She clenched her jaw. Her eyes narrowed, and she returned his look with one she hoped was twice as hostile.
Nick must have sensed her tension because he paused and looked down at her questioningly. “Something wrong?”
“You could say that,” she said through clenched teeth.
He followed her gaze, and she knew the instant he noticed Blake, because he took one look at him and smirked. “Someone you know?”
She nodded, not feeling like explaining.
Nick seemed entirely unperturbed. “He looks unhappy.”
“Not my problem.”
The next moment, Blake started toward them.
Anger flared, hot and swift, in Jannie’s chest.
How dare he crash her function? What gave him the right to look at her like that? Stalker behavior, that’s what this was.
Blake threaded through the crowd, and before Jannie knew it, he was halfway across the dance floor. Jannie looked into Nick’s eyes, her pulse skyrocketing, steely determination stiffening her spine. “Kiss me.”
Nick blinked. His feet came to a standstill. For a split second, there was a question in his dark eyes.
Jannie gripped the back of his neck and pulled. “Make it good,” she murmured, “please.”
His dark eyes flashed. He glanced at Blake and didn’t hesitate a second longer.
Nick took her mouth with such hot deliberation, it stole her breath away.
The shock of it slammed over Jannie like a tidal wave. Never had any man kissed her this way, as if he meant to draw her essence and absorb it. A riot of colors kaleidoscoped behind her eyes, and fireworks burst inside her, vivid and bright.
His lips caressed, his tongue plundered, a combination that made her head spin and her heart race, quickening with every stroke. Her hands found his lapels. She gripped them, both to steady herself and keep him close because she never wanted him to stop.
God help her; this didn’t feel fake. It felt like—
Nick broke the kiss and drew away a fraction. “He’s leaving.”
Jannie blinked. She looked and glimpsed Blake’s retreating back before he threw her a murderous look over his shoulder, shoved open a set of double doors, and stomped into the hallway.
CHAPTER 6
Jannie
“So, what was that back there?” Nick took a sip of Pellegrino and regarded her over the rim of his glass.
Jannie grimaced. “A train wreck I’m trying to walk away from.”
“I see. But didn’t you say that train left the station a year ago?”
“I did. It keeps returning.”
“More than happy to help you chase it away.”
“Thank you for that.”
“No need to thank me. I enjoyed it.” He leaned forward, a little smile curving his lips. “Did you?”
She had. But she wasn’t about to admit it. “Hmm.”
