“Oh, darlings, that’s such a pity. Can’t you even stay for one drink? Surely Grace’s car will wait.”
“No, we—”
“That would be great,” Mel said, interrupting. “We’d love to have one drink.”
Kyle scowled, but Mel just shrugged. Shedidwant to stay. She adored Emily Radley and under other circumstances she’d have given anything to be at one of her parties. Considering she’d never have the chance again, she might as well grab the opportunity and run with it.
“We really should get your tire changed,” Kyle said, speaking slowly and distinctly, as if she were chronically stupid.
“Don’t be silly,” she said. “The car’s not going anywhere.” She lifted an eyebrow. “Besides, I don’t have anyplace in particular to be until morning.”
With that, of course, she knew she’d won that battle.
And then, while he seethed, she flashed him her most innocent smile, knowing full well that right then he probably wanted to kill her.
* * *
HE WANTED TO KILL HER.
What the hell was she doing? He was trying to escape and she was tossing them both right smack into the lion’s den.
The woman was obviously delusional. Didn’t she realize that there were at least a dozen women down there determined to meddle in his love life? They were going to think she was the flavor of the week, and that was something he really didn’t want to deal with.
Frowning, he followed Emily and Grace-the-mystery-woman down the stairs, and Kyle watched her move in step with his grandmother. She was graceful, athletic, with a slim waist and a firm rear. One arm was linked through Miss Emily’s as she carefully helped the older woman down the stairs.
Kyle rolled his eyes. Their guest might be a thief, but Miss Emily was a con artist. She no more needed help maneuvering those stairs than an Olympic gymnast needed help walking a balance beam.
“Now, Grace,” said Emily, as the women took another step down, “have we met?”
Grace looked back over her shoulder at him, a tentative smile on her mouth. “No. I haven’t had the pleasure.”
“Funny,” Emily said. “You just look so familiar tome.” She patted Grace’s arm. “Doesn’t matter. We’ve met now.”
The women continued to chatter on—Kyle was frankly amazed that the girl knew so much about his grandmother—until they reached the ballroom. Emily caught the eye of the bandleader and lifted one finger. On cue, the orchestra began to playKiss Me Quick, Melissa, and Grace clapped her hands, almost bouncing with the music.
“Oh, my gosh! This is my favorite song. My grandfather and I used to dance to it when I was a little girl.” She turned to Emily with such excitement in her eyes that Kyle couldn’t help but smile. “And you were fabulous as Melissa.Stolen Kissesis one of my all-time favorite movies.”
“It’s one of my favorites, too,” Emily said. “I taught Kyle how to dance to this tune. Remember, dear?”
He grinned. “Oh, yes. I remember it well.” Actually, those dance lessons were one of his fondest memories. Though, frankly, all of the summers he’d spent with his grandmother had been special. A cherished respite from traipsing all over the globe with his diplomat parents.
As the women beamed, he held out a hand for his grandmother. “For old-time’s sake,” he said.
But she didn’t take his hand. Instead, she pressedGrace’s hand into his and then gave her a tiny push into his arms. “Not old times,” she said. “New memories. Show Grace what a wonderful dancer you are.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but the feel of the woman in his arms stayed his tongue. He did want to dance with her; at the moment, there was nothing else he’d rather do. And so he guided her to the floor, counting out time with the music as they twirled under the twinkling lights of the crystal chandelier.
He closed his eyes, letting the melody carry them. Simply dancing.
“Where’d you get Grace?” she finally asked.
“To Catch A Thief,”he said simply.
“Oh.” A pause, then. “That’s one of my favorite movies.”
“Mine, too,” he admitted.
They danced a few minutes more in silence.
