Though they snickered, Joshua and Tyler backed up and followed through where their parents and the other man had gone.
“Nancy, is it?” Carter dragged his gaze from mine to look at Nancy.
“Yes, Mr. Townsend?”
“I need to take Michelle with me.”
“Uh … well, but …”
“Just for a few.” He tugged on my hand and turned, and I had no choice but to follow. It was as if my body could do nothing else but to follow his lead. My eyes passed over a dumbfounded and confused Nancy, her facial expression mirroring my own confusion.
I found myself stepping over the threshold and into the most immaculate home I’d ever been in. And thanks to my job, I’d been in some very swanky places. This home outshone all of them, with its shiny, white-marbled floors, white columns lining the hallway, and double staircase that led to the second floor. The place looked spotless, almost like a museum.
“You’re a Townsend,” I blurted it out, looking around.
“I am. And you’re a Clarke.”
I gave him abe seriousexpression.
“Townsend’s just my last name.”
“And all of this?” I waved my free hand around.
He shrugged. “The home I grew up in.”
I gave a humorless laugh. “This is crazy,” I laughed some more.
“What’s crazy is how pissed I was that I had to be at this shit tonight only to discover that you’re here.”
“I’m working,” I reminded him.
Another shrug. “Either way, it’s fate, sugar.”
I shook my head, more to ward off the shiver that wanted to run through me at the sound of the pet name he’d apparently given me.
“I don’t believe in fate.”
“You don’t have to. I believe enough for the both of us. Come dance with me.”
I pulled away when he went to tug me farther into the home. “I can’t. I’m working.”
His jaw tightened and head tilted. His eyes honed in on me, darkening. “You don’t have time to dance?”
“Carter! Mother and Father are waiting on you.”
I broke away from Carter, who still remained transfixed on me, to see the scowling man from earlier.
“And that’s my asshole brother, Aaron.”
He brought my hand to his lips, brushing his lips across the inside of my palm. My eyelids fluttered and I had to fight to hold them open.
“You’ll save me a dance.”
“I can’t.”
“It wasn’t a question. Don’t try to sneak out of here either. I’ve already proven I can be very resourceful when it comes to you.”
I swallowed, remembering his call from earlier. He was indeed resourceful. Slowly he released my hand and moved away, following his brother, Aaron, out of the room. I pushed out a breath and covered my heart with my hand, trying to steady its rhythm. I shook my head and went to move to the front door to find Nancy.
