Zenith Rising by Leanne Davis Page A

so
weird?
    “You want to dance, Doc?”
    Her eyes flew open with surprise when she
felt his mouth right next to ear. His breath felt warm on her
cheek. “What? Dance to this? I’m afraid I can’t.”
    “This takes less talent than what you’re
probably used to. Trust me; you’ll be fine. It’s a lot better than
sitting here, trying to think of what to say to me, isn’t it?”
    She glanced at him keenly. How could she get
out of this without sounding like a stuck-up snob? That wasn’t the
case at all; she just felt awkward. She followed him out to the
dance floor. He turned, casually putting one hand on her waist, and
bringing her closer to him. She hesitantly put her hands around his
torso, unsure of what else to do. He moved effortlessly and
smoothly to the music. She followed, although with more effort, and
less smoothly. She tried to follow his lead, but wasn’t any good at
it.
    She blushed with sheer frustration at
herself. What would he think of her now? How stiff and clumsy would
he find her? How uncool? How uptight? How everything she was.
    She could feel his hand on her lower back,
radiating heat through the soft material of her blouse. He held her
one-handed, naturally, and away from his chest. He was so smooth
and graceful in his movements. How could she have missed that about
him when he was Spike? Spencer’s posture was totally relaxed, and
at ease with her. He didn’t seem terribly affected by her in any
way. Then again, why should he have been? She was no one that he
might possibly be attracted to.
    Then the invasion began. A group of three men
and two women approached them, shouting enthusiastic hellos ,
while pushing Erica out of the way. She stood there for a moment,
startled. The men all had tattoos, and the women appeared far
rougher, but probably more fun to be with than she. Erica turned to
exit the dance floor. She left Spencer Mattox to his socializing,
and suddenly, longed to go home.
    She turned away from the table where she was
previously sitting, fully intending to leave, but only made it to
the door. She was surprised when a hand grasped her by the wrist
and she looked up, only to find Spencer next to her.
    “Sorry. You didn’t hear me calling your
name.” He immediately released her wrist.
    “I was just leaving.”
    “I got that. Sorry about the crowd.”
    “Don’t be. Not like I should care. That’s
reserved for Tamira.”
    “Tamira? Why would she care?”
    “She’s your girlfriend, isn’t she?”
    He laughed. He outright laughed as he tilted
his head back, flashing his white teeth, and crinkling his eyes.
Erica wasn’t sure she’d ever seen or heard Spencer actually laugh.
“Because of the other night? You thought she was my girlfriend? No.
She’s not.”
    “No. I thought that because she came into my
office today, and in very few words, warned me to stay away from
you.”
    Spencer’s smile vanished, and his eyes grew
cloudy. “What?”
    “Yeah, surprised me too. She seemed rather
anxious to warn me to keep away from you.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “She wasn’t subtle about it. So if she’s not
your girlfriend, or even a date, it sounds like you should be
clearer with her on that.”
    “I was… Crystal clear.”
    Before he slept with her. Erica was
annoyed by that revelation, but more so by his casual brush-off
toward the young, vulnerable girl that Erica knew Tamira was,
despite her sex kitten looks and attitude.
    “Be careful with her,” Erica said finally.
She wanted to say more, but couldn’t. She simply couldn’t legally
say what he needed to hear.
    “What do you mean? And why do you care?”
    “My concern is not about you. I care for her.
She’s young.”
    He shook his head. “Do you ever stop being
the savior of all women? The perfect doc? Do you ever just have
fun? Or let other women just have fun? Hell… can you allow anyone
to have fun?”
    Erica stiffened. “Your brand of fun doesn’t
seem much fun for Tamira.”
    “That’s on her. I