“And they say chivalry is dead,” Rina joked. She settled in more comfortably beside the woman who had to be Catherine. Rina had caught glimpses of her rushing around at the Christmas party, but they hadn’t officially met. “I’m Rina Lowell.”
“Catherine Montgomery.”
The blonde, who Rina would love to hate for her beautiful face and perky disposition, smiled, making her feel welcome.
“I’ve been dying to meet you,” Catherine said. “But I was running around like a crazy person at the party. I’m so glad you invited us tonight. And now I guess I should shut up and let you talk.” Catherine grinned.
Rina laughed. “Colin’s said wonderful things about you. It seems like he was right.”
Catherine shook her head. “The man’s a charmer. He’d say anything that suited him.”
Beneath the table, Rina felt someone kick their foot out hard.
“Ouch,” Cat muttered. “Sorry. I have a big mouth. I meant that Colin is a charmer of the best kind. I’m really shutting up now.” She deliberately clenched her jaw tight.
Rina laughed again. “Don’t worry. I know who and what Colin is.” Her gaze met his and the fire she saw burning there warmed her inside and out.
They shared an enjoyable round of drinks and appetizers, Rina learning she could judge a lot about a man by his friends. Whereas Robert’s friends were colleagues, stuffy attorneys more full of themselves than she could bear, Logan was the opposite. Warm and full of fun like his grandmother. In his eyes, Rina saw Emma’s spunk and mischievous nature. She also saw that both he and Catherine cared for Colin, treating him more like family than a friend.
Another half hour later, the check was paid and Colin had moved closer, his thigh brushing her nearly bare one beneath the table. The short dress had hiked up her legs and his warmth caused a sizzling in her veins. She needed him more than she’d ever needed a man, needed to explore this thing between them and let the passion explode.
“Would you like to dance, Rina?” Logan asked. “My wife made me swear I wouldn’t make her spend any more time on her feet than necessary. She’ll be working parties and running around for the rest of the weekend.”
The background music suddenly became clearer, a throbbing beat made more intense by the pulsing inside her body, the longing she felt for Colin alone.
But since she didn’t want to be rude, she agreed to a dance. She and Colin had the night to be together, or so she hoped.
She and Logan moved onto the floor and danced through two songs. Rina enjoyed Logan’s sense of humor and wit. Unfortunately he wasn’t Colin and she wished the last song would end so she could be in Colin’s arms. So he could pull her close enough to feel the heat of his body and inhale the heady scent that aroused her and made her wet with wanting him.
Finally, the music ended and Logan stepped back. “Before we go to the table, I wanted to tell you something.”
“What’s that?”
“There’s something about Colin you may not know. I roomed with the guy in college. He doesn’t bring the women he dates around his friends. Even before Julie, he was wary.”
“Who’s Julie?”
“That’s for Colin to tell you.” Logan winked. “I’m just trying to let you know that you’re special to him.”
“Your wife’s getting jealous,” Colin said, coming up beside them.
Rina glanced back at the table. Catherine had ordered another drink and was talking to the waitress, oblivious to anything happening on the dance floor, making Colin’s claim a blatant lie.
Rina swallowed a laugh because there was nothing funny about Colin’s possessiveness. The emotions said a lot for his feelings, backing up Logan’s claim. “Are you interrupting us for Cat’s sake? Or for your own?” Rina asked, finished playing games.
“I think this is my cue to disappear.” Chuckling, Logan leaned over and whispered in Rina’s
ear. “He doesn’t bring women back to his place, either.” Then he slapped Colin on the back and made his way to the table and his wife, waving goodbye from a distance as he helped Catherine on with her coat.
Alone on the dance floor, Rina looked into Colin’s heated gaze and shivered.
“I don’t want you to be cold.”
“Then warm me,” she said, taunting him. Daring him. Begging him, she thought.
But instead of dragging her into the nearest dark room and having his way with her as her fantasy dictated, he pulled her into his arms. His body aligned with hers, and beneath her dress her nipples puckered as desire licked between her legs and an overall sensual tug of need swamped her.
The dance floor was crowded, but they might as well have been alone as they swayed from side to side. Music beat out a heavy, carnal beat, matching the rhythm quaking inside her.