Joel smiled, and she noticed every detail of that smile. Like the way his eyes creased at the corners and a small dimple appeared at the side of his firm mouth.
‘I think my self-control has been commendable,’ he said quietly, his voice barely audible above the music, ‘when I think what I’ve wanted to do to you.’
She could hardly breathe. ‘Tell me what you’ve wanted to do.’
Neither of them were moving now. Instead, they stood in the centre of the dance floor, oblivious of the other dancers around them.
‘I’ve wanted to make love with you since the first moment I saw you at the accident,’ he said simply, his eyes steady on hers. He didn’t look away for a moment, didn’t make any apology for the way he felt. ‘There’s been a strong chemistry between us right from the start, Lucy, but you were so damned wary after what happened with Tim that you weren’t having any of it. So I agreed to settle for friendship.’
She swallowed, her gaze captured by the tiny pulse working in his throat. ‘And you’ve been the best friend I’ve ever had.’
‘I don’t think so.’ He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck to relieve the tension. ‘I think I’ve been a pretty lousy friend, Lucy.’
‘Why do you say that?’
His hand dropped to his side. ‘Because there’s never been a moment when I haven’t wanted you, and not dragging you into my arms and kissing you has been the biggest test of my life.’
‘You did kiss me.’
‘I don’t need reminding,’ he said quietly. ‘Since that night I haven’t slept much and my concentration at work has gone up the spout. I’m amazed my brothers haven’t noticed.’
‘They’ve noticed,’ Lucy told him, remembering Nick’s comments. ‘But I don’t think they realise that it’s because of me.’
‘Just as well.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘Or they’d definitely beat me to a pulp.’
Lucy looked up at him shyly. ‘So—er—what are we going to do?’
‘About what?’
‘About the way you feel,’ she murmured, her eyes dropping to his mouth and then lifting again to his eyes.
He licked his lips. ‘Well…’ He cleared his throat.’ Nothing, I suppose. We carry on as friends.’
She nodded slowly, placing one small hand on the middle of his broad chest. ‘If that’s what you want.’
There was a long pause and then his fingers tightened around her wrist and he lifted her face to his with his free hand.
‘What do you mean? If that’s what I want. This isn’t about what I want. It’s about what you want, and you just want us to be friends.’
She looked into his eyes, suddenly not knowing what to say. She’d never propositioned a man in her life before. How did she tell Joel she really wanted him to make love to her without looking like some sort of hussy?
Pink and embarrassed, she tried to dip her head, but there was no way he was letting her go.
‘Lucy…?’ His voice was a long, slow question and she blushed deeply.
‘I—don’t know, Joel…’ She was stammering now. ‘It’s just that you make me feel… And I thought that I just wanted to be friends, but I’m—it’s— Oh, help.’
She broke off and buried her face in his chest and felt him shaking with laughter.
‘I don’t understand a word you’re trying to say,’ he murmured in her ear, ‘but I have a feeling that this isn’t a conversation we should be having in a public place. Am I right?’
She nodded and he released her immediately, closing his long fingers around her wrist and leading her firmly away from the dance floor.
He led her outside, picking up their coats on the way, and flagged down a taxi that was hovering by the door.
‘But we didn’t even say goodbye to people,’ she said breathlessly, as she scooped the hem of her long dress into the cab.
‘You want me to be beaten to a pulp by my family?’ Joel grinned at her. ‘I’m fully expecting them to be hot on our heels, ready to break the door down and rescue you, any minute.’