There was no mistaking his meaning, but she pretended not to catchit. “I know so. I know what it takes to fly a jet.”
He modestly inclined his head and promptly trampled on her foot. “Sorry.”
“I can lead,” she offered, “all you have to do is—”
“No.” He uttered the monosyllable with a firm tone that sent a shiver through her, and Jannie looked up to catch a glimpse of danger in his dark eyes.
“I follow no one, Jannie.” His tone was mild, belying his expression. “Not even you.”
“Yes,sir,” she snarked without thinking.
He misstepped, causing her ankle to turn. His fingers tightened on the small of her back and he pulled her to him, angling his body, his groin colliding with her thigh.
Her eyes widened. The unmistakable evidence was there: Nick was aroused.
Oh, was he ever.
“Are you OK?” he asked.
No.
“Yes.”
“Sorry about that.”
“It’s fine.”
With any other man except for Blake, Jannie would have instinctively drawn back. But even as her mind said this would be the appropriate thing to do, her body countered shamelessly, pressing into him, reveling in the feel of his hardness against her curves.
Her breath quickened. Tingles materialized, hot and heavy, and the dull, hot throb began anew, shocking her to her very foundation. For years, she thought she had chemistry with Blake, but now Jannie realized she’d been wrong. What was happening now with Nick was a nuclear reactor compared to a school lab experiment.
Forgotten was the awkward way he danced, if you could even call it that. His hard frame pressed into hers as he held her flush against him, communicating things her body well understood.
And wanted.
He resumed dancing, keeping enough distance to accommodate herbelly. Feeling slightly dizzy again, Jannie rested her palms against his rock-hard chest and found she didn’t need alcohol to feel as if she were floating.
His hand slid lower on her back, just above her backside, enough to be sexy but still respectful.
The last strains of the melody filled the room, and Nick lowered his head, his lips a hairbreadth from her ear. “I’m ready to eat,” he murmured.
His hot breath skated across her ear and warmed her cheek.
And other places.
He lingered there, his mouth warm, his beard brushing the side of her neck, causing all sorts of havoc along her skin before he straightened, a sexy half-smile curving his sensuous lips.
But as she leaned into Nick, relishing the feel of his strong arms around her, the back of Jannie’s neck prickled, and she had a distinct feeling that someone was watching.
She glanced around the room.
And spotted Blake.
Her stomach dropped.
Oh, no.
He stood there at the edge of the dance floor, outrage on his face, his fingers tight around a lowball filled with what she knew was his usual, a double of scotch.
