Hugh Tucker.
For the thirdtime in the last few days, I froze at the sight of the vampire.
Like every other man here tonight, Tucker was dressed in a tuxedo, but he wore it far better than most. The black jacket outlined his shoulders, hinting at the lean muscles underneath, while the white shirt brought out his tan skin, along with his black hair, eyes, and goatee. My surprise vanished, although my heart kept hammering, picking up speed with each passing second.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, slowly loosening my fists. “And why did you grab me like that?”
“Apologies,” Tucker replied. “But it seemed like the best, easiest, and quickest way to get you out of the hallway.”
His gaze roamed over me, and appreciation sparked in his eyes. “You look lovely.”
I smoothed my hands down the front of my dress. His gaze tracked the movement, and a hungry look filled his face, as though he wanted to follow the motion with his own hands.
Heat shot through my body at the thought of him touching me, but I dropped my hands to my sides and glanced around. White tile, large stalls, a long counter studded with silver sinks and topped by a mirror with frosted edges.
I frowned. “Why did you yank me into a bathroom?”
“The room doesn’t matter. I just wanted to get you out of sight.”
“Why?”
Tucker fell silent, his lips pressing into a thin line.
I waited, but when it became apparent that he wasn’t going to respond, I crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re always so mysteriously quiet whenever someone asks you a direct question. It’s one of your worst traits. If you aren’t going to answer me, then I’m leaving.”
I started to head toward the door, but he stepped in front of me, blocking the exit.
“I can’t let you return to the party.”
“Why not?” Suspicion filled me. “What’s going on?”
“Exactly what I told you would happen,” Tucker replied. “Clyde O’Neal does not appreciate your continued refusal to sell him your shipping yard.”
My eyes narrowed. “Clyde ishere? At the party?”
“Yes, and he’s looking for you. He wants to…further discuss the situation.”
I snorted. “You mean he’s here to kidnap and kill me and take my shipping yard by force.”
“Something like that. Hence my escorting you in here.” He pointed to a door in the wall on the opposite side of the room. “If you hurry, you can slip out that way, retrieve your car, and leave before Clyde realizes you’re gone.”
I lifted my chin. “I amnotrunning away from Clyde O’Neal or anyone else.”
Tucker glowered at me. “There you go again, being annoying and frustrating.”
Anger shot through me, and I slapped my hands on my hips. “More annoying and frustrating than you luring me away from the ballroom and dragging me in here?”
He frowned. “I didn’t lure you away. I was doing a discreet sweep of the area, but somehow you spotted me anyway. How did you do that? Because I excel at not being seen.”
I opened my mouth to tell him about my metal magic, about this oddly pleasing hum I sensed whenever he was around, but I clamped my lips shut. Tucker wasn’t telling me everything, so why should I reveal anything about myself or my power to him in return?
He arched an eyebrow. “Now who’s being so mysteriously quiet when asked a direct question?”
I stiffened at him throwing my own words back in my face. “I’m not leaving. I’ll deal with Clyde myself, before he does something stupid and ruins Mallory and Mosley’s party.”
I started toward the door, but once again Tucker blocked my path. I tried to skirt around him, but he was faster, and he countered every move I made. Anger and annoyance bubbled up in my chest like a geyser about to erupt, so I changed tactics and went at him straight on.
Tucker stepped back, but he still didn’t get out of my way. I kept charging forward, and he kept moving back, the two of us once again doing a weird sort of dance. But this one ended as quickly as it began, and a few seconds later, Tucker’s back was pressed up against the bathroom door, the same door I needed to go through to return to the party.
