They stood stock still, taking each other in. Her breathing was evening-out. Sean was pleased when he saw panic receding from her beautiful eyes, replaced with a curiosity he was sure he projected back at her. It had been a long time since a woman had grabbed his full attention in the way that the beauty in his arms had.
A group of men in suits approached from the psychologist’s ballroom. Their distant conversation dragged Sean out of his trance. The woman in his arms heard them too and her panic returned.
"Thank you for helping me, but please. I need to go."
Sean released her arms and stepped back. He'd planned to ask her name; to give her his business card and let her know he was available to assist her if she needed anything. He didn't get the chance.
The second he released her, she rushed past him and around the corner, out of sight just as the group of three men passed him. They looked as if they were in hot pursuit. Their words alarmed Sean.
"She's on the run now, boys, but I guarantee you she's gonna come around. I did my homework. All I have to do is offer to light up that ass of hers and she'll be like putty in my hands."
"In your dreams, Robert. You had your go at her last year. She's mine this year."
Sean rounded the corner behind them just in time to see the woman he assumed they were talking about rushing into the women's restroom. The three assholes, as he'd begun to think of them, stopped briefly as if they might wait for her to come out, but eventually they moved on.
Sean milled about in the hallway, unsure what to do. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something wrong. He considered calling Jimmy to have him send a security guard down to make sure the assholes weren't harassing the women guests, but dismissed the idea, deciding he'd rather handle this situation personally. Sean tried to tell himself his decision had nothing to do with the hard-on he was sprouting for the woman in question.
There was a seating area in a nearby alcove and he took a seat, watching the door to the women's room. He came down here to try to catch a smoker in action. Instead, he had literally caught a beautiful woman in his arms. That didn't happen every day.
Traci was furious with herself. She'd been doing so well. Sure, she'd chickened out and skipped the welcome cocktail party the day before, but she'd been down bright and early for breakfast this morning. She'd attended the opening presentation and mingled with many of her peers. Everyone had been supportive. Everyone except Robert the Jerk, as she had begun thinking of him. Traci was angry she had ever let herself be fooled by him.
Her eyes drifted to the mirror's reflection, hoping to see smoke rising from the nearby stall and then feeling bad for making such a wish. Still, she could sure use a friend right about now and the fifteen-year-old smoker from the previous day was the closest she had to a friend in Chicago.
How sad.
At least she had been able to help Ashley and that brought back feelings of pride. She was good at her job. That knowledge should be enough to keep her grounded.
Traci allowed her thoughts to drift to the hunky guy in the tailored grey suit she'd had the pleasure of running into a few minutes before. Even in her precarious emotional state, she had caught how sturdily he was built. Her thoughts lingered on the way he had gripped her arms; the way he leaned in close enough for her to smell his masculine cologne. The best part was he had been a total gentleman, unlike the other losers she'd had the displeasure of meeting more recently. She hoped he was a new therapist joining the conference so she could try to get to know him better.
She took a few minutes to repair her makeup before picking up the tall stack of research folders and her purse and heading to the door. With any luck, she'd make it to the ballroom unscathed and be able to drop the heavy stack off.
Glancing around nervously, afraid of seeing Robert the Jerk, Traci was floored when she saw the handsome man she'd run into earlier sitting in a nearby alcove, looking at his smartphone. She had a few long seconds to admire him undetected before he glanced up, his eyes locking with hers immediately. He put his phone away and stood, never taking his eyes off her.
Traci stood grounded, her heart rate increasing with each step he took in her direction. By the time he arrived in front of her, she could feel her heart pounding in her ears. She forced herself to take a calming breath before she hyperventilated.
"Hi. I hope you don't mind me waiting out here for you. I was worried about you."
"Me? You were worried about me?"
He smiled indulgently. "Yes, you. You're the only person I've noticed running in the direction of the ladies’ room today. I thought maybe you were ill or needed help."
Without thinking, Traci answered unguardedly, "I'm not sure you can help with my problem, but thanks." She was embarrassed with her admission as soon as it left her mouth.
He didn't seem to notice. "You'd be surprised. I can fix a lot of things around here." His playful smile was unnerving.
"I bet you can, Mr...." She tried not to look as anxious for his name as she really was.
"Campbell. Sean Campbell. And you are?"
"Traci. Traci Jackson."
He reached into his suit jacket and came out with a business card, handing it to her. "I'd like you to take my card. Call me anytime if there's anything you need during your stay.
Anything at all."
Traci reached out for the card, enjoying the zing of electricity when their fingers brushed. She barely took her gaze off his mesmerizing grey eyes long enough to glance down at his card. When she read it, her excitement doused.
By the time she looked back up, reality was settled in. She lost her concentration, almost sending the armful of folders to the floor in another heap.
