I follow her gaze to see Emmett walk in with Sully. Navy suit, red tie, hair styled perfectly, that scruffy square jaw that I love rubbing against my thighs. He looks devastating. Our eyes meet across the room. And for a moment, everything else disappears. It's just us. Those stormy green eyes take in every inch of me, and judging by the heated glare they are producing, he likes what he sees. Then Sully says something to him, the moment breaks, and he looks away. My heart is racing.
"This is going to be torture," I whisper to Collette.
"Yep. But you've got this."
Coach Anderson takes the stage, tapping the microphone. "Welcome, everyone, to the Manhattan Mavericks’ Annual Christmas Party!" Applause fills the room. "Before we get to the fun stuff, I want to say a few words about this team. This season, you've shown incredible heart. We're on a winning streak. We're fighting for the playoffs. And I couldn't be prouder." More applause. "Now, let's eat, drink, and celebrate!"
I'm seated with Collette, Pierre, Issy, Felix, and Harper, with the family. Emmett is three tables over, with the boys. He's facing my direction, and I can feel his eyes on me even when I'm not looking. Then dinner is served, which feels like forever to get through the three courses. Everyone is laughing and chatting away, while Emmett and I spend the night stealing glances from each other. It sucks watching the other couples laugh together and kiss, while the one person I want to do it with sits three tables over and I have to pretend he doesn’t exist.
After dinner, the dance floor opens up. I'm watching from my seat when Emmett approaches our table. My heart stops.
“Hey, guys, are you having a good night? How nice was dinner?” he asks. My brothers launch into a conversation about the food.
“Babe, did you want to dance?” Harper asks Felix, who shoots up out of his chair.
“Before you go, do you mind if I steal Jo for a dance?" Emmett asks my brothers. I freeze. What is he doing?
Pierre grins. "Hell yeah, Captain. I trust you. Unlike all these other fuckers." There’s a slight wince on Emmett’s face when he says it.
“Good idea, Cap, come join us,” Felix says as Harper pulls him onto the dance floor.
“Let’s join too,” Issy says, getting up from her chair and holding out her hand for him, he goes willingly.
I turn and look at Collette, “Go. I’m fine on my own.” She grins
“Hold on,” Emmett says. “Hey, Fish, you dance?” he calls out.
“You know I have twinkle toes, Cap.”
“Collette needs a partner,” he says.
Fish looks at my sister and then at my brothers. “Are you insane?”
“Fish, just for tonight,” Felix calls out. “But I’ll be watching you,” he yells, moving his fingers from his eyes to Fish’s direction.
“Fine,” he grumbles.
“Gee, thanks, Fish,” Collette grumbles.
“I didn’t mean it like that. Your brothers are scary,” he tells her.
“Don’t do anything stupid and they won’t have to kill you.” She chuckles darkly.
“Cap, what have I done to you to deserve this?” He groans as he pulls my sister onto the dance floor, which just makes Emmett laugh.
“That was diabolical.” I laugh.
“It worked. We can now dance together without eyes on us, as they will be more concerned with Fish than me.”
I shake my head, it’s brilliant.
Emmett extends his hand to me. "Jo, would you like to dance?”
I take it and let him pull me into him, and then he leads us to the dance floor. The song changes to something slow and romantic. His hand settles on my waist, mine on his shoulder, and we keep a respectable distance, even though we don’t want to.
“I didn’t get to tell you earlier, but you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he whispers into my ear.
“You scrub up rather nicely, too.”
