“Not all of my clients are rich, jackass.” She scowled, her eyes glaring at him. Great, he could kiss that shared hotel room good-bye unless he buttered her up again.
A soft love song rang from the speakers. He bent over and whispered in her ear, “Can I apologize on the dance floor?”
Air huffed out of her lungs but when he ran his finger along the back of her neck, she shivered and nodded. Taking her hand, he led her to the wooden square in the center of the room. A few dozen people were already swaying to the music, along with the bride and groom.
“I’m a little sensitive about rich people,” he said, as he slid his arms around her waist. “You’ll need to forgive me if I get a bit snarky regarding them.”
“Seriously? Rich people bother you? I never would have guessed.” Sarcasm dripped from her tone and her eyes lit up.
Chuckling, he swirled her in a circle then pulled her close again, right up against his body. Not the smartest move as having her near usually ended up with a boner that wouldn’t go away. And doing something about it at the wedding receptionwasn’t likely.
Leaning in, her lips tickled his ear. “Is it because of what happened toyour parents?”
“That’s one reason.”
She tilted her head to the side as her fingers slipped through the hair at the back of his neck. Damn,that felt good.
“One reason?And the other?”
That wasn’t something he liked sharing with anyone. Jack knew, but then he’d been around when it had happened. He skimmed one hand up her back while the other moved lower to caress her great ass. Only for a second, since they were out in public, but it was enough to distract her from the question.
“Um, watch where your hands are, Mr. Holland.”
“I’m quite aware of where my hands are, Ms. Silva. Quite aware.”
“I’m sure you are. Now back to my question that you tried to avoid.”
Damn, she was tenacious. “What question? It’s warm in here. Would youlike a drink?”
“Scott.” She stopped swaying and stared straight at him. “You wanted company for this wedding. The least you can dois talk to me.”
“We’re talking. We should be dancing.” Twisting her around, he moved his hips in time with hers tothe slow beat.
Sidling up as close to him as possible, she rubbed her chest against his. Nowshewas playing dirty. Or giving him back what he’d been trying. Too bad they couldn’t be playing thisgame in a bed.
“Help me to get to know you better.”
As he pressed his groin into her pelvis, he said, “That’s what I’m trying to do. Can’t you tell?”
Rolling her eyes, she sighed. “Seriously, do you ever think of anything other than sex?”
“Every now and then I think about construction. But I got to be honest with you, I like thinking about sex better. It’sway more fun.”
“Maybe I wouldn’t get so exasperated with you if I knew why you did things. Like putting down rich people. Always assuming I have an ulterior motive for what I’m doing and that it involves money.”
“Okay, I might jump to conclusion a bit faster than some but…let’s just say that once you’ve been burned you learn to stop playingwith matches.”
“And I’m matches?”
Oh, he’d gotten her off the subject again, kind of. Grinning he said, “You’re definitely hotand dangerous.”
“And the reason you don’t like rich people?”
Shit, tenacious didn’t even begin to describe her. Taking a deep breath, he danced her to a quieter part of the floor. “Fine. When I was in college I had this girlfriend, Patrice. Her family was wealthy but she never flaunted it much, though she did have the nicest of everything. We were serious for a while. When we graduated I started working for my uncle at the construction company. She didn’t like that. I’d gotten a degree in business and she thought I should become some big businessman, not a carpenter with dirt under his nails who smelled like sawdust and wood chips.”
Her lips twitched. “I actually like the sawdust smell. But go on.What happened?”
“I started talking about getting more serious, like marriage. She told me flat out she wanted nothing to do with a guy who worked with his hands. She needed someone who would be able to give her everything she’d always gotten from her parents. Soshe dumped me.”
