Elise broke the spell that held them in place. Claire grabbed her purse and shawl, kissed a sticky Jake on the forehead and listed off instructions and phone numbers to Elise for the fourthtime.
The babysitter scowled at her. “Go away, Claire. Jake and I got this. We’re going to decorate that height-challenged Christmas tree you bought, eat junk food and watch cartoons. I’ll see youlater.”
Andor guided Claire out the door with a wink at Elise. Once inside the car, they fell into a comfortable silence. Andor drove smoothly through the snarl of traffic, steering with one hand while he sought Claire’s hand with the other and entwined his fingers withhers.
Since Thanksgiving, they’d grown ever closer, touching constantly when they could capture a moment of privacy. A brief caress down her back, the glide of her hand along his shoulders. Claire didn’t ask him to kiss her, though the delicious anticipation of knowing he would soon—and wouldn’t stop there—sometimes made her break out in asweat.
Over the course of weeks and numerous dates, he slowly revealed bits and pieces of himself, telling her of his family, a mother and father with whom he wasn’t close, a friend with whom he was. His travels had taken him all over the world, giving him a unique insight into people ingeneral.
He was funny and affectionate but always respectful to her as if he sensed the wariness she was fast tossing to the curb. After her divorce, Claire had guarded her heart and her son against all comers. Except for one awkward, disastrous date six months after she’d reclaimed her maiden name, she had turned down every offer. Until Andor. She hadn’t abandoned her caution entirely, but he’d found a way through her armor, worn her down like river water over stone, only so much faster. When he suggested they see each other exclusively, Claire had wanted to shout her joy from the rooftop of herhouse.
She lifted their joined hands to her mouth and kissed his knuckles before setting his hand on her thigh. They still said nothing to each other, but the tension in the car jumped, and Andor’s eyes had gone the gaslight blue Claire now recognized as his desire for hermanifested.
At the gala, they joined co-workers at one of the tables set up in the Ainsley hall. Thousands of fairy lights woven into the tall trees and strung through the garland that wrapped around columns and was pinned to stair banisters cast the room in goldenlight.
Servers passed out champagne and offered hors d’oeuvres to the guests. A string quartet played from an upper balcony, a mix of Christmas and dance music. Claire looped her arm through Andor’s as they left the table to circulate among the crowd. “I think you’ve been stripped naked at least a dozen times since we walked through the door.” She would have to be blind not to catch the admiring stares Andor received when they arrived, and even now as they navigated through clusters of guests. She was guilty of doing it multiple timesherself.
Andor met her gaze, his expression grim. “I hope not. I’m wearing Scooby Doo boxers.” His expression never changed, even when Claire’s eyes widened, and she glanced automatically at hiscrotch.
“Seriously?”
He broke into a laugh and spun her so she faced him. “No.” He captured her right hand and settled his other hand on her lower back. “Dance with me,Claire.”
She stepped into his embrace, happy to hold onto his broad shoulders. “So you candance.”
“I told you, if you invited me, you’d find out. How brave areyou?”
“Not very, but if you step on my toes I won’t feel it. My feet have gonenumb.”
They glided across the room, Andor guiding her unerringly over the floor and around other dancing couples. Claire felt like she was flying. Only this was better than flying, better than breathingeven.
They danced straight through four more songs, stopping only when the quartet changed tempo to something less suitable for a waltz or simple box-step. Andor guided Claire to a semi-secluded alcove at the perimeter of thehall.
The heat pouring off him was matched only by the fire inside her. She caressed the side of his face, tracing the angles of his cheekbone and nose, the sharp line of his jaw. He turned his face into her hand, his lashes dark and thick on his cheeks as he closed his eyes and kissed herpalm.
“Do you think anyone will notice if we make out right here?” Claire’s other hand busied itself wandering under Andor’s tux jacket to stroke his narrow waist and the contoured muscles of his back. She felt the curve of his smile against her palm before he raised hishead.
“Probably. And if you didn’t like office gossip before...” He trailed off, his teasing expression sobering. He traced the line of her spine and curve of her hips, leaving trails of fire on Claire’s skin. “We can leave if youwish.”
She could hear it in his voice, that subtle coaxing that almost beguiled her into saying yes. “I’d love to but we can’t. We have to stay through thedinner.”
“And eat the cardboard chicken.” Andor drew invisible designs on her neck with a fingertip. Claire leaned into his touch with a sigh. “Let’s go back to our table. At least the conversation with others will distractme.”
Claire huffed and slid out of his embrace. “Speak for yourself.” She intended to learn the shape of his upper thigh under the shrouded protection of thetablecloth.
His low chuckle seduced her as much as his touchdid.
The dinner lasted for years. At least it seemed that way to Claire who, if she were ever asked, couldn’t remember what was served on her plate. She ate a little, chatted with her co-workers, including Dee who often cast her and Andor knowing looks, and played with Andor’s thigh under thetable.
When dinner ended, Andor rose, helped Claire out of her seat and wished everyone goodnight. The weight of a dozen curious stares followed them out of the hall. She didn’tcare.
The return trip home was as quiet as the one to the gala. Andor took his turn learning the shape of Claire’s thigh through her dress, and Claire tried not to squirm in her seat at the electric sparks that shot through her body at histouch.
They stood close together at her door, Andor looming behind her. Claire turned to him, her heart pounding from a combination of anticipation and dread of his answer. “Will you stay the night with me?”Will you stay a lifetime withme?
He stared down at her for long seconds, his somber, handsome face dappled in shadow. “Yes,” he said in a tone that made Claire believe he not only answered the question she uttered, but also the one she didnot.
She fumbled the key in the lock until Andor took it from her and unlocked the door. Elise’s surprise at their early return morphed into a sly grin. She gathered her purse and jacket as if racing to beat the ticking of a stopwatch. “Jake’s passed out in bed. I left his tablet charging on the table, so he can reach it in the morning if he wakes up before you do.” She waved as she sailed out the door. “Havefun!”
