No.
For approval?
Well, she sure as heck wasn’t getting it. His lips pressed together and he shrugged, then turned to the bartender for another drink. Apparently, he didn’t care at all. When he laid out his feelings so clearly, she had no issues pursuing Evan. None at all.
Evan placed a warm hand on her back and guided her to the dance floor just as the song was changing. Eyes downcast, she studied his muscles working under the black T-shirt with each movement of their clasped hands. They swayed to the brisk music in a quick two-step. Evan moved with great ease, chattingand joking with her the entire time. His one hand gripped her casually at the waist. The light pressure and soft touch elicited no response from her body.
Which was totally fine.
Despite how handsome he was, Colette couldn’t see herself pressed up against him, naked. No impure thoughts filled her mind as she pictured a night in his arms.
And yet, it was lovely to be held and to be entertained by his engaging conversation.
He was a breath of fresh air.
Unlike a certain grim-faced man. She hazarded a glance in Marshall’s direction and saw that he had moved from where they had all previously been standing and was sitting at Colette and Simone’s abandoned table with a gorgeous brunette.
Of course.
Colette could tell she was a tall woman with luscious curves and long cascading hair that she just knew smelled incredible.
Damn.
She shook her head, raising her gaze to Evan’s warm umber eyes. He smelled great too, a warm mix of cedar and spice. Maybe if she gave it a chance, he could be a good potential source of entertainment during her stay in the country. And if she was lucky, maybe it would develop into something more than just a temporary fling. Even if she had been interested in Marshall, there’s no way he would go for it.
His affections were clearly engaged elsewhere.
“I can only dance one more with you. I’m preparing for a performance,” Evan said with a cocky grin, breaking into her thoughts, thank God. That was enough time spent mooning over Marshall. He didn’t deserve the attention.
“You mean the karaoke?” she asked, curious. “What’s your song, or do you have a few of them?”
Evan shook his head. “Oh, I have one that I’m really good at and the crowd loves. I’ve worked on my technique for this one and perfected it. I mean, some of the guys act like they don’t love it, but I know they do,” he said, twirling her around the dance floor. “You’ll see.”
Her heart raced as they moved, the energy around them an intoxicating blend of joy and abandon. Everyone, except her, sang along to the words of the song about a man who chose fishing over his girl. Colette rolled her eyes. Typical.
“What is your song?” she asked, raising up on her toes to say the words in his ears, the voice of the crowd so loud it pulsated through her body.
“I want it to be a surprise. Trust me, you’ll love it,” Evan reassured.
Colette snorted.
“I’m not rolling my eyes at you; it’s just this song, though. This guy clearly has some red flags; that woman is better off without him, I say.”
Evan laughed, pulling his hand off her hip to twirl her again, and Colette giggled. He certainly had a way about him. Loving Evan would be easy. Maybe something easy would be good for her.
Much easier than lusting after a man who was already taken and wasn’t sending her any signs of being interested.
She’d come to the country after being laid off. It wasn’t the greatest feeling, and she could use the boost a relationship with Evan would provide. When they came back together, she moved her hand close to the middle of his back, pulling him closer. Maybe Rosebud could offer more than one type of escape for Colette. She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, thoughts swirling.
Yep, Evan smelled good. Not as good as Marshall, but good. Yes, she could make this work. Why not make a move and seize a tempting opportunity?
Marshall wouldn’t care. He had proven that tonight already.
So what if Evan’s touch didn’t make her shiver?
Shivers were overrated.
CHAPTER 19
