His attention snagged on the smaller woman who followed closely behind him.He’d only captured a few glimpses of her face, but it was enough to have a burst of attraction hit him with an irrational, instantaneous need.He’d never felt an emotion that affected his entire body, and to have a woman give him that sensation was something he bet would never have happened.
She was small and beautiful.She had long, dark red hair that framed a round, pale face.From where he sat, and from the quick glimpse he got of her, he noticed she had full lips and large eyes.Every emotion showed on her delicate face, and she didn’t seem happy to be there.
She was one of the prettiest women he’d ever seen.His mouth twisted in a grimace as his eyes traveled down her.She wore the ugliest outfit that was too big on her, making it hard to see her figure.
If he had to guess, that’s the way she wanted it.She tried so hard to fade into the background, not wanting attention, which was funny since several men in the room saw her and took a second look.She tried to blend in, while the other woman with them was flashy and overly unconstrained.
The small woman’s black pants were baggy on her, and the gray shirt she had tucked into her pants had some design on the front.He could tell she tried hard to look as unappealing as possible.It had to take effort to want to look like that.The funny thing was, she failed.She was one of those women who didn’t have to dress nicely.
She was tying knots in his gut, and his groin tightened painfully.She could wear a paper bag and still be beautiful to him.His gaze swept across the room, catching sight of the other eyes trained on her—and unfortunately, so did a few other guys.
Grant stayed seated and listened to the guy he’d come to meet, but everything in him drove him straight to her.He didn’t care that he might be walking away from a potential client, which was the whole purpose of even being at the cocktail party that night.
When he couldn’t take the space between them anymore, he apologized to the guy, stood, and was beside the woman in seconds.Jesus.Once he’d gotten close to her and got to look in her dazzling blue eyes, it sent his already sensitized body into overdrive.Her brows were delicately arched, and long dark lashes framed her bright, soulful eyes.It took him a moment to act casual as he caught his breath.He didn’t even try to pull his gaze from her.
When he asked to be introduced, an irrational spear of hot anger was directed toward Tessa when she tried to keep Jennifer from him.It shocked him to his bones how much it had affected him.His only thought was to get her somewhere he could talk to her and put his hands on her, and the closest place was the dance floor.It was perfect.He could hold and feel her against him, and it wouldn’t alarm her because they were dancing.He just had to make sure he didn’t frighten her.He could tell she was a bit skittish, so he had to tread lightly.
Within moments of meeting her, Grant pulled her onto the dance floor.The breath stalled in his chest at the first contact of their bodies and the first full lungful of her feminine scent.Fortunately, Grant could tell it affected her too when she tried but failed to stifle a gasp and an involuntary instinct to move back.He tightened his arms but murmured softly and tried to push down his reaction to her before he scared her.He kept her torso flush against the hard planes of his chest but put a little space between their groin areas to keep her from feeling the throbbing cock that pressed against his pants.
He didn’t try to question his over-the-top reaction or the possessive feelings he already had toward her.He’d always followed his gut instinct, and it was telling him to snatch her up before anyone else did.One arm was wrapped around her waist and held her close to his chest.He could feel the trimness of her body that she tried to hide from him.Grant ran his hand slowly across her back and hip, where her body flared into a curvy, womanly body—the type of shape he and most men enjoyed.
His other hand held her tiny one in his much larger grip.He ran his thumb over the back of her hand and was amazed at how soft and pure her skin was.The skin was so fine, he could see the small blue veins that ran over the back of her hand.
Grant pulled her closer to him and bent to whisper in her ear.“Are you enjoying yourself tonight, Jennifer?”
Grant leaned back a bit to see her face.“Jennifer?”He tried to keep the satisfaction in check when she trembled, but it was hard not to show how it affected his already hard body.“Jennifer?”He chuckled and squeezed her waist to get her attention.
Jennifer lifted her head away from his chest and looked up at him, but the dim light on the dance floor made it hard to see.She blinked a few times before focusing on him.
“I’m sorry.What were you asking?”she said.
Grant leaned down again, nuzzled his chin against the top of her head, then bent farther to whisper in her ear.“I asked if you’re having a good time?”
He felt her shiver when his hot breath blew on her ear.
Her brows knitted in confusion.“I ...I’m.Yes.”
Grant smiled.He liked the dazed look in her eyes.He let go of her hand to wrap his other arm around her, and his hand slid up under her mass of hair to cup the back of her neck.
“Look at me,” he said when her eyes slid shut again.
Grant’s eyes scanned her features.He didn’t like the confused, slightly alarmed look in her eyes.
“Jennifer, take a deep breath and hold it in for me.”
Jennifer immediately drew in a lungful of air and held it for a second before releasing it slowly.
“That’s a good girl.Do that a few times,” he murmured close to her ear.
Jennifer did what she was told, and she slowly relaxed against him.
“I’m sorry.I’m so embarrassed.I think I need to go home.I only had half a glass of wine, which doesn’t usually affect me like this.I’m afraid I might be coming down with something.A few people have been sick at the shelter.”
Grant’s brows creased in concern.
“Do you have a headache?”
Jennifer’s gaze met his as she shook her head and bit her lower lip.
