“With?”
“With Barbie dolls.”
He chuckled as he led her out to the dance floor. “Oh, those Barbie dolls have got nothing on you, mí amore. Besides, you’re my friend. I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t try to help.”
She smiled and hugged his arm. “Thanks, Damien. You’re the best.”
“Yes, I know.”
When she tried to link her arms around his neck, he stopped her by taking one hand in his, letting the other hook over his shoulder. It surprised her to see him dance this way. This was how her parents used to dance. That was all right. Although he looked like a body-builder, he danced with graceful ease, sweeping her around the floor. She hadn’t danced this way since her mother taught her as a young girl. The more Damien swung her around like a professional ballroom dancer, the wider her smile stretched.
“I must admit, I’m shocked,” she said as her grin broadened.
“At what?”
“That you dance so well. But come to think of it, you do everything so well. You can fix my hair perfectly, do my makeup, pick out my clothes...and now dance.” She chuckled lightly. “In fact, if I didn’t know you were a womanizer, I’d think you were gay.”
He laughed loudly and shook his head. “Oh, sweetie, I’m far from being gay, but the reason I can do all of this is because I grew up with very old fashioned parents. Not only that, I’m the only boy in a family of six girls.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
“However,” he winked, “I’m happy to know you think I’m perfect.”
When her face grew hot again, she looked away. Her attention landed on Max. His eyes were wide, glued to her and Damien. Her heart accelerated. Perhaps Damien was right about making Max jealous.
The song ended and a slower one began. Damien kept her in his arms in the same hold, but pulled her closer. She rested her cheek on his chest, breathing in his seductive scent. Max smelled this good, too. Well, not as good, but close.
“Don’t look now,” Damien whispered, “but lover boy’s watching.”
She giggled. “Really?”
“Yes.”
She raised her head and looked up at Damien. “So now what do we do?”
“Now we lay it on thick. Go with me on this.” He leaned down and brushed his lips across her cheek, then down her neck. Goose bumps rose over her skin and she shivered. Waves of heat filled her body, and she fought the urge to close her eyes and tilt her head back.
“That tickles,” she said softly.
“Keep still. It’s working.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s coming this way.”
She tried not to let anticipation shake her to death, but once again, her legs felt like Jell-O on the verge of dissolving. Why couldn’t she remain in control? Why couldn’t she just pretend Max was Damien? After all, Damien was a great-looking guy. Damien even had a better body and smelled nicer. So then why didn’t she act like a squirming schoolgirl around him?
“Excuse me.” Max’s voice, so close behind her, made her catch her breath. She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled.
Damien stopped moving, but kept his arms around her. What a great friend. It was all she could do to keep from sighing aloud. Why was Damien the one winning her heart at the moment?
She concentrated on Max and tried not to think about Damien the way she had been. “Hi,” she said in a soft voice.
Up this close, Max looked better than he had earlier. Of course, back then, her vision had been a little blurred because of her dizziness.
Max glanced from her to Damien. “Giovanni. It’s been a long time.”
Damien nodded. “Certainly has.”
“Do you mind if I cut in?” Max motioned his head toward Cyndi. “I promised her a dance.”
She looked at Damien, who for some reason didn’t appear as happy as he had a minute ago. His lips tightened and a crease appeared in his forehead.
“That’s fine.” He let go of her and walked away. A chill entered her body and the secure feeling she’d experienced in his arms had disappeared.
She wanted it back.
She dismissed the thought. Must be the sinus decongestant pill.
Max didn’t pull her into the ballroom hold, but slid his arms around her waist instead. She linked her arms over his shoulders. Right away, she noticed the difference between the two men. Max, a little shorter, was also not as broad through the chest. Although nice, Damien’s body still fit better next to hers.
At least Max smiled as he gazed into her eyes. He watched her, and only her. Heat rushed to her cheeks again. Is my hair messed up? Do I have carrot in my teeth?
“How are you feeling?” Max began, the tone of his voice just as sweet as his smile.
“I’m much better, thank you.” She chuckled. “I don’t know why I passed out earlier. Must have been hungry.”
He nodded. “That’ll happen.”
She fell quiet again, as did he. The urge to speak choked her, and nothing came to mind for them to discuss. If Damien were here instead, this wouldn’t have been a problem. Under her breath, she scolded her confused thoughts.
Max glanced over at the punch bowl where Damien stood, and she followed his gaze. Damien’s somber stare remained on her, causing her heart to clench. Why does he look so miserable?
“How do you know Damien Giovanni?” he asked.
“He’s my neighbor.”
“What a coincidence that you know him. We were friends in college.”
She turned back to Max, opened her mouth to comment, but hesitated. He’d asked her to dance out of jealousy? How did Damien know Max would act this way? It must have something to do with the past Damien wouldn’t talk about. Now she was even more curious. She’d have to think up a plan to get him to open up to her.
“I didn’t know that,” she replied, hoping he wouldn’t know she was lying through her teeth.
Max glanced back at Damien. “How long have you two been dating?”
Should I lie again? “Not for very long.” Well, that wasn’t a complete lie.
“I see he hasn’t lost his talent for sweeping the ladies around the dance floor.”
“Really? He used to do this back then?”
“Yes.” The arms around her waist tightened. “But you dance very well, too.”
She laughed. “When I was a girl, my mother taught me the lessons she learned while taking ballroom dancing.” She smiled in remembrance. “After the housework was finished on Saturdays, she’d pull out the ballroom records and crank up the volume. We’d dance right there in the front room.”
He chuckled with her.
“I remember being so embarrassed. I’d close the curtains so if my friends walked by the house, they wouldn’t see.”
“You were an excellent student.” His gaze softened.
“Thank you.”
He nodded, but then silence poured over them, once again. Why did he act this way? If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was shy. Nah! That was her specialty.
He cleared his throat. “I wanted to thank you for your email. I wondered about that plant.”
Heat flooded her cheeks again, and she prayed her face didn’t resemble a beacon light here in the semi-darkened room. She didn’t want ships crashing through the building, mistaking her for a lighthouse.
“I was so upset when I discovered the plant had been switched. I wanted to tell you right away, but circumstances made it impossible.” She shrugged. “It was a rather busy day, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“I hope no real damage was done.”
He shook his head. “It explained why I’d gotten a rash and felt nauseated.”
“I swear, I didn’t know.”
He nodded. “I’m aware of that, and I don’t blame you one bit.”
She let out a heavy sigh. “That’s a relief. I thought you’d blame me for the mix-up.”
“No. I understand.”
The song ended. Her c
hest grew heavy just thinking she’d have to step out of his arms. Why couldn’t they stay like this all evening? Then again, why couldn’t he feel as good as Damien did in her arms?
“Thanks for the dance,” she told him, hoping to keep him by her side a little longer.
“No. Thank you.”
When he turned to walk away, she quickly touched his sleeve. “Hey, Max, are you here by yourself?”
He chuckled. “Although my date canceled at the last minute, I really wouldn’t consider myself alone.”
“Well...um...would you like to sit with me for a few minutes and have a drink?”
He glanced over her shoulder, and then looked back at her. “I don’t think Damien would appreciate that very much.” He grinned and squeezed her hand. “But I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Promise?”
He nodded then turned and walked back to his friends.
Later! He’s going to find me later. But her enthusiasm dropped when she remembered he’d only danced with her because he was jealous. Should she continue with the little lie? If she didn’t, would Max give up?
She shouldn’t have led Max to believe Damien was her boyfriend. Funny, the Internet article didn’t mention anything about making a man jealous.
“ANOTHER DRINK, PLEASE.”
Damien scowled at Cyndi as she sat hunched shoulders at the bar. Thankfully she only sipped on a fruit punch drink rather than the champagne moving around the room. Then again, she had been acting funny. Had someone spiked the punch tonight? Her mood had turned sour quickly, yet her personality seemed loopy.
“Cyndi, I think it’s time to take you home. You don’t look like you’re all the way with it tonight.”
She had explained to him in detail what she’d done when Max had entered the room, and the big scene she’d made. Thankfully, she wasn’t like that any longer, but now she was staggering into people like a runaway train. Perhaps she still had a concussion.
“Damien, leave me alone,” she slurred, pushing his hand away. “I’m waitin’ for Max to come ask me to dance again.”
“Come on, honey. Let’s go.”
“No.” She glared at him. “He promised to come get me.”
Damien sighed. “I think Max has already left.”
She swung her head so fast it unbalanced her and slid off the stool. He slipped his arm around her waist to keep her from falling to the floor.
“Really?” She tilted her head to look at him, her sad eyes pleading for honesty.
“Yes, mí amore, really. I saw him leave half an hour ago.”
Her brows drew together. “What was I doin’?”
“You were probably ordering another fruit punch.”
She glanced back at the bartender who had his gaze locked on her. He nodded at Damien’s comment.
“Well, that’s a grand idea,” she slurred. “Drinks for everyone.” She held up her empty glass and would have fallen backward if he hadn’t been holding her up.
“Good grief, Cyndi. Have you been drinking something other than punch?”
“Course not. I don’t drink alcohol. I told you that.”
“Then why are you acting drunk?”
“I’m not drunk.” She waved her hand through the air, nearly hitting his head. He ducked quickly. “Although...” She met his gaze. “I’ve been feeling funny since I took that sinus pill you gave me.”
Inwardly, he groaned. The pill was too strong for her. Now he knew why she acted so loopy.
The bartender leaned across the counter and looked at Damien. “I don’t think your friend knows that the drink isn’t just fruit punch.” He arched an eyebrow. “There is a little alcohol in it.”
Not good at all! “Come on then, it’s definitely time to get you home and put you in bed.” He pried the glass from her hand and passed it to the bartender.
She huffed and a frown marred her face. “You’re no fun.”
He shook his head. A decongestant pill will have this kind of effect on her, especially since she had it with an alcoholic drink. But for some reason, he liked the way she draped her arms around him as if they were a couple in love. He enjoyed the glassy look in her eyes when she gazed at him, and he especially liked being able to hold her when she couldn’t stand by herself.
As they left the party, she called out goodbyes to her co-workers. By their wide-eyed expressions, they weren’t used to seeing Cyndi this way. Hopefully, she wouldn’t get teased at work tomorrow.
And thankfully, those two witches were not at the party any longer, either. They were nothing but bullies, and someone had to stop them. He wished Cyndi would. Nobody should be bullied like that.
Damien helped her to his black Porsche and buckled her in the seat. Her body went limp. What would he do with her if she had fallen asleep? For sure, he’d take her to his place, but definitely not for the same reasons he took other women there.
When he climbed in the driver’s seat, she giggled and reached for his arm, cuddling to his side. “Did you see the way Max danced with me, Damien?”
“Yes,” he grumbled. He had watched every second of the time she was enfolded in Max’s arms, and at the time he’d wanted to go break up the cozy moment. He wanted to be the man holding the beautiful woman. He wanted to be the man Cyndi gazed up at so lovingly.
“Max isn’t as good a dancer as you, but he still knew how to move.” She growled. “Oh, baby. He’s certainly an adorable man.”
Damien clenched his hands into fists. “If you say so.”
He moved her aside to adjust his seatbelt. She rolled her head on the headrest and looked at him.
“You really need to find someone special, you know that, Damien?”
“Yes, Cyndi.” Finding someone special...now that was a talent he’d never possessed. Someone to have a good time with fit his lifestyle much better. Yet lately he’d been tired of his carefree ways, and he couldn’t stop thinking about how Cyndi was a very special woman.
“It’s not good to go from one woman to another,” she continued. “You need that special someone to love. Forever.”
He dared to meet her gaze. Big mistake. Her heavy-lidded eyes were like soft moonbeams. Her pouty lips made him wonder what she’d do if he kissed her right now.
He couldn’t.
He wouldn’t.
Diverting his stare, he looked out the windshield and started the car, then pulled out of the nearly empty parking lot. The heat of her gaze was still on him. What could she be thinking? Certainly not the same thoughts running through his mind.
“Damien?” Her voice dropped lower.
“Yes?”
“Have you ever kissed one of your friends before?”
He glanced at her with wide eyes. “Of course not. I’m not that kind of guy, remember?”
She scrunched her forehead, but after a few seconds she giggled. “No, I didn’t mean your guy friends. I meant the women you consider your friends.”
His heart hammered. His throat tightened, and he couldn’t breathe. What was she getting at? “Yes.” He winked. “I’ve kissed you before, or have you forgotten?”
She flipped her hand through the air. “Not that kind of a kiss. I mean a kiss shared by lov-vers.”
He locked his attention back to the road. It wasn’t a good idea to look at her, especially when she acted this way. She didn’t know how much he wanted to do that very thing. He wanted to kiss her—kiss her until he was the only man in her head.
“Cyndi, why don’t you close your eyes and relax. We’ll be home shortly.”
“Damien,” she whined, “why are you avoidin’ my question?”
He gripped the steering wheel tighter, turning his knuckles white. Her suggestions were adding fuel to the already stoked fire, making him imagine things he shouldn’t think about. Especially with her being as loopy as she was right now. “Because I don’t see the point in discussing this.”
“Are you embarrassed?”
“No, not as embarrassed as you’re going to
be if you keep it up.”
She chuckled again. “Damien.” She poked him in the side and he jumped. He grinned at her childlike antics. “You can talk to me about anythin’, you know.”
“I know.”
She jabbed her finger in his side once again, but this time he didn’t jump. Her hand moved to his arm and stayed. Automatically, he covered her hand with his and squeezed. Pressing on the gas pedal, one thought filled his mind—getting her home as fast as he could.
“Then why don’t you want to talk to me?”
“What do you want me to talk about?”
“I want to know about you and Max.”
“I don’t feel like discussing him, but thanks for the offer.”
Her fingers rubbed his sleeve. He masked a groan by clearing his throat. Her touch was so soft. He pressed his foot harder to the gas pedal then quickly to the brake. Why am I catching all the stoplights?
Curling his fingers around her hand, he stopped her from touching any more of his arm. She sighed and he glanced at her. A sweet smile touched her lips. Her eyes were closed. She must be thinking about Max. He wished he could take those thoughts away and switch them with images of him instead.
When he drove up to the townhouse, he breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully, she’d fallen asleep. But when he pulled her out of the seat and adjusted her weight against his body, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest.
“Hmm...you smell so good,” she mumbled.
“Thank you.” His voice tightened.
He carried her until they reached her townhouse then he leaned her against the wall as he searched through her purse for her keys. After opening the door, he shifted Cyndi in his arms and carried her to the bedroom.
He sat her on the edge of the bed as he pulled off her coat. As soon as it was removed, she flung back and sprawled out on the pink comforter, resting her arms above her head. A smile still spread across her mouth, her eyes closed as if in a dream. Should he throw a blanket over her and leave? Yet he couldn’t stop looking at her. He couldn’t stop wishing for something he would never have.
At the foot of her bed was a brown blanket folded up neatly. He unfolded it and gently covered her. He stared at her for a moment, wishing he could confess his true feelings. He’d wait to see what happened between her and Max. There was no way he wanted to compete with Max. Again! Nor would he be able to stand the rejection when she didn’t choose him.
Her Own Fairy Godmother Page 11
