Did you eat today?”
Emma shook her head. “Wasn’t hungry. Haven’t been hungry in days.”
She took her to a table instead and pulled out a chair for her.“I’ll be right back.”
The room was filled with people drinking, eating, and laughing.Emma felt a little foolish now. She hadn’t expected to drink so much, soquickly. And she definitely hadn’t expected to run into Dex.
She glanced over at the buffet table where Dex was filling a coupleof plates with food. Dex caught her watching and gave her a wink. God, she wascute. Dressed in flowy black pants and a red silk blouse, she was the pictureof everything Emma had ever dreamed of in a woman. The perfect Christmaspresent.
* * *
The food and dancing had sobered Emma up quickly, and she reallyhadn’t minded when Grace swept Dex off to the stage to talk with Emilio.Everyone seemed to be having a good time until Grace spun around, her eyesnarrowed and fixed on Brent.
He took a gulp of his drink and set it on the table. “Oh, shit.She’s coming in hot. You’d better scatter.”
“Reinforcements?” Emma asked as she watched liquid spill across anearby table when Grace slapped her glass onto it. She marched across the roomwith Dex following close behind, visibly talking to her.
“Uh, I don’t think that will help.”
Emma intercepted Dex
