Chapter Twenty Two

Timothy's eyes narrowed, and she knew that he didn't believe her. "I mean... Before you came to sit here with me" he explained. "So how many drinks have you had in total this evening"

Chloe rested her elbow on the counter and rested her chin in her open palm. She appeared to give his question some serious thought, before she said, "I had like... Three... When I was seated over there. So I guess it's five if we are going to count these ones I had here" She gave him a quizzical look, before she added, "Why do you ask?"

Timothy almost laughed at the expression on her face. She was so beautiful.. And she looked so innocent, he thought. Innocent.... And vulnerable.

He took a sip from his glass, and then let his gaze sweep over her pretty face, and then over her body. It was at this moment that he noticed her clothes. She was dressed in a pair of bum shorts and a large t-shirt that almost covered up the shorts. She wore black heeled boots to match her outfit and clutched a small bag which rested on her bare laps.

He couldn't seem to tear his gaze away from those laps no matter how much he wanted to....and he didn't even try to. His breath hissed from between his lips and his hands bunched beside his thighs. Almost rabidly, he devoured every inch of her skin, lingering between her legs and then back to her face.

Chloe felt her nipples pearl in reaction to his blatantly aroused scrutiny, but she didn't try to look away either. Whatever had gotten into her, she didn't know. She should straighten up, come up with an excuse and leave, but she stayed, and returned his gaze with the same intensity. She stared back, acutely aware of his hot gaze.

Whether those beautiful eyes were soulful or soulless, she wasn’t sure anymore. She only knew she couldn’t tear her own away. With slow-dawning horror she realized that she didn't even want to.

She had to hand it to him, Chloe thought as he continued to watch her. Timothy sure knew how to make a woman feel special simply by staring at her. Who else had he made feel special in the time they had been estranged? She wondered.

Nope, not touching that.

Instead she reveled in the quick glide of his tongue over his lip as his gaze fixed on her collarbone.

"You should go home, Chloe" he said finally with a definite croak in his voice. She had been drinking. She was vulnerable right now, he thought, and he didn't want to take advantage of that... Also, it wasn't really a good idea to get involved while they were working together. So he looked away and lifted his glass to his lips.

"That's not a very nice thing to say" she countered. "And not a pleasant way to turn someone down when they ask for a dance. I mean, it's just a dance, and I asked nicely. What's wrong with us dancing together?"

Timothy squeezed his eyes shut for a split second. She was right. It was just a dance... Nothing more, but it was his body he didn't trust. He had a feeling that if he got too close... And held her in his arms, he wouldn't be able to let her go after one dance.

He decided that it wasn't such a big deal. He would dance with her, then make her leave before she had any more drinks. Having made that decision, Timothy rose and moved towards her. He stared at her for a tight little stretch, then took her hand in his and gently pulled her to her feet.

Chloe giggled. "I thought you'd say no again" she teased. "I would have found myself another dance partner"

The thought of seeing her in another man's arms burned even if it shouldn't have, and Timothy hated that feeling. "Just one dance and you're going home" he said.

The air left Chloe's lungs in a whoosh as she realized how close to him she was standing. What the hell was she thinking when she asked him to dance? It was definitely the alcohol. Where else did she get the guts from? Heart racing faster, she shook the thoughts away.

"Fine" She managed to mutter as he led her to the dance floor. "One dance... Then I go home"

The moment Timothy pulled Chloe into his arms and she placed one hand on his shoulder, he knew he was screwed. The top of her head brushed his chin as they moved slowly. He could smell gardenias dancing off her hair and the scent brought to mind a lazy cruise around the Hawaiian islands against the setting sun. Oh, yeah. This was going to be worse than he thought.

Chloe stayed in his arms as though she belonged. He was a tall man, but with her in high heeled boots, the top of her head nestled just beneath his chin. Her scent wrapped around him and he closed his eyes, surrendering to the moment. She didn't pull away, but allowed him to mold her close, her lush curves settling into his as though they'd been specially made to fit. They danced in silence for several long minutes before something drove him to look down at her.

Lord, she was a gorgeous woman, he thought. Her bone structure was exquisite, her creamy complexion bare of any freckles. She moved with ease, but that glimpse of her long, shapely legs had already caused a qualm inside of him. She was such a stunning woman, Timothy thought as he eyed his dancing companion speculatively.

Her full lips, bare of lipstick, puckered as she let sigh escape her lips. As if they’d last kissed yesterday instead of years ago, he recalled how her lip balm had tasted like strawberries. How her hair had tickled the back of his hands whenever he drew her close. From their first kiss to their final heartbreaking embrace, he hadn’t been able to get enough of her.... And now it seemed like nothing had changed... He still wanted her… badly.

He had to do something to stop those thoughts, Timothy decided, before he did something crazy. He wondered how she would react if he acted on them. Would she get angry and push him away, or would she go with the flow? He had a feeling that she would do the latter. He wasn't stupid, and he had seen the longing in her eyes when they were seated. How could he have missed it?