Dangerous Tease (The Layton Family 3)

“You are such an asshole.”

Yes, he was. “Shut up.”

“Yeah, well, I'll see you tomorrow. I'm not sitting here anymore watching you be a dick.”

Chris tossed a twenty dollar bill on the bar and stalked away.

Sam stewed in his seat and drank his beer, then another one. He was being a prick. He could admit that to himself. But he had reasons and anyway, it wasn't as if Josie gave two shits about him. She just wanted to use him to find Rebecca's Bounty and dammit, he wanted her anyway. His own lack of control appalled him.

He slammed down the now empty bottle and paid his tab.

Making his way to the door, a laugh stopped him. Her laugh. It pulled him toward the dance floor, near where Josie stood talking to Willie.

“Another dance?” Josie shook her head. “I don't know that your feet could take it.”

“Oh, I don't mind. You'll pick the two-step up way before you manage to smash all of my toes.” Willie grabbed her hand.

“No.” The word was out of Sam's mouth before he even had time to contemplate stopping it. He should keep walking but dammit, he couldn't move from this spot. He couldn't leave knowing someone else touched her. “This dance is taken.”

“Oh really?” She crossed her arms. “Willie's the only one who's asked.”

Heat flushed Sam's cheeks. “You're going to make me say the words.”

“Yep.” She leaned back against the hip-high wall surrounding the dance floor.

Willie didn't bother to even try to hide his smirk. Shit. By midnight, half the town would know about this. Heat crept up his spine at the prospect of people knowing his business, of knowing him. The Laytons were known for their wild antics, all except for him. Sam kept to himself and he liked it that way. If he left now, he wouldn't have to worry about being the center of attention.

He moved to leave and caught the disappointment darkening Josie's gray eyes. Regret slugged him in the gut. “Will you please dance with me?”

She cocked her head to one side. “Why should I?”

Something primal awoke within him and demanded he respond to the challenge in her voice. Time for lying to himself had passed. No matter what else Josie desired or how much she was hiding, she still wanted him. And he wanted her. The tension pulling his body tight told of just how much he craved her, no matter her secret motives. Worries of people talking about him faded into oblivion and he stepped closer. The cord of sexual tension between them drew tight, making it hard to concentrate on anything more than the full curve of her bottom lip.

“Because I'm sorry and I want to make up for being a complete asshole. Because even though I know you have ulterior motives, I can't seem to care about your reasons for finding me. I'm just glad you did. And because you want to touch me as much as I want to feel you.”

Her long fingers skipped nervously from one button to the next on her shirt, stopping at the deep V opening. “So what is this, a truce?”

“Yes. Let's just forget about Rebecca's Bounty and enjoy a dance.”

“One dance? No more accusations or name calling? No more being a jerk?” Her thumb flicked at the top fastened button.

“No.” His entire body pulsed in time with his heartbeat, the fate of the world seeming to rest on her next words.

She dropped her hand, straightened her spine and tossed her hair out of her face. “Ask me again.”

His cock twitched in anticipation of touching Josie. “Will you dance with me?”

She considered him for a moment, dragging her gaze down his body and back up. “I thought you'd never ask.” Josie took his hand and pulled him out onto the dance floor.

He slid his hand across the small of her back, electricity skittering up his arm as he turned her to face him. One hand rested on her hip, the other hand clasped hers. Several inches of air separated their bodies until Josie took a half step forward, eliminating the open space. Her distinct scent of amber and orange wrapped around him, daring him to tighten his grip. He flexed his fingers and slid his hand from her hip to the small of her back, using his still vivid memories of their night in Vegas to trace the infinity tattoo hidden by her cotton shirt.

The drummer kept a steady beat, followed by the slide guitar, and the dancers circled the floor counterclockwise. Closer than Velcro, Josie flowed with him as they took two quick steps and then a slow one repeating the moves as they danced. Really, he should keep an eye out for the other dancers to make sure they didn't run into anyone, but Sam couldn't pull his gaze away from her and the way her cherry-red lips moved as she counted the steps under her breath and watched their feet move in time with the music. Her creamy breasts that he remembered so well jiggled against his chest as she swayed. A burst of pleasure-soaked agony exploded inside him. His gaze wandered down to the soft flesh exposed by her partially unbuttoned shirt. The promise barely contained by that third button elicited a groan of frustrated need.

“Sorry, did I step on your toes?” Josie met his gaze. It took only a second for the worry in her gray eyes to morph into something more carnal.

Attraction tensed his muscles and he

whirled her around in a spin as they two-stepped across the floor. When she faced him again, he pulled her close and she rested her head against his shoulder. One platinum-blond curl brushed against his cheek, tempting him to bury his nose in it.