he dance floor, holding a martini glass high in the air. He

nning tonight!" Burdette yelled

h. She pasted a stiff smile on her face and gently clinked he

oudly. "Still a

shoulders, his grip heavy and warm. "Come o

locked up. "Actually, Burdette, I think I'm

ctically dragged them through the crowd, heading straight toward

ent light of the booth illuminated t

n the black leather s

two buttons were undone, exposing the strong column of his throat. He was slowly, meth

heel caught on the thick carpet, and she

mperature, loudly announced to the booth, "Gentlemen, I

in the bo

iercing blue eyes cut through the di

plunging neckline, and the way the velvet clung to her hips. The

ard, forcing her toward the

ctly to Gus

re body was as stiff as a board. She could feel the intense, radiatin

is long, muscular arm casually over the back of the sofa, right behind Harper's exposed back. It

onaire in the room, leaned across the table. He picked up a bottle of hi

t smile and reached out her empty glass, already plann

o pour from the bottle, a large, dee

at over the rim of Harper's glass

undeniable authority that silenced the immediate area. "

swallowed hard, his face flushing red. "Oh. My apologies,

ned in close, her voice a harsh, furious whisper. "I am no

his eyes fixed straight ahead. "Dressed like that," he murmured, his voice a dark

nger flared hot in her chest. She shifted her weight violen

e knee, exposed by the slit in her dress, dragged firmly a

wool was loud in Harper's e

h froze

had draped over the back of the sofa twitched, curling inward. The rough

s burned violently hot. She stared down at the fruit platter

lver tray. He placed a tall, frosted glass

iss," the waiter said respectfully, his eyes dar

to order every time they went out during their marriage. The memory hit her like a

wer lip. She couldn't do th

ast she nearly knocked the table. "I need to use the

rned a

rk and unreadable. He lifted his glass and down