A Calculated Seduction(37)

He spotted Bill and Maude talking to another couple and hurried in their direction. Catching Bill’s eye and signaling with his head for him to meet him in the hall, Ethan walked Dulcy to the door. Before they reached the exit, a big blonde, her hair teased to perfection, her perfect face heavily painted, intercepted them. She was leaning against a well-dressed young man, who studied Dulcy as if she owned the world.

“Dulcy, I didn’t think you would be leaving this early,” the blonde said.

Her muscles tensed beneath his hand. “ Well, Tori, my job was more behind the scenes. Everything is running smoothly and Ethan and I had a long week.”

He showed no reaction to the use of his first name, but the other two did.

“Dulcy, honey, we need to get going,” he said.

“But I thought there was to be dancing later,” the man said. Ethan knew he was her ex, but refused to acknowledge the anger that boiled his blood. The man had his chance with Dulcy. He f*cked it up.

“There is, but like Dulcy said, we’ve had a long week. Both of us just want to slip beneath the covers and relax.”

Her stepsister’s eyes widened and the ex’s narrowed. He stepped forward as if to challenge Ethan, but Dulcy stopped him with her next comment. “Oh, pooh. I don’t want to go to sleep. Let’s order some Chinese, just like the other night. I’m starving.”

“Sure thing, Dulcy.”

He tried his damnedest not to smile, but it was hard. The ex’s face had lost all expression and his mouth was hanging open. “If you’ll excuse us.”

They walked around the other couple and out the doors.

“What took you so long?” his uncle asked when they met him in the hall.

“We were waylaid by Jay and Tori,” Dulcy said. “I think she had some work done on her face.” Then she giggled.

“Oh, I understand why you want to leave now. Dulcy can’t hold a drop of liquor and rarely indulges.”

“Yes, I gathered that much,” Ethan said. “I wanted to get her home before she embarrassed herself and blames me.”

Bill chuckled. “Well, I know she’s in good hands.”

Dulcy snorted and Ethan shot her an exasperated look. He grabbed her hand and led her down the hall toward the entrance of the hotel. He had to get her home. If not, he would surely take advantage of the situation. The only problem he had was deciding who was going to take advantage: the investigator or the man.

* * * *

Once they were settled in the limo, Dulcy kicked off her shoes and leaned back in the seat.

“That really was wonderful.” She sighed. Her head was spinning but her whole body was heated. Being alone with Ethan, well, it turned her on. Her blood pulsed through her, arousing her. A delicious ache snaked through her.

Ethan didn’t say anything, just stared at her feet.

“Mr. MacMillan, is there something wrong with my feet?” He looked up. “Back at the hotel, you called me Ethan.” “Okay, Ethan, why are you staring at my feet?”

His face flushed and he cleared his throat. “Well, I’ve never

seen your feet before.” And, that was supposed to explain why he stared at her feet? Like he was doing again.

“Of course you’ ve seen my feet before. You see me everyday. ”

“But you wear shoes.” His eyes remained fixed on her feet and it was making her feel uncomfortable. Not in an icky uncomfortable way, but in a way that made her whole body pulse. She shifted to ease some of the pressure that slid from her belly to between her legs. Her head was no longer spinning from champagne. Ethan’s intense stare was draining all the blood from her brain.

“Ethan, stop it.”

“Stop what?” His voice had deepened, sending a rush of shivers down her spine.

“Okay, I’m putting my shoes back on.”

She bent to retrieve her shoes, but he stayed her hand. She looked up and locked eyes with him. His were darker than night, no longer gray but black. Was it desire? It had to be. Gently, he cupped her foot and brought it to his lap.

“Your feet. They’re so tiny, with this wonderful arch,” he said, his voice rougher than before. The sound of it slid along her skin, leaving a path of tingles in its wake.

He pressed his thumb on the arch. A shock lanced through her, heat curling in her belly, more liquid gushing to her sex. He picked up her other foot and applied the same treatment. His thumb pressed and rubbed little circles against her silk-clad foot. Her skin prickled with arousal and she moaned.