Page 2 of Sophia & Cameron
Goosebumps trailed along her arms despite the sticky heat coming from everyone dancing. Her head reared back, and she snorted, but no words formed on her lips.
His smile continued to stretch wider. Then he jerked his chin toward the dance floor. “Care to dance?”
Sophia arched a brow as she moistened her lips with a flick of her tongue. Her throat had gone dry. This man had the ability to steal the air from the room, and it was making her feel lightheaded.
She was just about to accept his offer when someone bumped into her on their way to the restroom. It knocked enough sense into her head to clear it. “Pass,” she said with a smile of her own. Then she spun around, her black hair swishing over her shoulder.
There was no way she’d look back. She couldn’t afford to. Whoever he was, he was trouble. She was only going to be in Texas for a week. She didn’t have time for a distraction like Mr. Manbun. This time next week, she’d be back on her brother’sranch and the stranger staring holes into the back of her head would be a distant memory.
“This place is much better.I like the music, too, don’t you?” Darcy scanned the room the second they entered the local hangout spot she’d picked out. The music playing through the speakers was more reminiscent of what she used to listen to when she was in high school, which meant the majority of the people here were likely closer to her age. There were a lot more men in cowboy hats, too, which meant there would likely be more country music played.
Here, she was in her element.
Sophia nodded and smiled broadly at her new friend. It was only her second day in Texas, but it promised to be fun. She looped her arm through Darcy’s, and together they made their way to the dance floor.
It wasn’t hard to get lost in the music. She could dance and not worry about seeing people she knew. She could forget that she had responsibilities back home. But most of all, she could forget that less than a year ago, she’d had her heart broken by a boyfriend who couldn’t keep his hands to himself. The worst part was that it had happened shortly after her brother had been cheated on by his fiancée. Sophia pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the present.
They danced for going on thirty minutes when Darcy said she was thirsty and was headed to grab some water. Sophia nodded but opted to stay on the dance floor. A slower song started, and a man with dark hair and dark eyes grinned at her and raised his eyebrows.
She held out her hand, and he took it, placing it on his chest. He took her other one and placed it around the back of his neck.
They swayed, not bothering to tell each other their names or where they were from. Tonight was about fun—about being with someone who smelled good and who could guide her across the dance floor without promising her the world or begging her to offer the same.
When the dance was over, she was ready for her own cold water.
“Wow, Soph. You really know how to pick them,” Darcy said. Her eyes were wide, and they followed the handsome cowboy as he returned to his own group of friends.
Sophia shrugged as she requested a bottled water. Then she faced her friend. “As long as he can move and doesn’t step on my toes, that’s all I need.”
“Then maybe you’d promise me your next dance?”
The scream that erupted from Sophia’s throat at the sound of his voice was swallowed up by the start of another upbeat song.
Darcy got an amused look on her face. Her eyes practically sparkled as she let her focus sweep from the top of the man’s head to his feet and back to his face.
Sophia turned toward the intrusion with a hand on her hip. She arched a brow at Mr. Manbun. “No offense, but you don’t look like you could keep up.”
The second he flashed his smile at her, she got distracted. But it was his low, sultry voice that did her in entirely. “You never know until you give me a chance.”
Darcy nudged her, causing Sophia to stumble forward a step. She nearly bumped into the handsome stranger.
She’d caught him staring at her at the conference again today. He’d kept his distance, not approaching her no matter how many times their eyes met. It was strange, to say the least. Sophia’s eyes narrowed as she flapped her hand at her back tostop Darcy from insisting that she accept the stranger’s request. “Are you stalking me?”
Mr. Manbun chuckled. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Then how did you know I was here?”
His gaze shifted to Darcy. It was only for a split second, but it had been enough.
Sophia gasped and whipped her head around to stare at her friend. “You didn’t,” she hissed.
Darcy flushed and lifted a shoulder. Then she backed up a step.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Sophia’s hand shot out to reach for her friend, but at that same moment, a warm hand wrapped around her elbow. He spun her around to face him. “One dance, Red. That’s all I ask.”
“Red?” Sophia scoffed.
His eyes darted to the streak of red she had in her dark hair.
