Her face softened. He swallowed. At least she didn't demand his allegiance. He might have given it to her. He almost losthisstep.
Then she stood on her tip toes, tugged his shoulder closer to her, and whispered in his ear. "Takemehome."
He licked his lips. Belle Jordan might be the best or the worst woman in his life at the moment, not that he had anyone else on his radar. She took his breath away. She stared at him like he was anidiot.
He lingered too long. To cover he said, "What did you haveinmind?"
She rubbed the base of her neck near her chest. The music stopped. "The wedding is basically over. It's time togonow."
"Ofcourse."
He led her off the dance floor, and they walked in silence to the door. No onestoppedthem.
As they exited through the glass doors that led to the front of the building and toward the limo, Belle squeezed his arm. "And Peter, one morething."
He slowed his pace. Heswallowed. "What?"
She said, almost in a whisper, "I'll want another kiss. I wasjealous."
Outside people spoke on the veranda and waited in groups. He wrapped his arm around her waist to ensure she stayed near, and then said, "No one else will be in the room, mentally or physically, when I kiss youagain."
Shewinked. "Deal."
It might have been her wink. She was charming and forthright and nothing about her seemed false. She was unlike any woman he'd ever met. Luckily the bet was over now, and she would neverbehurt.
