The Christmas Pact(4)
“Looking for someone, Riley? Perhaps, Mr. Riley?” a deep, raspy voice said from over my shoulder.
Startled, I whipped around fast, forgetting that I had a very full martini glass in my hand. I watched in horror as a wave of White Christmas martini splashed onto the front of the man’s dark shirt and tie.
“Oh no! Shoot!” I grabbed a thick stack of napkins from the bar and immediately started to blot at the mess. “I’m so sorry. I hate these glasses to begin with, and I’m so jumpy tonight.”
“Jumpy, huh? Nervous about meeting a certain someone?”
I hadn’t looked up yet, but the way the man practically purred those last few words…I knew. I knew. Plus, my arms broke out in goosebumps, and the little hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I closed my eyes. My hands blotting at the man’s shirt stilled, and for the first time, I became aware of the warm chest underneath—the very hard, warm, and muscular chest. I squeezed my eyes closed even tighter and counted to myself.
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9… On 10, I took a deep breath and peeked one eye open.
The jerk’s mouth curved into a wicked grin. “Still here. Would you like to try counting to twenty and see if that helps?”
My other eye flashed open, then both went wide as I blinked once, then twice. Oh. My.
Of course, he had to be even better looking in person. He couldn’t just photograph really well and be a disappointment in the flesh. Mr. Noseybody had a ridiculously chiseled, masculine jaw, flawless skin, and incredible eyes—a shade of blue so light that they were almost clear—and those were currently boring into me. Did I mention he was also tall? I stood a solid five foot five without heels, and tonight I was sporting an extra three inches, maybe four. Yet I still only came up to his shoulders—his very broad shoulders.
The fact that he was just about perfect pissed me off even more. I blinked a few more times, then snapped myself out of it before clearing my throat. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Noseybody. Shocker that you’d find me as soon as I walked in. You seem to love being in my business.”
He grinned and pointed his eyes down to where my hands were still pressed against his shirt. “You seem to love being in mine at the moment, too. Riley, Riley, Riley. Can’t keep your hands off me already?”
I ripped my hands away. “Hardly,” I scoffed. “I was trying to help dry you off.”
His lip twitched, and he tilted the drink in his hand in my direction. “Maybe I should be as clumsy as you, just so I can return the favor and help you dry off.”
I squinted at him.
He squinted right back, although his eyes were twinkling the whole time. Once again, he was amused at my expense. Story of my life lately.
The man was downright infuriating. I took a deep breath and pasted a fake smile on my face. “I apologize for spilling the drink on you. But you really shouldn’t sneak up on people like that.”
“My apologies. Let’s start over. I’m Kennedy Riley. Pleasure to meet you. Um, what’s your name again?”
Smartass.
I glanced over his shoulder and pretended to wave at someone. “Oh gosh, I see someone I actually like over there who I need to speak to. I’d say it was lovely meeting you, but I’m a terrible liar. So instead, I’ll just say Merry Freaking Christmas.”
I turned to Liliana, whose mouth was hanging wide open and grabbed her elbow. “Come on, I’ll get a new drink at the bar on the other side of the room—the one farthest away from him.”
We’d been sneaking looks at each other all night. I’d get caught up in staring at him across the room, then turn away as soon as he noticed. At one point, he grinned and raised his glass in my direction.
The jerk.
As much as Kennedy bothered me, he was proving to be hard to ignore. I wondered if I’d manage to escape this party without another encounter.
Liliana stepped outside for a smoke with some of our co-workers. Sipping my drink, I found myself alone for the first time since we’d arrived. The DJ had stopped playing Christmas music altogether, and had moved on to funkier dance music. “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire began to play. I’d always loved that song.
I’d always loved that song—that is, until Kennedy Riley entered my line of sight, charging toward me as he snapped his raised fingers to the beat.
I frantically looked around, hoping that Liliana would appear and save me from this.
Before I knew it, his arm was wrapped around my waist and he was dragging me onto the dance floor.
No, no, no.
Kennedy moved us through the sea of people until we landed in our own small section of the dance floor. He held out his hands for me to join him, but I wouldn’t budge. Unfazed, he began to clap his hands and snap his fingers as he sang out the words to the song. When that didn’t accomplish anything, Kennedy moved in closer and gyrated his hips with great enthusiasm, as if he were a stripper from Magic Mike working a crowd of frenzied women.
Despite this, I continued to stand there like a statue with a bad attitude. The only thing moving was my head as it turned to watch Kennedy while he circled around me. His eyes were on mine the entire time, while the eyes of several female employees were on him.
The more I insisted on not moving, the more energy he put into his dance moves.
I didn’t know if it was the way he bit his bottom lip at one point or what, but all of a sudden I totally lost it, bursting into hysterical laughter.