The thought stopped him in his tracks.
He remembered their first night together. Neither wanted to go on a blind date, but even then he realized there was something about her that drew him. As time went by, seeing her more and more became the right thing to do. Then the revelation ripped them apart.
A pair, not a couple, she’d said. They were back to their normal lives. Only, for Adam, things were no longer normal. He wanted a new normal. He wanted to spend his days and nights with her. He wanted to go where life led them.
Tonight would be the first step.
* * *
By Saturday night Teddy had completely altered the designer gown. Standing in front of her bedroom mirror, she surveyed herself. The gown was chiffon. Christmas-green in color. The strapless bodice was completely made of green and white bugle beads. The skirt swished about her legs as if it wanted to dance. Her waist was defined by a wide red ribbon that formed a rose at the base of her back, its streamers falling to the floor in two sharp points.
She’d pulled her hair up on the sides and secured it with beaded combs that matched the gown. Curls cascaded down her back. Catching a wayward strand, she secured it and turned toward the door.
Adam was waiting for her downstairs. He looked up when he heard her footsteps. Words must have escaped him for his mouth dropped open and he stared at her as if he’d never seen her before.
“I’m sorry I kept you waiting,” she said.
He came to her, taking her hand and looking her up and down. “It was well worth it.”
Teddy heard a wealth of meaning in those few simple words. He leaned forward and touched her cheek with his.
“Clearly you’ll be the best-looking woman at the party tonight.”
“You think so?” she asked.
“I know so.”
“Then undoubtedly we’ll be the couple of the evening because you look good enough to eat.”
The expression on his face darkened. She could see need flood his eyes. Teddy felt her own body begin to arouse.
“We’d better go,” Adam said. “Although I would like nothing better than to skip the party and stay here.”
Teddy wanted the same thing. “Would Stephen really mind if we didn’t show up?”
Adam stared deeply into her eyes. “He’d consider it a snub. And I’m not sure what message it would send to the staff.”
“Then we’d better go. We wouldn’t want to start any rumors.”
She reached for the coat she’d left lying over the sofa. Adam picked it up and held it for her. Teddy slipped her arms inside and Adam pulled it up onto her shoulders. His hands rested there for a moment. Teddy leaned back into him. Her eyes closed at the feel of his body. She remembered it, knew it, yearned for it. He encircled her upper arms and together they stood as one for a moment.
Teddy turned in his arms and lifted her head. She was about to tell Adam to let Stephen stew, when he stepped away.
The snow had stopped, but there was a layer still on the ground. The party was in full swing when they arrived. Adam introduced her to the hosts and they got a drink.
“These are the people you work with?” Teddy asked.
“A few are clients, but mainly it’s the office personnel.”
“So who’s minding the store? I thought you ran a twenty-four-hour operation.”
Taking a sip of his drink, he said, “There’s a skeleton crew on duty. Things move slowly this time of year.”
“Stephen has a beautiful home,” she commented, looking around at the colonial. The decorations were beautiful and it appeared he had children. There were photographs on several of the tree ornaments.
“Shall we dance?” Adam interrupted her thoughts. She set her glass on a nearby tray and he took her into the room that had obviously been cleared for dancing. Couples were already on the floor and a DJ was handling the music.
In Adam’s arms she floated away. Closing her eyes, she matched his steps. Just as she predicted, the dress danced. Teddy was only the medium who wore it, and she was the one feeling the security of being held by Adam. She took in the smell of his cologne, allowing the heady mixture to rekindle the sensations he brought out in her. Her mind wasn’t thinking straight, but she had enough mental capacity left to let her know they were on a dance floor and not alone in her house or his condo.