“Because I can help you. You can take or leave my advice, but I’m going to be honest with you because I don’t think most people are,” I said, moving close so she could hear me. “Rafe is here with me. We’re together. He isn’t interested in a relationship with you, and you’re being disrespectful to me and to yourself.”
Her eyes widened with surprise. Clearly, no one ever spoke up to this woman. “How am I being disrespectful to myself?”
So we were on the same page about her disrespecting me.
“Because you should be with a guy who wants to be with you. Stop chasing my date around and go find yourself a man of your own. Your dad can’t make someone date you. Life doesn’t work that way. And you aren’t going to make any friends by going after other women’s dates the way you are going after mine tonight. We’re on the same team. Power of the woman.”
She was still gaping at me. “I liked him first.”
“First of all, you don’t know that. Second of all, if he doesn’t reciprocate those feelings, it doesn’t matter who liked him first. Move the hell on. You’re gorgeous, and your speech was fabulous, so you’ve clearly got a way with words. You’re rocking this peach-colored minidress like a badass. Don’t settle for someone who doesn’t fall at your feet,” I said.
Peach was not my favorite color choice for evening attire, but she owned it, and I’d give credit where credit was due. “Never let a man make you feel unworthy. Hold your head high and let them come to you.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry. I just really like him.”
“I’m sorry. I just really like him, too,” I said, and I wasn’t lying.
“Dean Sanders was following me around earlier, and he’s cute, even if he’s a little shy. I could give him a shot.” She appeared to be scanning the room. “He’s the one in the navy suit with the floral button-up.”
“Shut the front door. I saw that guy watching you like you were the only woman in the room when you were giving your speech. He’s clearly into you.” I had noticed, and he looked to be around her age. “And look at that. He’s staring right now.”
“He is,” she said as her teeth sank into her bottom lip. “What should I do?”
Well, for starters, you could stop following my date around the party.
“Exactly what you’re doing. Hold that stare, girl.”
Dean started moving in our direction, and relief flooded. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but I was also done with her hitting on my date.
“Thanks, Lulu,” she smirked. “By the way, I have a few rings and a necklace of yours, along with a closet full of Laredo handbags.”
“I knew you had good style,” I said with a wink as Dean approached. “I’ll see you later.”
I strode off the dance floor toward Rafe, who was sipping his cocktail, his suit coat slung over his arm, and his dress shirt rolled up to the elbows, exposing his forearms.
His gaze never left mine, and the hunger in his eyes matched the way I was feeling. I took the glass from his hand and brought it to my lips before taking a sip and setting it down on the table. “Come with me somewhere.”
“Always,” he said as he took my hand in his, and I led him out of the ballroom and down a hallway.
I’d gone to the restroom earlier and opened the wrong door and found a closet, so I knew exactly where I was taking him right now.
“What happened with Chloe?” he asked as he walked beside me just as I came to a stop.
“She’s good. I gave her a little girl code chat, and I think she’s going to be moving on. At least for tonight.”
“So, we aren’t running to a getaway car?” His hair was a bit disheveled from all the dancing, and his tie was loosened around his neck, and he looked absolutely delicious.
“Not yet. I never miss an opportunity for cake.” I pulled the door open and tugged him into the closet. It was dark aside from the moonlight coming in through the small window in the corner. I pushed the lock on the handle and moved the short distance to the opposite wall.
“What are we doing in here, Wildcat?”
“Well, we’ve had a few kisses that were all cut short, and I just feel like we should get one good kiss in before we break up tomorrow.” I was trying to be light and funny, but my words were breathy and laced with need.
Have I ever wanted anyone the way I want this man?
“Yeah?” His tongue slid slowly along his bottom lip, and I blew out a breath because I couldn’t take much more. “Just a kiss?”
“I mean, I’m open to suggestions,” I huffed. “We can’t have sex, because that would be crossing a line we can’t uncross. But everything else is on the table.”
