Mia patted his back, sending comfort far deeper than she’d probably intended. “I’m sure you’ve been a good son.”
Now that was debatable. Seth looked down at the pliant woman in his arms. Her willingness to follow his lead sent lust straight through his entire body. What would she be like in bed, all spread out for his pleasure? What would life be like if he had her trust? “This just became my favorite song.”
“The music is beautiful, isn’t it?” She tilted her head to meet his eyes. “Have you ever wondered if you were born in the wrong time?”
He frowned, captured by the myriad of greens and golds in her spectacular eyes. The music from another time wound around them, creating a cocoon of intimacy. One full of peace and worlds away from the bloody life he’d lived. “No. You?”
“Maybe. The song feels right…like I should’ve lived years ago instead of now.” Her expression was unguarded for the first time, and pure sweetness lit her smile.
That easily, that quickly, she ripped out his heart.
The emotional pain had him almost gasping. When she closed her eyes and rested against him again, he closed his. Her hair tickled his chin while her scent filled him. Reeling, he struggled to make sense of the world. Even confused, his body continued to move with hers naturally, and his senses clocked every possible threat to her from any direction. Nobody could get past him to her. He didn’t belong at the civilized ball, but for now, he felt like he belonged on the dance floor.
With Mia Stone.
Then a prickle flared on the nape of his neck. The world rushed back, and his mind cleared. Turning them, he surveyed the far wall. Benjamin watched Mia, heat and anger in his dark eyes. Seth raised his head just enough to make his intentions clear, staring at the older man without blinking. The line had just been drawn with a flame-colored marker as bright as her sparkling dress.
Ben shook his head, threat flaring his nostrils.
Seth slid his hand up Mia’s back, his palm flattening until his fingers spread far enough to reach her shoulder blades. He might as well have yelled the wordmine.
His father snarled and turned away.
Slowly, Seth turned his head to the other side of the dance floor, where his brother danced with Shelly, shrewd eyes watching the interaction. Seth raised an eyebrow. Erik stared back with no expression.
That wasn’t good.
Mia sighed against Seth’s chest, and he turned them again to enjoy the moment.
They probably wouldn’t have many.
Chapter13
Mia crossed her legs under the table, fully aware of the amount of skin her dress showed. So was Seth, if the flare of interest in his eyes was any indication. The glitter there was all lust, and her body reacted with a slow shudder she couldn’t mask.
After dancing, they’d meandered outside to the covered patio after grabbing a bottle of champagne and two glasses. Lights glimmered off boats in the Washington Sound, while torch heaters scattered strategically throughout the patio kept it somewhat warm. The band was in full swing, so few people had headed into the quiet of the outside.
Seth poured two glasses of champagne. “Is there any chance I can keep you from asking about your case tonight?”
Mia reached for her flute. “No.”
He sat back. “Why not?”
For some odd reason, she felt compelled to give him the truth. “Because right now, I want nothing more than to clear you.”
“I didn’t kill Ruby.”
“How many people know about the earlier killings with the same MO?” As she cut hard with the question, she couldn’t help the sympathetic grimace.
To his credit, Seth didn’t bat an eyelash. “What killings?”
She huffed out a breath. “Don’t play dumb.”
He took a drink of the champagne, the muscles in his neck moving. “We live in a very small county and an even smaller town. Everybody over the age of twenty knows about the earlier killings…as well as the fact that the murderer was caught and put away.”
“Yet nobody told me about the similarities,” she murmured.
He shrugged. “Like I said, we handle problems internally.” Reaching out, he brushed a wayward curl off her cheek, the pads of his fingers rough but his movements gentle. “While I’d like to change the fact, you’re still an outsider in my town, darlin’.”
