Valentine’s Brawl by Marteeka Karland Page A

her hand as she started to get up, bringing it to the warmth of his lips. “I’d hate to think you left on my account. Let me buy you a drink and dance with you. I promise I’ll behave.”
    She almost told him to piss off, but her mouth just wouldn’t form the words. With a sigh, she freed her hand from his and dropped her keys back in her purse. “Fine. But one more incident and I’m outta here.”
    His smile curled her toes. It wasn’t grateful or brilliant or any of the other adjectives that normally applied to smiles. More like a predator who’d just captured his prey, only the prey didn’t know it yet. There was a sensual curve to his mouth that beckoned her, made her want to feel those lush lips against hers. If she dwelled on it long, she’d most likely throw herself at him, and that just wouldn’t do at all.
    Trent nodded to the bartender, who refilled Audra’s Captain and Coke. She took it gratefully, needing a little courage to hold her own with Trent. Besides, maybe if she dulled her senses a little he wouldn’t be so...potent. He must have sensed her intentions, however, because when she would have gestured for another, he took her hand and pulled her to the dance floor.
    “Dance with me, Audra.” Trent’s voice was the stuff dreams were made of. Wet dreams, that is. Deep, with just the perfect amount of gruffness to melt her insides. Audra tried to pull away, but he held her fast, sweeping her into his arms whether or not she wanted him to.
    And damn, but he smelled good! Had she thought the alcohol would dull her senses? If anything, it made her hyper aware of him, his scent, the texture of his skin, the way his work-roughened hands snagged on the silk of her dress--all of it conspired against her to leave her in a needy puddle of goo at Trent Nelson’s feet.
    “Careful, little lady,” he murmured against her ear. “Needy whimpers like that might lead a man to think you were interested in pastimes other than dancing.”
    She looked up at him, the masculine perfection of his face even more stunning when he grinned at her in amusement. But his eyes... Oh, those beautiful, blue-green eyes! His eyes were practically glowing, the same need reflected in them she was sure shone in hers.
    “You’re imagining things,” she managed, her throat so dry she could barely croak the words through her parched lips.
    He lowered his head, his lips barely grazing hers. “Am I? Then why are you in my arms when you were leaving not five minutes ago?”
    Goose bumps erupted over her skin, causing a little shiver to race through her. Good question. Honestly, the man was lethal to women. She’d known that the first time she’d gone willingly into his arms to dance that evening. Why had she allowed it to happen a second time? Especially after his blatant show of Alpha Male. That had been just pure asshole on his part. Why was she here in his arms again?
    “Well,” she managed, not moving away from him, but rather melting into him just a little. If she was going to live dangerously, might as well go all the way. “I didn’t have anything better to do. Besides, you seemed to have scared off all my other dance partners.”
    “Damned straight,” he muttered, pulling her closer as they swayed to the slow, country ballad. Audra felt every muscle under his clothing. That hard body of his wasn’t just for show. This was a man who worked and worked hard.
    He might be the wealthiest man in this part of Kentucky, but he’d earned every penny of it with his own two hands. Audra had watched him grow from gangly teenager to full-blown, adult man. They’d gone to high school together -- him graduating two years ahead of her -- and later attended the same college. Trent had gone on scholarships and hard work. Audra had relied on her parents and student loans to supplement her scholarships. He’d majored in agriculture and business, she in accounting and business. When they were done, they’d both opened their own