Greatest Distraction (Distracted #1) by Juli Valenti Page A

us.
    “John,” Dane acknowledged the man, obviously knowing him.
    “Brian, Miss,” he returned the greeting, smiling kindly at me. I nodded in kind, internally panicking. I hadn’t texted my driver to let him know I was leaving early. He wasn’t supposed to be back until two AM – it was only twelve-thirty. Without any notice, and the event still going on, I was effectively stranded.
    “If you’ll wait here, I’ll be right back,” the valet named ‘John’ said before snatching a ring off the board behind him and disappearing into the night.
    “Dane … my car and driver aren’t here yet.”
    I don’t know why I said it – pointing out the obvious. He could see there were no cars in line waiting other than a r ow of taxis, but I couldn’t help it.
    The man next to me, still holding my elbow, remained silent. Granted, I hadn’t known him long, only a few hours now, but I could tell something was bothering him. Being the natural worrier I was, I started replaying the entire night’s events in my head, mentally searching for the cause of the change in him. He’d been fine when we’d talked, and the dancing. The photographs : that’s when he went serious. Maybe he wasn’t happy to be caught on film with me. What if he was married or something? Did he have kids? I’d never asked. My heart dropped as I drew the worst possible conclusions.
    “I’m sorry,” I told him, trying not to sound belligerent, and failing. When I’m frustrated or hurt, I tend to handle anger better than any other emotion.
    “For what?” He truly seemed perplexed as he ran a hand over his face. I followed the motion, actively searching for a ring or a tan line I may have missed. Nope, nothing.
    “For getting caught on film with me? For the dancing? For us meeting? Take your pick,” I snapped, stepping out of his reach. Sure, I was uncomfortable with the thought that tabloids would be pimping out our pictures, but was I really that bad? I know I’m a pain in the ass, but I looked somewhat decent. Especially tonight in the dress. A troll couldn’t wear something as pretty, right?
    “ Ryen, what are you talking about?” he asked, reaching for me again. When I only stepped out of his grasp once more, he sighed. “This is crazy. Let me clear things up for you. A - I’m not upset that our picture was taken. There were cameras when I ran into you at the entry… Remember? You’re young, beautiful, smart, and we’re both single. If I was worried, I wouldn’t have spent the evening at a high-profile charity event, talking with you. It was you who suggested leaving.”
    Crap, I had, hadn’t I? I just didn’t want to deal with the fallout, the invasion of my privacy. The moment the shutter had clicked, capturing the two of us embracing, my treasured solitude was over. Paparazzi would be everywhere now, on constant ‘ Ryen watch.’ It was a pressure I’d hoped to avoid.  Opening my mouth to speak, Dane held a hand up, halting my words in my throat.
    “B - the dancing. I fucking loved dancing with you, Ryen. I can’t even explain it, except that I didn’t want it to end. In that moment I knew I was the luckiest SOB in the room. You were in my arms. Any negatives you may have on that point are way off. And, lastly, C -” he said, catching his breath while I stared open-mouthed. “I’m elated we met. Stop being so damned guarded and defensive – I like you. I thought about you the entire flight here, and had even hoped you’d be here, though I thought it was impossible. There … that about cover it?” he asked, his face flushed.
    “Um … yeah,” I answered, speechless. My brain couldn’t process his words, instead continuously repeating them like a skipping record.
    “Good.” With that, he slammed his mouth against mine. My first reaction was to pull back, to shove him away, but apparently my head and my body were on different pages. I let him kiss me, melting into him as his hand gripped my face, gently holding