Just like at The Plaza.
I should have walked out of the bathroom, but I didn’t.
“And I don’t like seeing you here with someone else.” The glare in his eyes became deadly when speaking about Garrett.
“You’re here with someone,” I told him.
“She means nothing to me, though.”
I couldn’t swallow over the lump that formed in my throat. Our attraction was strong. No, it was beyond that, it was formidable.
It was also forbidden.
For me, anyway. Yet, I couldn’t explain to him why. And that hurt us both.
“Seeing you every day at work is hard enough. But in this setting, it should be me your arm is around. It should be me you’re dancing with. It should be me you’re going home with.” He peered up at the ceiling as he swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his thick neck. Moving his hands to his pockets, a sly smile played across his lips. “The ideas going through my head right now of what I want to do to you would make you blush, among other things.”
Suddenly, my panties were soaked. I shifted my legs as subtly as I could. His gaze shifted lower. When his eyes came back up to mine, there was a fire burning in them.
“Right now, I’m wondering if it’s your thighs that are wet or if you’re wearing a thong.”
My hands trembled. I squeezed my clutch against me to gain control as his gaze was about to undo any I had remaining.
He took a tentative step toward me. When I remained still, he took another. We were inches apart but not touching. Leaning close, his mouth touched my ear.
“I look forward to the day we can stop playing these games.” His soft lips simply brushed against my earlobe. Not a kiss, just a touch. My eyes closed as his warm breath exhaled against the skin of my neck, bumps rising immediately.
I felt him pull away. By the time I opened my eyes, he had slipped out of the small room and closed the door. I relocked it and fell against the cold metal, my breaths ragged and my heart racing. There was no way I could return to the party anytime soon.
Recovery from that was necessary.
Moving to the mirror, my reflection amazed me. The flush on my face made me smile, but the hair along my ear had come loose from my updo. Working it back in could be challenging. I did my best to tuck it in, but one piece wouldn’t stay. It became a money piece as I worked it to look proper along the side of my face.
The knock on the door startled me, and I almost dropped my clutch as I reapplied my gloss. My heart raced again.
“One sec,” I called out.
I don’t know why I was surprised to simply find another woman waiting to use the restroom.
“Excuse me,” I said as I slid by her.
Walking up the stairs, I composed myself the best I could. Once I reentered the party room, I looked around for Chase.
And Garrett.
The tables were mostly empty by now, people either milling around socializing or dancing. My eyes bounced around the room, from person to person, looking for the light brown hair with a light wave to it. He usually stood above most others in a room at his height, but I didn’t see him.
“Hey, Maryellen, where did you run off to?” Harper asked. “Wanna dance?” She was already pulling me toward the dance floor.
“I was in the bathroom. Let me put my bag down. I’ll be right back.” Once back at our table, I noticed Lena’s bag was no longer there. It didn’t mean they left, but it could.
Scanning the bar, I noticed Garrett talking Gage’s ear off. He seemed to be more interested in him than me tonight, which was fine. I had other things on my mind.
What I didn’t see, or whom, was his brother.
No sign of him.
I made my way back to Harper, who grabbed hold of me as soon as I returned. The DJ played some retro seventies music, which was fun to dance to, and got everyone on the dance floor.
