Hot Commodity (Banks / Kincaid Family #1)(28)

When he playfully nipped her thumb, she jerked her fingers back.

"No one can hear us," he assured, tugging her a smidgeon closer. "So, what do you say, huh? Give me your room number. I can slip by after everyone else has gone to bed. Then we can stay up all night, playing hide-the—"

This time she ground her heel against his toe to shut him up. His step faltered, and he winced. She shook her head no and pulled out of his arms. As she turned to stalk off the floor, Cameron followed, sidling next to her. He took her elbow again and steered her in a different direction. When she realized he was returning her to Vivian, she resisted.

His grip tightened. "This is what you chose then, Olivia," he

murmured in her ear just as she lifted her face to take in her mother’s smirk of triumph.

"Didn’t step on your toes, did she, Banks?" Vivian asked cheerfully, obviously not catching the last few seconds of their dance.

"Not at all," Cameron lied smoothly. "I haven’t partnered someone so smoothly in nearly four weeks." His eyes slid meaningfully toward Olivia, and she blushed before glancing away.

"Good." Vivian beamed. "It’s nice to know all those dance classes I bought her actually paid off."

"Oh, I’d say you definitely got your money’s worth." Cameron took Olivia’s hand.

She gasped and tried to pull away, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he lifted her knuckles to his lips.

"Miss Donovan," he murmured. "I truly hope I get to see you again." His eyes danced as he kissed the finger holding the diamond ring he’d bought her. Heat pooled between her legs, and her knees went loose. Dear God, he had a talented mouth.

Then, all too soon, he dropped her hand and turned to Vivian. "Mrs. Roark," he said, taking her hand to kiss her knuckles as well. "It was a pleasure to finally meet you." With that, he turned and slipped away from them.

Vivian stepped closer to Olivia as she watched Cameron disappear through the crowd. "Well, I’ll be damned," she murmured in awe. "I think the pup is actually taken with you, which is, actually, quite a shame. If I’d have known he was so young and attractive, I might’ve gone after him myself." When she licked her lips as she watched the back of Cameron disappear, Olivia felt her stomach revolt.

"Where’s Nolan?" she asked a bit too sharply. Wincing as soon as the question slipped from her lips, she realized just how jealous she sounded. What was more horrifying, she realized just how jealous she felt.

Vivian scowled. "He grew tired and has already gone up to our room. A man his age needs..." Not bothering to hide her displeasure at that remark, the rest of Vivian’s comment trailed off as she turned to once again look for Cameron among the crowd.

Olivia wanted to hiss at her.

"It really is too bad Nolan’s not in worse health," Vivian mused to herself. "If he could make me a widow anytime soon, I’d drop this whole plan of pawning Banks off on you and snatch him up for myself."

"Mother," Olivia gritted out.

Vivian was still smiling as she held up her hand. "Olivia, honestly. Calm down. I—"

"Did you know he was going to be here tonight?" Olivia asked before they could delve into her the subject of her jealousy.

Snorting, her mother answered, "Of course, I knew he was going to

be here. I purposely didn’t tell you about it because I knew you’d just find some way to get out of coming. But, look at what a nice time you two had together. I was right when I thought you’d suit him."

She spoke as if she were some great matchmaker and this was all about setting up a love union instead of something she wanted for her own selfish gain.

Disgusted, Olivia said, "I’m going to bed."

She started to stalk off, but Vivian grabbed her arm, and none too gently.

"Maybe you should stick around," her mother said softly, but the pressure in her grip tightened threateningly, her deadly nails biting into Olivia’s bicep. "See if Banks asks you for another dance."

Olivia nodded even as she eased her arm from Vivian’s grasp.

Glancing around the room as if to make sure no one had seen her daughter’s moment of resistance, Vivian moved closer to speak in Olivia’s ear. "Do you still have the condom I gave you in Vegas?"

Too sick to answer, Olivia closed her eyes and gave another brief nod.

"Good." Vivian smiled. "See if you can get the deed done tonight. Banks isn’t scheduled to attend another social function like this for five months. This is our last shot for a while." She arched her daughter a warning look. "Don’t mess it up, Olivia."





Eight



Drawn.

That was the only word to describe what Cam had felt when he’d seen Olivia Donovan across the ball room. Like a frigging moth to her bonfire presence, he’d been sucked in.

Tonight, she radiated beauty. The black leather cat suit had been nice, but this elegant shimmering sea of silk currently draping her made her look like a duchess: a regal, enchanting, seductive duchess.

Cameron had seen other men approach and get rebuffed. He felt a sense of arrogant pride knowing he’d been the only one to coax her onto the dance floor. Sure, his coaxing had been more along the lines of blackmail, but hey, he’d still gotten to hold her close for a few minutes.