‘The trick’s in the wrist,’ he told her, taking the second bottle. ‘You take the bottle in one hand and hold the cork with the other, like this. Now hold the cork steady and twist the bottle.’
It made a distinct pop as it opened, and this time Hayden reached for a flute to pour out the first bit before setting it on the table as before. He took the last bottle and held it out to her.
‘You try.’
She eyed it for a moment, her body language revealing how tempted she was. But instead she shook her head.
‘I might drop it.’
‘It’s all a matter of confidence.’ He smiled.
She hesitated, but ultimately shook her head again.
‘Want me to show you?’ He knew it was a bad idea, but the words tumbled out all the same.
/> She slid him a curious look.
‘How?’
Hayden didn’t give himself chance to rethink the wisdom of what he knew was damn fool idea when he reached out and placed his hands on Bridget’s hips, spinning her round as he stepped behind her and circled his arms around her to bring the champagne bottle to her front.
‘Are you left- or right-handed?’
She didn’t answer at first, her body tense, like something was coiled inside her, ready to run.’
‘It’s just opening a champagne bottle, Birdie,’ he murmured.
Only...it wasn’t just that, was it? He was lying to himself if he thought it was. He was complicating an already problematic situation. In a matter of days they would be working together and it was like he didn’t even care. All he could think about was the heat of her back against his chest, the feel of her trembling slightly in his arms, and the faint vanilla scent pervading his nostrils.
‘Now, hold the bottle here...’ he lifted her hand, covering it with his own ‘...and put the other hand on the cork. Good, okay. Hold the cork in place without moving that hand and slowly turn the bottle with the other.’
In one easy movement the cork popped.
‘Well done,’ Hayden told her, stepping away as he reached for a flute.
But the damage was done. He was more intrigued than ever—or at least his body was. He wanted her. So badly that he could feel need advancing through him like an infantry unit on a forced march. If this is where he was after a few minutes on a night out with Bridget, how would it be after a few hours? With dancing? And the added headache of alcohol?
It all made for a distinctly potent cocktail. That meant the wisest course of action would be to abstain. He would stay long enough to toast Mattie, and then, when she went to buy a round of drinks as per tradition, he would make his excuses and leave.
It was the right thing to do. The responsible thing.
Before he was tempted to do anything he would regret with the delectable Bridget.
CHAPTER THREE
BRIDGET WAS STILL shaking as Hayden stepped away and prepared to toast his sister.
Never, in her entire life, had anyone affected her this much. This badly. He’d been so careful not to actually let their bodies make contact and yet she’d felt him everywhere. Everywhere.
It had started with a delicious tingling at her hairline, whether from his breath on her skin or just the simple fact that he’d been so close she had no idea. Then, as he’d closed his arms around her, a wave of tiny goosebumps had swept over her entire body. Her breasts had felt a sudden heaviness, her nipples pulling tighter than she’d ever known. But it had been the ache inside her that had scared her the most. Pulsing right through her body. Pooling right there.
The softest, hottest part of her. Where she longed for Hayden—this virtual stranger—to touch her. And it terrified her. She had never, never, craved something so much.
It had taken all she had not to edge back into Hayden’s arms and press her body up against his. To find out if he wanted her anywhere near as much as her body seemed to be screaming out for him.
Like it knew things that her inexperienced brain didn’t understand. All she did know for sure was that she needed to stay far, far away from this dark, greedy thing that was winding its way up inside her.
She needed to stay away from Hayden.