by Bird, Peggy
Jade’s mouth twisted in a wry smile. “Neither did I.”
Nick cleared his throat. “Well, I’d better … ” He looked back at Stacy.
“Yeah.”
Jade watched Nick as his broad back retreated into the ballroom, and he slipped up behind Stacy. He leaned down to say something to her and then pushed her chair in for her as she took a seat. Jade took a deep breath and blew it out. She smiled up at Matt. His expression was carefully neutral. Jade studied his face for signs of what he was thinking. “Okay, I give up. What’s with the face?”
Matt blinked. “What face?”
Jade bent her arms at the elbows, rotated her torso stiffly back and forth and spoke in a monotone. “I am a robot. I have no expression.”
Matt smiled at her antics. “Cute.”
Jade nodded. “Sooo … ? What’s with the poker face?”
Matt shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Jade narrowed her eyes at him. She took her forefinger and tapped it on her lip, considering him. Her eyes widened. “Were you jealous?”
Matt rolled his eyes. “I think we’d better take our seats now.”
Jade broke into a wide grin. “You were! You, the great Riley McLaughlin, were jealous.” She was practically dancing with glee.
Matt looked toward the ballroom. He didn’t say a thing, but put his arm around Jade’s waist and turned her toward the wide doors. He pulled her in close, plastering her to his side in a move that felt thrillingly proprietary. His hand rested in the small of her back. Her dress was low enough that his hand was warm on bare skin, and she felt heat pool low in her body at his touch. They entered the glittering ballroom, and Jade smiled. It looked like the evening might turn out fine after all.
Chapter 21
The room was warmly lit with candlelight and softly glowing bulbs reflecting off crystal chandeliers. The chairs and tables were covered in ivory damask, which coordinated nicely with butter yellow accents. Yellow rose centerpieces and napkins complimented the pale yellow walls of the ballroom. Tables were scattered around a central dance floor, and in front was a low stage with a podium on one side, a band set up and a large screen behind.
Jade was seated at the head table with her mother and father. The dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, who was also Dr. Sawyer’s boss, and the president of the university were seated there as well. Ben had already taken his seat and Matt reluctantly led Jade to her place beside him. Matt was seated at a table at the front of the ballroom, equally close to the dance floor as Jade’s table, but to the left of it. Matt noted with satisfaction that Jade sat on the right side of her table, which faced his seat. When he moved to his table, he was pleased to see that Sam had chosen to sit on the left side of the round table so that Matt could see Jade without having to rubberneck. Sam was an expert strategist, which was why he loved her as a friend as well as a manager.
When Matt got to the table, Sam was already seated, so he unceremoniously plopped down next to her. She had her chin in her hand and was staring in Jade’s direction.
Matt looked at her suspiciously. “I’m not going to have to compete with you for her affections am I?”
Sam jolted from her reverie and glanced up at Matt in surprise. “What?” She waved her hand around; it reminded him of a teacher wiping a chalkboard. “Oh, no … I was just thinking.”
Matt nodded. “Well, don’t hurt yourself.”
Sam just glared at him. “How did operation Prince Charming go?”
Matt looked across to Jade’s table. She was looking their way. He caught her eye and held her gaze. She didn’t quite smile, but she didn’t frown either. She licked her lips, maybe it was a nervous gesture, or maybe it was a conscious attempt to flirt, but it didn’t matter. The end result was that Matt wanted to walk over to her table, grab her, and drag her back to his limo where he could kiss the living crap out of her. He reached for his water glass and took a sip instead. Then he turned back to Sam. “Not sure.”
“Not sure?”
“Nope.” Matt took another sip of water, but what he really wanted was two fingers of Glenfiddich. Maybe three.
Sam’s brows pulled together. “You invited her over?”
Matt nodded.
“And she said … ”
“She agreed to come later.”
“Later what? Later tonight, later this month?”
“I don’t know. I just said ‘later,’ and she said she might be available then.” Matt’s voice was steady but held the slightest hint of exasperation.
Sam looked incredulous. “You just said ‘later’?”
“I meant later tonight, but it sounded better to just say ‘later.’ Less … eager.”
Sam dropped her head forward and shook it. “For someone who works with words for a living, you are not good at communicating.”
Matt looked around the room for a waiter. “I need a drink.”
Sam put her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. Look, it’s okay; this can be fixed. You laid the groundwork, and she seemed receptive, right? She’s a yes.”
Matt sure as hell hoped so. What he really hoped for was a yes, please, oh God, right now! He looked around again. Where the hell was the waiter?
Sam continued. “So, now you’ll just need to—Oh, holy hell!”
Matt had been looking over Sam’s shoulder for any sign, any sign at all, of a waiter. He turned his attention back to her. “What?”
Sam swore again. “Your mother is here.” Matt glowered at Sam, but she already had her hands up in surrender. “I swear, I didn’t tell her about the dinner. Swear to God.” She had three fingers held up in front of her.
Matt looked at her three fingers. “I think that’s the Boy Scout oath.”
“Fine, I swear to them, too. I had nothing to do with this. Oh, nice! Amanda Carmichael is just behind her.” At that moment, they must have noticed Matt and Sam, because Sam’s face suddenly broke into a wide smile, and she lifted her hand in the air and turned the three-fingered oath into an elegant little wave. “Okay, they’re headed this way.”
Matt muttered under his breath, “I really need a drink.” He spotted a waiter across the room and waved him over. Unfortunately, his mother made it to their table first.
“Hello, Matthew.”
Matt leaned over and kissed his mother’s cheek. She was as put together as always, but Matt thought she looked a little tired.
“Hi, Mom.”
“You remember Amanda, don’t you?”
Matt pulled the chair out for his mother and once she was properly seated, turned to Amanda. He did, indeed, remember her. He leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek as well. “You’ve gotten taller.”
She smiled up at him. “As have you.”
Matt and Amanda had gone to the same private school in the city. For that matter, so had Samantha. The last time Matt had actually seen Amanda had been in high school. Back then, she had been gorgeous and popular and featured prominently in some of Matt’s favorite fantasies. Some of that hadn’t changed. He hadn’t seen her since then, but she was still beautiful and from the updates his mother gave him, very successful. She ran an art gallery and was masterful at public relations. She had gone to Vassar and, again, according to the grapevine via Elizabeth McLaughlin, loved to read and was in a book club. He didn’t remember her being a big bookworm in high school, but then he hadn’t really run in the same circles as she had. Her chestnut hair was tightly coiled in a complicated knot at the nape of her neck, and her big blue eyes were framed by just the right amount of makeup to be dramatic but not overdone.
“It’s been a long time. I’d ask what you’ve been up to, but my mom keeps me in the loop on these things.” Matt shot a glance at his mother, but she just smiled up innocently at him.
“I’d ask what you’ve been up to, but I read the paper.”
“Even the social pages?”
Matt had laced his question with a bit of disdain, but Amanda shot back a quick re
joinder. “Arts and Entertainment.”
Matt smiled. Actually, he was a bit impressed. She wasn’t interested in pandering to him or fawning over him. He pulled her chair out for her, and she slid into it effortlessly. He noticed that his mother had engineered it so that Amanda was in the seat next to him. Amanda had to know that his mother was manipulating everything, but her level of complicity was not clear.
Matt sat down next to her. “What brings you so far from home?”
Amanda blushed a bit but was still smiling. “Your mother invited me, and I accepted.”
Elizabeth piped in. “I was worried that your social skills might shrivel and die. We haven’t seen you in months.”
The waiter finally arrived with a Glenfiddich for Matt and a martini for Sam. Matt took a sip of the whisky. “I thought it was like riding a bike, you never forget.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No. In your case, you become an absolute caveman. You are clearly an example of use it or lose it.” She turned to the waiter. “I’ll have a Pellegrino with lime.”
“Champagne, please,” Amanda ordered, and the waiter moved away.
Matt’s smile was dry as he turned to Amanda. “Well, thank you for rescuing my imperiled social abilities.”
Amanda’s mouth quirked. “I consider it my civic duty.”
Matt smiled at Amanda, but he thought he heard Sam mutter something under her breath.
• • •
Jade could barely follow the conversation at her table. She was focused on Matt two tables away, flanked by the most beautiful women she had ever seen. Sam looked modern in a one-shoulder dress made of satin that gleamed in the gold lights of the ballroom. The same light sent shots of caramel highlights through the chestnut hair of the woman to Matt’s right. Matt said something to Sam and then turned to say something to the woman who smiled up at him in response. They had talked throughout the whole meal in a way that made Jade think that they knew each other. What she wanted to know was how and how well?
The whole tableau was out of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Jade guessed that this wasn’t the brunette’s first fundraiser. Matt and the mystery woman were slick and glossy like pages of a magazine. Fundraiser Quarterly. Jade knew she could never be that. He had glanced in her direction several times throughout the dinner, but she had managed to look away in time to give the impression that she wasn’t obsessively staring at him. Or the brunette. It was all she could do to maintain her dignity.
After dessert, her dad took the podium and gave a brief speech, which was followed by a video presentation highlighting the historical significance of the antiquities library. The president of the university thanked the generous benefactors for their support and the band started to play.
While Jade watched the stage, Sam came to their table and stood between Ben and Jade. “Are you enjoying yourselves yet?”
Ben grinned. “We are now.”
Sam pressed her lips together but there was something teasing in her eyes. “So like a man, to answer for both of you.”
Ben smirked. “Well, I am a man.”
Sam just ignored the comment. “Jade, are you enjoying the evening?”
“I’m surviving.”
Sam winced. “Ouch! That bad? Well, at least the evening’s still young.”
Jade looked horrified. Her hands flew up to her face. “Oh, no! You mean it could get worse?”
“I think it’s about to get better.” Sam noticed Jade’s bracelet. “My God, that cuff is stunning.”
Jade felt herself blushing. She ducked her head, pretending to glance at the object in question. It glittered in the softly lit ballroom, scattering beams of light across the white table linens. It was pretty. “Thanks,” she muttered.
Ben jumped in. “It’s her own design.”
Sam gushed for a bit, but Jade didn’t know how to respond, so she listened and smiled dumbly.
Eventually, Sam turned her attention back to Ben. She gave him a smug smile. “Dance with me.”
Ben looked at Jade, then back at Sam. “Sorry, I’m already spoken for.”
Jade started to protest, but Sam was already talking. “I guarantee you, she’s about thirty seconds from being swept off of her feet.” Sam’s eyes flicked back toward the table she had come from. Jade followed the glance and could see Matt getting out of his seat.
Ben looked to Jade, who nodded. Ben narrowed his eyes. “What guarantees will you give me?”
“I guarantee you won’t regret it.”
“Money back guarantee?”
Sam gave a faux gasp. “What kind of girl do you think I am?”
Ben waggled his eyebrows. “I’m hoping my kind.”
Sam extended her hand to him. “Just twirl me onto the dance floor, you jerk.”
Ben turned to Jade. “You’re sure?” Jade nodded. Ben stood and bowed to Sam. “My pleasure.”
He took her hand and twirled her out onto the dance floor. What he lacked in elegance, he made up for in enthusiasm. Sam seemed to love every bit of it.
Jade watched them wistfully. There was something about Ben’s face, beaming with happiness that just made her long for the same.
Just as Sam promised, Matt was walking toward her. His jacket fit him to perfection, molding to broad shoulders that tapered down to a narrow waist and hips. Perfectly fitted pants skimmed his long legs. Unfortunately, Jade had seen it all without the clothes and could vividly remember tracing most of his planes and angles with her tongue. Her pulse sped up just thinking about it. She was grateful she didn’t have to think about the view of him walking away. Yet.
When Matt got there he didn’t say a thing, but just extended his hand to her. She stood almost unbidden, an involuntary reaction, lured by lust and something more. She wanted to be mad at him, but for what? For talking to the woman seated next to him? He brought her out onto the dance floor and pulled her up against his chest. There was no distance between them, and she felt her body mold itself to his. Her whole being seemed to sigh, to relax into that perfect place. She was petite and felt his chin brush the top of her head as he tucked it against his shoulder. She felt the press of his hips against her stomach, moving her around the dance floor with ease. His hand on her lower back pulled her up against his strong thighs, and she flushed with want. Her back arched in response, and some primitive part of her brain begged for his hand to slide lower.
This was what good dancing felt like, his body leaning into her, each subtle move pushing her to counter. It was sex standing up, with clothes on and a bit of an audience.
Jade had trouble focusing, and it was lucky for her that he didn’t try to talk at first. He just moved with her until she was breathless and sensitized from head to toe. If she had known he would be here, she might not have left so much skin bare for him to caress. Then again, maybe she would have. It was unfair because, though she could feel his muscled shoulder under her hand, there was a barrier of cloth between them. It left her feeling at a disadvantage, exposed. Her body shuddered.
Matt whispered into her ear, his breath warm there. “Cold?”
Jade’s voice came out husky. “Warm.”
He chuckled. It rumbled through his chest where her cheek rested, sending shivers down her spine. He moved her around the dance floor, using his body to guide hers smoothly, easily. It was a perfect moment.
Matt smiled down at her. “Jade, I … ”
“Excuse me, Miss Sawyer?” a college-aged woman with a camera around her neck interrupted.
Damn it! Jade, I … what? I want you? I have heartburn? Jade sighed and turned to the student. “Yes?” Jade and Matt stopped moving, which was really a shame.
The photographer had the decency to look chagrined. “Sorry to interrupt. We wanted to take some pictures,” she said, waving the camera around in front of her as if she needed to make it more clear, “with your father, for the alumni magazine and the local papers.”
Jade looked at the woman. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather … ” The med
ia was definitely Matt’s territory, and it felt odd to have to excuse herself for a photo op. Not to mention she would rather be in Matt’s arms than having her picture taken.
The woman interrupted her thoughts. “Your father really wanted you in the pictures.”
Jade looked up at Matt. “Sorry about this.”
His look was searing, his voice deep. “You’ll just have to make it up to me later.”
Jade swallowed nervously and moved away with the photographer.
• • •
Matt sighed as he watched Jade move away. This view of her shot a stab of longing through him. She was gorgeous in anything, but in that dress she was spectacular. It was black with silver threads forming a pattern in the material. The front was a halter, but the back view was pure hard on. She was bare from nape to the curve at the small of her back. Matt could only stare.
He didn’t notice Amanda until she spoke. “You seem to be short a dance partner.”
Matt turned to her slowly. She looked elegant and cool. He turned on the charm. It was a default with him at these types of events. He had been to so many of them in the past ten years that he had lost count. There were always beautiful women, one indistinguishable from another. Blonde, brunette, auburn, redhead, raven-haired, and all gorgeous, but none of them stood out. Until Jade. Still, the charm came as easily as breathing. “Are you volunteering?”
An artful smile slid across her face. “I’m quite good.”
Matt’s face was impassive. “No doubt.” He took her into his arms and moved her around the floor.
“I wasn’t sure you would say yes.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “My mother taught me never to refuse a pretty woman.”
Amanda grinned up at Matt. “Smart woman.”
“Smart and obstinate.”
Amanda winced. “I know she didn’t exactly check with you when she invited me. I hope I’m not intruding on your evening.”
Matt shook his head. “No harm. My mother didn’t exactly know the whole situation here anyway.”
“She told me she thought you were ‘holing up’ out here.”
Matt laughed. “That’s pretty accurate, actually.”
