Lucky Charm by Valerie Douglas

taking no for an answer. It was starting to get more than a little uncomfortable.
    Peeling her wrist free, she stepped back as Miriam reappeared and a few of the others came to her rescue. They pulled Steve away, Aidan talking to him urgently.
    Breaking away, Steve marched back to her barstool and tossed back her margarita. The expression on his face was comical as he realized that there was no alcohol in it but Ariel refrained from smiling. It would only add insult to injury, making him that much more determined.
    Embarrassed at his behavior, Miriam said, “Ariel, I’m really sorry.”
    Ariel had forgotten how ugly the dating scene could sometimes get. The twist of her heart reminded her once more of what she had lost. She pushed it aside.
    Waving her hand, she smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it, Miriam. It’s not your fault he’s a jerk.”
    Miguel, on the other hand, was soothing to her nerves. He led her into the dance without comment, understanding without being told her need for silence.
    It was a tango, intricate steps, not the silly stylized dance you saw so often on TV but smooth and flowing. Not something you would usually hear in a bar. She glanced at the band. The leader grinned at her slyly, challengingly. As she followed Miguel’s lead, she stuck her tongue out at the band leader. He laughed and gave her a small bow.
    “I think perhaps,” Miguel said, “your evening is not going well now.”
    She smiled a little. “I think perhaps you’re right. Sadly, I think this will be the last dance for me tonight.”
    With a sigh of real regret, he said, “It’s a pity.”
    “For me, as well,” she said, laughing as he dipped her down and brought her sharply back up.
    With a small bow, Miguel escorted her off the floor and then kissed the back of her hand with a smile of farewell. It was easy to return the smile.
     
    A hand slid over Matt’s thigh, high and on the inside. His body, already primed, reacted predictably.
    “Did you forget about me?” Carly asked, smiling coolly.
    Matt cursed himself for his wandering attention.
    Eyes on the ball, Matt , he reminded himself. You need to know more about Marathon, not Ariel O’Donnell. He owed too much to Bill to let him down.
    That girl drew his eyes like a moth to the flame, nonetheless, and she was as dangerous to him.
    Cool and a little distant, Carly was definitely more his type. Not complicated. Not like Ariel O’Donnell with her curious mix of strength and fragility, bringing his protective instincts raging to the fore.
    Carly knew what she wanted and set out to get it.
    Like she’d set her sights on him when she’d seen him standing at the bar.
    “No, Carly, I hadn’t forgotten about you at all,” he said and smiled wolfishly.
    Rick stifled a snicker. His eyes hadn’t wandered, he was still watching those at the bar. For some reason, he seemed unduly interested in the goings-on of those he deemed underlings.
    Or Ariel.
    “What?” Matt said, unable to resist his curiosity.
    “She tripped him,” he said, in admiration. “He won’t like it but it was smartly done. Okay, so maybe she’s not as dumb as I thought.”
    No, she wasn’t. She was smart, quick on her mental feet, braver than hell and Matt couldn’t get her out of his mind. He had to, he should. He couldn’t help but look. She was out on the dance floor with the old man again. A tango. The girl could move, that was for certain. Smoothly, seductively and with incredible grace. He couldn’t help wondering if she could do the Texas two-step as well as the Latin dances. Did she even like country-western music?
    Missy gave Rick a narrow-eyed look that didn’t bode well for the rest of his evening.
    Concentrate, Matt, keep your eye on the job, he thought to himself. Don’t forget Bill.
    As if he ever could.
    He turned his attention back to Carly before she started pouting, something he found very unattractive in a woman.
     
    Miriam held their place as some of the Marathon