pulled up the skirt, and he glimpsed her calves, muscles taut in the strappy heels.
But I knew I wanted you the moment I saw you. I knew I wanted to marry you before I’d known you a day.
He didn’t say it, and he faltered a step as he realized it was the truth. Maybe there wasn’t something so impossible as love between them, but he felt something for her. Something true and genuine. Maybe the most true feeling he’d felt in a long time.
He flashed her a smile. He didn’t do romantic declarations. Words were weapons, words could be lies, so he didn’t bother with the emotional ones. People too often felt the need to respond in kind, even if they didn’t mean it, and he’d grown too old and wise to hang his hopes on forced declarations. Better to give a straightforward explanation.
“In some countries,” he said, “arranged marriages are common. It’s a very modern idea, this need to fall in love and get married based on an emotional and largely pheromonal response to someone. Besides, I like you, we get along, and you look good in orange.”
“Orange?” she sputtered.
He laughed at what she’d said as he closed the car door on her side. Then he went to the driver’s side, got in, and started the car.
“Orange. That dress. What color would you call it?” He would call it rusty copper or radiant, but orange seemed like the road to distraction, so he rolled with it.
“It’s bronze.”
Close to copper. “Okay, bronze then.”
She blew out a breath, apparently ceding the conversation. Silence filled the car as he drove to the location his assistant had sent to his phone. Once they pulled into the overhanging circular driveway, Jeanie broke the silence. “So, we’re doing damage control?”
“Yes, dancing and adoring each other in public so the press can get some pictures of us happy together again. Then we’ll head home. You already read to Kaycee, right?”
She nodded. He pulled up, then tossed the keys to the waiting valet before opening her door to give her a hand out. Her gaze, when she looked at him, was beyond adoring. He bit back a smile and advised, “Stop staring at me like that.”
“What? It’s my blind adoration face.” Her lips quirked, her wide-eyed stare not faltering, and he nudged her with his shoulder.
“Less blind adoration. You’re supposed to look at me like you love me, not like you’re an obsessed fan girl.”
Her laugh tinkled out, warming his skin. Cameras flashed, and he smirked. “Better.”
“Why thanks, Prince Charming. So can you dance?” The music thumped, a heavy, fast beat.
“Sure.” He pulled her on the dance floor and waited.
“Aren’t you supposed to move?” She laughed the words, arms loose at her sides.
“Wait for it…” He lifted his hand and clicked his fingertips. The music abruptly changed to a slow and bluesy vibration, and couples slowed all around them. With a smile, he swooped in, tugging her body flush to his own.
“Oh, you think you’re pretty damn slick, don’t you?” She smelled as good as she looked, and he gave into the temptation to nuzzle at her jaw.
“I am pretty damn slick.” He whispered right into her ear, allowing his lips to brush the curve of her lobe. She shivered, and his smile bloomed.
Twisting her head, she considered him. “Ah, so I get the full weight of your seduction, tonight? Be still, my beating heart.” Her words might have been blasé, but her cheeks flushed. Returning to his nibbling, he noticed her pulse raced.
“Enjoy it. For tonight, we show them how much we care…” He touched her nose with his own and enjoyed the little catch of her breath as he ducked to lightly brush her lips.
“Does that mean you’re going to carry me out of here? Like the last time we went to a dance?”
He took a moment. “Maybe.”
“Lowe earns his paycheck, doesn’t he?”
The mention of Lowe irritated him. He didn’t want her in his arms thinking of another man. “Shh, just dance.”
Holding
But I knew I wanted you the moment I saw you. I knew I wanted to marry you before I’d known you a day.
He didn’t say it, and he faltered a step as he realized it was the truth. Maybe there wasn’t something so impossible as love between them, but he felt something for her. Something true and genuine. Maybe the most true feeling he’d felt in a long time.
He flashed her a smile. He didn’t do romantic declarations. Words were weapons, words could be lies, so he didn’t bother with the emotional ones. People too often felt the need to respond in kind, even if they didn’t mean it, and he’d grown too old and wise to hang his hopes on forced declarations. Better to give a straightforward explanation.
“In some countries,” he said, “arranged marriages are common. It’s a very modern idea, this need to fall in love and get married based on an emotional and largely pheromonal response to someone. Besides, I like you, we get along, and you look good in orange.”
“Orange?” she sputtered.
He laughed at what she’d said as he closed the car door on her side. Then he went to the driver’s side, got in, and started the car.
“Orange. That dress. What color would you call it?” He would call it rusty copper or radiant, but orange seemed like the road to distraction, so he rolled with it.
“It’s bronze.”
Close to copper. “Okay, bronze then.”
She blew out a breath, apparently ceding the conversation. Silence filled the car as he drove to the location his assistant had sent to his phone. Once they pulled into the overhanging circular driveway, Jeanie broke the silence. “So, we’re doing damage control?”
“Yes, dancing and adoring each other in public so the press can get some pictures of us happy together again. Then we’ll head home. You already read to Kaycee, right?”
She nodded. He pulled up, then tossed the keys to the waiting valet before opening her door to give her a hand out. Her gaze, when she looked at him, was beyond adoring. He bit back a smile and advised, “Stop staring at me like that.”
“What? It’s my blind adoration face.” Her lips quirked, her wide-eyed stare not faltering, and he nudged her with his shoulder.
“Less blind adoration. You’re supposed to look at me like you love me, not like you’re an obsessed fan girl.”
Her laugh tinkled out, warming his skin. Cameras flashed, and he smirked. “Better.”
“Why thanks, Prince Charming. So can you dance?” The music thumped, a heavy, fast beat.
“Sure.” He pulled her on the dance floor and waited.
“Aren’t you supposed to move?” She laughed the words, arms loose at her sides.
“Wait for it…” He lifted his hand and clicked his fingertips. The music abruptly changed to a slow and bluesy vibration, and couples slowed all around them. With a smile, he swooped in, tugging her body flush to his own.
“Oh, you think you’re pretty damn slick, don’t you?” She smelled as good as she looked, and he gave into the temptation to nuzzle at her jaw.
“I am pretty damn slick.” He whispered right into her ear, allowing his lips to brush the curve of her lobe. She shivered, and his smile bloomed.
Twisting her head, she considered him. “Ah, so I get the full weight of your seduction, tonight? Be still, my beating heart.” Her words might have been blasé, but her cheeks flushed. Returning to his nibbling, he noticed her pulse raced.
“Enjoy it. For tonight, we show them how much we care…” He touched her nose with his own and enjoyed the little catch of her breath as he ducked to lightly brush her lips.
“Does that mean you’re going to carry me out of here? Like the last time we went to a dance?”
He took a moment. “Maybe.”
“Lowe earns his paycheck, doesn’t he?”
The mention of Lowe irritated him. He didn’t want her in his arms thinking of another man. “Shh, just dance.”
Holding
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