Junk Mail(16)

“Excuse me.”

An unfamiliar voice brings my focus back up. A tall, broad-shouldered man with well-combed blond hair is holding out a hand to me.

“Would you like to dance, miss?”

Unsure of the protocol here, I glance from Josh to this blond stranger, then back to Josh. His jaw is clenched, his chest slightly puffed. Is he . . . threatened by this guy?

“She’s with me,” Josh finally says, grabbing my hand and lacing my fingers with his. My palm nestles into his, a perfect fit.

“My apologies, I beg your pardon.” The blond stranger gives us an apologetic nod and, with no further questions, turns to offer his hand to another potential dance partner.

“I’m with you, huh?” I smile up at Josh, squeezing his hand ever so slightly, just enough to remind him he’s still holding on to mine. And to my surprise, he doesn’t let go.

“Sorry, that came out wrong. I just meant work wise, we’re here to pound it out, right?”

I chuckle at his failed attempt at a joke while Josh shakes his head.

“Why is it that so much of the business jargon that’s used in offices and networking events around the country sounds so perverted?”

I raise one brow at him. “Maybe because it is?”

“Burning the midnight oil.” He winks.

“Doing the grunt work,” I say, my tone airy and flirtatious, and he chuckles.

“Sliding into your in-box.”

“I’m ready to go balls to the wall if you are.”

He smirks. “As long as I don’t get the shaft.”

My smile turns into laughter, and Josh puts on a mock serious face.

“In all seriousness, I think we can get some great penetration for your product, Peyton.”

It’s all so easy with him. The joking, the small talk, the laughing. It feels like the most natural thing in the world. And something about that scares me a little. Why does the biggest professional thing I’ve ever had happen and the best-looking guy I’ve ever met have to intersect? I just hope I play this the right way and don’t screw up either opportunity—or worse, both of them.

“That’s why we’re here, right?” I say after a moment.

He blinks down at me, his smile slowly fading. “You’re right. That’s exactly why we’re here.”

I finish off my glass of cab just as the song crescendos to a big finish. The band announces that they’ll be taking a fifteen-minute break, and a smattering of contained applause emerges from the crowd as people wander off the dance floor to get a refill on their beverage.

“We should get out of the way,” Josh says. “Everyone’s about to flood this bar behind us. Come on, I’ll show you the rest of the hotel.”

With my stomach still tight with nerves, Josh takes my hand again, leading me through the crowd and down a quieter corridor. As we get farther and farther from the noise, he points out the different amenities we pass like he’s a real estate agent trying to sell me the place. He could be reading me the phone book for all I care. Just watching his lips move is all the entertainment I need.

“You know I’m not staying here tonight, right?” I ask as we turn down another hallway. “I don’t exactly need to know where the pool and workout facilities are.”

“I know.” Josh glances my way. “But I needed you to myself for a moment. I’m greedy like that.”

My tongue touches my bottom lip, and when I meet his eyes, the heat reflected back at me is hot enough to melt the panties off of a nun.

“You look beautiful tonight.”

“Thank you.” My voice is little more than a whisper, but, jeez, I’m way out of practice at this flirting thing.

“I don’t know what this is between us, Peyton, this chemistry . . .”

I give him a curious look. I didn’t expect this tonight, assuming his invite was purely for business purposes. Josh is probably just flirty with everyone. I figured it was his personality, he’s so playful and easygoing.

But then his face falls. He thinks I’m rejecting him.

“I’ll escort you back to the ballroom, and we can continue working together like none of this ever happened,” he says, his tone several degrees cooler than before.

Placing one hand on the lapel of his jacket, right over his firm chest muscles, I hold him in place as I murmur, “I feel it too.”

His gaze darkens on mine, and then Josh spins me around until I’m pressed against him, my left hand still pressed against his chest while my right steadies my balance on his shoulder. Slowly, he leans down, bringing his mouth to mine. He pauses for a second, maybe to read my reaction, I’m not sure, and then he’s kissing me.

Gently at first, then harder, greedier, as his mouth claims mine in the most intense kiss I’ve ever had. His hands move to cup my jaw, and his tongue slides over mine. This is everything a kiss should be. Hot. Tender. Passionate.

When he pulls back, my lips burn in longing. Come back. Kiss me again.

Josh swivels his head to check that we’re still alone, then meets my eyes. “Are you okay?” he says, his deep voice little more than a strained whisper.

“Very.” I nod, touching my lips with the pads of my fingers. I can’t believe he just kissed me. I can’t believe he thinks I’m beautiful.