Too Tough To Tame. Annette Broadrick
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to be triggered by Kelly MacLeod, of all people.
He’d asked her out again despite her unflinching refusal because he hoped to overcome her hostility toward him by allowing her to get to know him better…or at least become neutral toward him. Yes, he’d found her to be attractive, and yes, he’d entertained the idea of taking her to bed eventually, but his strong reaction just now rattled him.
He had a cavemanlike urge to rush to her, throw her over his shoulder, beat his chest so that everyone in the room knew that she belonged to him, and take her home with him…where he would keep her in his bed for as long as his stamina held.
Nick closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead; the beginning of a headache was making itself known. As soon as he opened them, he immediately searched until he found her again. He kept his eyes trained on the couple as they paused to greet first one group, then another.
They looked so comfortable together. The casual intimacy between them jarred him.
Damn.
Well, what did you think, Chakaris? That you’re the first man to notice her? Males had probably been following her around since preschool.
“I say, Chakaris, have you heard a word I’ve said?” One of the stuffed shirts he’d been listening to grumbled. Nick had a hell of a time being polite in these situations. Everyone was so taken with his own self-importance, it was a wonder there was enough space in the ballroom for all the egos on display.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Nick murmured to the group of men, “I just saw someone I need to speak with.” Without waiting for a reply, Nick moved purposefully through the crowd to reach Kelly.
“Now this is getting interesting,” Will said to Kelly as they turned toward the buffet table.
“What is?”
He slipped his arm around her waist and leaned down, nuzzling her ear and saying, “The man whose babies you’re going to have is headed straight for us…and the look on his face suggests pistols at dawn.”
Kelly tried to pull away from him, but Will’s grip was too firm. She turned her head just as Nick appeared beside her.
“Good evening, Kelly,” Nick said in a polite voice. “I’d like to meet your escort, if I may.”
Kelly saw a nerve twitching in his jaw. Good grief. What was that about? “Will,” she said coolly, “I’d like you to meet Dominic Chakaris.” She looked at Nick. “This is William Comstock III.”
More unwelcome news, Nick thought wryly. He happened to know that name. Even if every member of the family was a spendthrift, there was enough money in the Comstock coffers to last several lifetimes.
He nodded without offering his hand and returned his gaze to Kelly. “I find the gown you’re almost wearing quite eye-catching.”
He saw Kelly stiffen but before she could reply, her escort said, “That’s what I’ve been telling her. I offered her some Scotch tape to help with the strapless top, but she wouldn’t hear of it.”
Kelly tried not to laugh but failed. Will was incorrigible. “Thank you,” she said to Nick. “The dress is sturdier than it looks,” she added smoothly.
Nick nodded. “I won’t keep you from the buffet.” He nodded to Will once again, then to her, and got the hell away from her before he made a complete ass of himself.
What had he been thinking, making such a personal remark to her? Despite her escort being taller than Nick by a good three inches, Nick had been ready to take a swing at Comstock for having his arm around her waist.
Had he lost his frigging mind?
Nick looked around the room. Most of the faces were familiar to him because the same people invariably attended these things. What the hell. He was one of them now, wasn’t he? Why should he sneer when he’d deliberately and systematically carved a niche for himself in their world?
It was time for another drink.
After dinner an orchestra began to play and several couples moved onto the dance floor and started dancing to the rhythm of the music.
Will and Kelly shared a table with several acquaintances who were used to seeing them together. Several lively discussions took place throughout dinner and the group was still talking when the music started.
Kelly leaned toward Will and murmured, “Are you ready to go?”
“Are you kidding?” he replied with a grin. “I wouldn’t miss any of this for the world.”
“Miss any of what?”
“The way Chakaris keeps his eye on you no matter where you are. With every move we’ve made, he’s made a corresponding move in order to keep you in his line of sight.”
Kelly refused to look around but she could feel her cheeks burning. “I’m glad you’re having so much fun imagining things. The man barely knows me.”
“That may be true, but not from lack of trying, I bet. So what did you do? Break down and finally agree to go out with him?”
A sudden memory of the bouquet of flowers he’d sent flashed into her mind and she continued to blush.
“Oh, ho,” Will hooted softly. “That’s what this is about. You’re doing everything just right, you know. Make him chase you. Make him work for your attention.”
“How much have you had to drink tonight?” she demanded in a low voice, so that the others couldn’t hear. “You’ve taken one tiny fact and built a whole fantasy world from it!”
Will glanced over her shoulder and whispered, “We’ll see, won’t we?” In a normal tone, he said, “Enjoying the party, Chakaris?”
Kelly’s head whipped around. Nick stood a couple of feet away and she had the horrifying thought that he might have heard their discussion. She hoped they had been speaking quietly enough that no one had caught Will’s ridiculous comments.
“It’s all right,” Nick responded, his eyes on Kelly. “Would you care to dance?”
“Oh, I, uh, that is—”
“She’d be pleased to dance with you, wouldn’t you, Kelly, love?” Will said with a perfectly straight face. It was all she could do not to punch him in the shoulder.
As gracefully as possible, Kelly rose and walked toward the dance floor. When she turned, Nick was immediately behind her. He took her in his arms and they moved into a gliding step, as though they had danced together for years.
Nobody had ever mentioned in her hearing that this man could dance like a professional. He held her at a proper distance, his hand casually resting at the small of her back. With a relaxed and casual skill, Nick guided her around the ballroom. She found him easy to follow and began to relax in his arms.
He was the perfect height for her to dance with. She was wearing three-inch heels, and her eyes were level with his chin. Nick said nothing as the music worked its magic through her. Kelly settled into the rhythm of the song and flowed with him.
At some point the music segued into a slow, bluesy kind of number. It seemed natural for him to pull her closer and wrap his arms around her. Kelly slid her arms around his neck and placed her head on his shoulder.
As her body was pressed against him, Kelly realized he was fully aroused. He wanted her—that was obvious. Or maybe his reaction was strictly physical. Perhaps this happened with every woman with whom he danced. She drew back slightly so that she was not in such intimate contact.
Moving in Nick’s arms in time to the music seemed to be the most natural thing in the world. Kelly felt drugged…seduced by the music and the man. She tried to work up her usual antagonism against him but for now it had disappeared.
When the music ended, Kelly needed a moment to come back to the here-and-now. Nick seemed to have the same problem as he reluctantly