The Chemistry of Love(60)

“My stepmother loves any excuse to throw a party. Mostly so that she can drink without being judged. She says if you do it publicly, you’re a happy drunk. Privately, you’re an alcoholic. She does both and fails to see the irony. Anyway, this will be one of the many pregaming events leading up to the actual engagement party that will cost a fortune and be featured in gossip columns and online magazines across the country. And at this first event, there will be dancing.”

“So . . . you’re inviting me to a dance,” I said, trying to ignore the rising flush of excitement. Finally, I was the girl being asked to the dance. That did funny things to my stomach.

“I guess, in a way. We should practice.”

My whole being throbbed slowly at the idea that Marco was going to hold me in his arms again. “I know how to dance.”

“I’m sure you do. But we don’t want it to look like it’s our first time.”

He held out his hand again, and against my better judgment, I took it. He pulled me into his embrace, his right hand going around my waist. I put my arms around his still-sexy neck, and he took my right arm, tugging it down. Then he wrapped his left hand around my right one, and I dragged in a ragged breath.

“I know the last time you danced was probably at some farewell event at space camp, but you’re not in seventh grade,” he said teasingly. “This is how adults dance.”

“Just because I enjoy nerdy stuff does not mean that I went to space . . .” My voice trailed off. “Okay, fine.” There wasn’t any point in arguing with him because I had gone to space camp, but I tried to hold on to that tiny bit of anger. Because despite his assurance that I was wearing armor, I felt way too vulnerable. I needed some kind of defense against him.

Then we were swaying to the music, moving slowly in a circle. And it felt a lot like a seventh-grade dance to me, but an updated adult version with a very hot man.

I willed my hands not to sweat again. It wasn’t going very well, though. I was so aware of him. He was no longer damp, and he was emanating heat everywhere that was seeping into my pores, making my cells tingle in response.

It was nice to dance with a man who was taller than me. It wasn’t something I’d experienced very often growing up.

I was so focused on him and his energy that I knew I needed to redirect myself. “Why do you think I need help seducing Craig?” It felt really odd to be having this conversation with him, given that Craig was his brother.

“You’re the one who said you didn’t have a lot of experience in this area.” His fingers flexed against my waist, and it caused a burning sensation that started at that point of contact and radiated outward.

Marco was kind of acting like I’d never gone out with anyone. I mean, I had dated. Sporadically. I’d even had a few in the last couple of months with Catalina setting me up. But he didn’t need to know just how minimal my experience actually was.

“I get that I’m like . . . not seductive, but what is there to know? Don’t you just generally take off your shirt?”

“You don’t get naked.”

“Says the man who started this afternoon with half his clothes off.”

He smiled down at me and looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. “It would be a little obvious.”

“Obvious doesn’t work?” I was a big fan of obvious things.

“It doesn’t if it seems desperate. People like to chase. To want things that they know they can’t have. It’s human nature. So don’t strip down. We probably just need to refine your flirting technique.”

“That might be a good idea. I’m kind of like a hyperventilating walrus when I attempt it.”

He laughed, and his hand tightened around mine. Which was still, thankfully, mostly sweat-free. My hairline and lower back? Not so much.

“You could practice on me,” he offered. “I’m an attractive man.”

“What makes you think you’re attractive?”

“Most women I’ve met seem to think so.”

Of all the conceited . . . “You’ve met me, and I don’t think that about you.”

That sly smile of his made him look mischievous. “I could say something really arrogant here, but let’s just go with I know you think I am.”

“Ha.” So many lies were about to come out of my mouth. “I don’t.”

“Agree to disagree,” he said, pushing me back slightly so that I could do a turn. I kind of wished I had my red dress on. “Plus, you’ve already told me you do.”

Dang it. He was right. “The most attractive thing about you is your humility,” I told him as I came back into his arms.

I misjudged the distance between us and crashed against his very firm chest. I stayed there for a moment, engulfed in electric flames, loving the feel of him against me when he said in a low voice, “That’s not what you like best about me.”

Okay, that just made everything worse.

Taking a step back, I tried to discreetly pull some air back into my lungs. He moved me into position so that we were dancing again.

“You are not my type,” I told him. I didn’t know which one of us I was trying to convince, but I didn’t think either one of us was buying it.

“Not your type? I’m like ketchup. I go with everything.”