Trace gently pulled Connie into his arms and against his hard body. He held one of her hands to his chest, while his other arm slid around her waist. He rested that hand on the bare skin of her back just above her butt. Every nerve inside her body came alive, and a shiver scurried across her heated skin.
Being hugged up against him had an effect on her that defied all understanding, and man, he smelled amazing. Connie inhaled deeply, savoring Trace’s hypnotic fragrance. Then she released the breath slowly as their bodies swayed to the smooth melody.
“Our first dance,” Trace whispered close to her ear. His warm breath sent heat shooting across her skin.
Connie leaned her head back slightly and gazed into his eyes. “I’m never going to forget this dance. Or the song that we’re dancing to.”
“Good, because I’m thinking that it’ll be the song we use for the first dance at our wedding reception.”
Connie sputtered a laugh. “Aren’t you being a little presumptuous? How do you know I’d ever agree to marry you?”
“Oh, I know. One day, baby. It’s going to be me and you. I don’t know when, but it’s going to happen. You’ll see.”
“You sound awfully sure of yourself.”
“I am. You’re it for me.”
Trace lowered his head and covered her mouth with his. His demanding lips caressed hers in a slow, heady kiss that sang through her veins. This man. God, this sweet, endearing, sexy man set her body on fire and stoked the flames with each lap of his tongue. He crushed her to him, deepening their lip-lock, and Connie savored him and the moment they were creating.
This wasn’t just any kiss. This was a kiss from a man who was claiming her as his own. There was a time that would have scared her, but not now. Joy soared through Connie’s veins and danced inside her at the thought of her and Trace together. For real together. Not just hanging out and going way past just a friendship.
It wasn’t until the kiss ended that she remembered that they were in the middle of a dance floor. She didn’t care. All she cared about in that moment was that she was with a man she absolutely adored. That wall that she had carefully constructed around her heart—gone. She was his.
Connie laid her head against Trace’s shoulder as they continued swaying, now to a different song. A smile covered her lips, and her imagination took her down that road of...what if. What if their relationship grew to the point of marriage? What if they were able to build the life—together—that she had always dreamed of having?
It was way too soon to think along those lines, but right now, there was no other man she could imagine herself being with.
CHAPTER 15
“I accept your apology, Trace, but it wasn’t necessary,” Indie said. She was standing in front of him, in the middle of a private hallway, in a short kimono robe and hair rollers.
Even looking the way she was, she was still as pretty as she was in high school. Yet Trace felt nothing. No longing. No attraction. Nothing. He knew why. It was because Connie owned his heart.
Working for the company providing security for the event definitely had its advantages. After making sure one of their guys was keeping an eye on Connie, Trace had made his way to the restricted area. Only the models and the production crew were allowed back here, and he was glad he’d been able to catch Indie before the show.
“The apology was definitely necessary,” he said. “I was way out of line at the office the other day, taking my issues with your father out on you. I’m glad it didn’t affect your choice in hiring LEPA, since they are the best security firm in the state.”
Her million-dollar smile made an appearance. “That’s what I heard, and so far, I’m very satisfied. As for my father, he ran every boy away, claiming that no one was good enough for his daughter. I knew there had been a conversation, but I didn’t know exactly what was said.”
“He didn’t tell you?”
“No. Trace, when I invited you to dinner, I wanted them to meet you. You were such a nice guy. I thought for sure they’d let me go to prom with you. After you left, me and my dad had it out, but he wouldn’t tell me what he had said to you. Then when I tried talking to you at school, you ignored me.”
Trace shoved his hands into his pockets, remembering how he had cut her loose. The moment he walked out of her parents’ home, he’d been done with them and her.
He glanced down at his black patent-leather lace-ups before returning his attention to her. “I definitely didn’t handle that situation well. But like you said, that was a hundred years ago. So how’s your dad doing?”
After leaving the military, Trace had thought about looking up Sanderson many times. He wanted to show the man how he had turned out. That despite what Sanderson had said to him that day, he had made something of himself.
“Well, after losing his and my mother’s life savings with gambling, he died in a car accident seven years ago.”
“Oh, wow.” He might’ve despised the guy, but he hadn’t wished him dead. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Indie shrugged with a sad smile. “It was a long time ago.”
The door to the dressing area opened, and a woman with shocking red hair stuck her head out. “Two minutes, Indie.”
“Okay, I’ll be right there.” Indie turned back to Trace. “It was good seeing you again. I hate the way things ended between us, but I was young and... Anyway, I’m sorry for everything my father said to you that day. More than anything, I’m glad you were able to prove him wrong.”
“Yeah, me, too. Well, I’ll let you finish getting ready.
