Chapter Fourty Eight

“Thank you. I’m sorry about…that…” Her words dried up on her tongue as she met a unique gaze. Startling and beautiful.... The man she had been thinking about a few seconds ago was standing in front of her.

"Timothy!" she said.

“I’ve heard of Cinderella showing up late to the ball dressed in a beautiful gown. But not running away from it... Well, except at midnight and it's not midnight yet.” He held the clutch out to her, arching an eyebrow.

“I think you need an upgrade in fairy godmothers.” he added.

“Yes, well, Cinderella was high-maintenance,” she murmured, accepting the clutch.

A sharp bark of laughter escaped him, and from the slight widening of his eyes and the surprise flashing through the dark depths, it seemed the crack of amusement caught him off guard.

“And you’re not high-maintenance?” he asked, slipping his hands into his tuxedo pants.

The movement opened his black jacket, offering a glimpse of his white shirt stretched across a broad, powerful chest and flat abdomen. Heat tangled in her belly, and she fought the urge to cover it with her hand. As if that futile gesture could contain it.

“You would be the first, then,” he said. Before she could respond to that loaded statement and the hint of bitterness in it, he continued. “I’ve never met the anti-Cinderella before, and I have to admit I’m curious. Will you allow me to escort you back to the party? That's if you don't have to rush back to your date".

Chloe frowned. "My date?" she repeated.

"Yes. Your date. The man you were dancing with a few minutes ago." The smile had disappeared from his face and now the anger seemed to return as he spoke about Matthew. "I thought you turned me down because you didn't want to be in a relationship with anyone. You know if the case was that you were seeing someone else, you could have just told me. I'm sure that I can take it"

There was a pause before he added carelessly. "Although I don't see what you see in him"

Mortification swelled inside her chest, scorching a path up her throat and pouring into her face. Gripping her clutch tighter, she hiked up her chin. She might be embarrassed, but damn if she’d show it. “Actually, I’m only here because I needed to use the bathroom. I wasn't running away. I don't run away from anything. And not that it's any of your business, but he is not my date... I didn't come with one”

He frowned. “What is his name?... You two seemed very familiar with each other judging by the way he was holding you out there and whispering in your ear. The man was literally undressing you with his eyes right there on the dance floor in front of everyone. You can't blame me for assuming that you two are together”

She shrugged. "Like I said, Tim. It is none of your business if I'm with him or not. Mind your business. Did you come out here just to ask me this? That's very wrong and unnecessary too"

She watched his reaction to her reply, and judging by the darkening of his eyes, from irritated to thunderous, he didn’t like it. Why did that send a thrill tripping down her spine? Especially when he was the one who had annoyed her.

“You might not be with him, but he wants you, doesn't he?” he asked. No, demanded. The hard, flat tone brooked no refusal.

Again, that trickle of excitement, only this time it sizzled, arousal hardening her nipples, clenching her belly… pooling heavy between her legs. She didn’t do controlling men. Not after the childhood she’d experienced and all the things she’d witnessed between her mother and her father.

Timothy was being controlling right now and she didn't like it, but she was still drawn to his lovely eyes, the sharp angles of his cheekbones, nose and jaw. The carnal perfection and temptation of his mouth. The tall, elegant frame with wide shoulders and chest, tapered waist and long, powerful legs. It was …weirdly refreshing. And had only deepened her attraction to him.

Yet none of that justified her reaction to that implacable , disobey-and-bear-the-consequences tone. Or explained why she imagined him clasping her chin in his big hand, holding her still for a hard, hungry kiss while cuffing her arms above her head. Arousal rippled through her, and she clenched her thighs.

“Chloe,” he said, stepping closer, while she stared up at him like prey caught in the unblinking stare of a predator on the hunt. “What's his name?”

“W-why?” she stammered. Oh, for God’s sake. She tipped her head up, drawing her shoulders back. “Why do you want to know? Why do you care?"

“Oh nothing. I'm just curious, you know... Maybe I just want to have a very civil conversation with him about you...I was worried about Bryce before because I thought you two were a thing...turns out you both just have a weird brother - sister relationship thingy going on. I think it's kinda sweet actually... And now it's this guy. It's beginning to look like I never had a chance... Seems like I have a lot of men to compete with.”

“Yeah maybe you do... But none of them are as arrogant as you are,” she grumbled.

Shaking her head, she ignored the curl at the corner of his mouth, and the warmth it caused to slide through her veins. Like liquid sunshine. And all because she’d made him smile. Somewhat. Good Lord, woman. Get it together. “I can’t go on staying here with you, Timothy. I have to go back to the party."

"Can I escort you back into the party?" he asked softly. "I will be leaving the day after tomorrow. The least you could do is save me a dance since I don't know when I'm going to see you again."

His eyes roamed her face, lingered on her lips for a few seconds, then his gaze moved down her body and back up. Chloe felt exposed at his scrutiny, and she suddenly became very conscious of her body. Suddenly conscious of the cleavage exposed by the V neck of her dress and her lap exposed by the slit in the dress.

"Stop staring at me like that, Timothy" she said, unable to take it anymore.

One corner of his lips lifted in a boyish grin. "Why?" he asked as he shrugged. "That dress calls for attention... Which is what you are getting. And don't get me wrong, I love it. You look.... So beautiful"