The Earl's Outrageous Lover Page 0,29
his aunt and uncle. While they danced, she heard about his case load and several of his family members and Jessica laughed with him about some of his stories about growing up with a large family.
They were talking about their latest vacations when someone tapped Jerry on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, but she’s with me tonight,” Edward said with finality.
Edward didn’t wait for the man to respond, but simply took Jessica’s hand and spun her around so that she was in his arms.
Jessica gasped as he pulled her close and she tried to focus, but her mind was spinning out of control. Being this close to the man was shocking and she absolutely loved being in his arms. His spicy aftershave made her heart race and her nostrils tingle. She worried that he would notice her breathlessness, but tried to hide it by staring straight ahead, which happened to be the middle of his chest. Not good, she told herself. She wanted to pull her hand out of his and rest her palm against his chest, to smooth her fingers down the front of his silk tuxedo shirt, feel his muscles.
Her mind whirled with the possibilities and she almost stumbled as he turned unexpectedly. He didn’t let her though, his strong, muscular arms tightening around her waist and pulling her closer, exactly where she wanted to be. And unfortunately, exactly where she shouldn’t be.
“Relax,” he said softly, his voice deeper as he held her slightly closer.
She tried, but it was impossible to relax in this particular man’s arms. He was too strong, too muscular, too overwhelmingly male for her to relax. And she’d longed for this moment for so long, she wanted to both savor the feeling as well as move closer and revel in the way his arms wrapped around her. She wanted to remember every moment so when she was married to a man she only liked, and was barely attracted to, she could curl up in the dark and re-live this moment.
As the music ebbed and flowed, she loved the way Edward held her, moved her and guided her through the steps. She knew exactly what he was going to do moments before he did it and she felt as if they were somehow connected. Their dancing was so perfect, so smooth and wonderful she didn’t want to ever leave this ballroom. She could be happy for the rest of her life just dancing in his arms and feeling like she was dancing on a fluffy, white cloud.
“I should introduce you to Michal Fitzhugh,” Edward said, his deep voice vibrating against her body.
His words were so counter to what she’d been thinking that they snapped her out of her dream and her wounded eyes looked up to his. “Michael?” she asked, not sure how he could possibly bring up another man at a time like this.
“He’s the son of Lord Fitzhugh, a very old and distinguished family,” Edward continued. He cleared his throat and looked over her head.
Jessica was more hurt than she wanted to admit. She pulled back, her face trying to hide the pain she was feeling. The music stopped at that moment and she stepped out of Edward’s arms, giving herself space and time before she reacted to Edward pushing her back into another man’s arms.
“Michael,” Edward called out and Jessica was startled that the introduction was going to take place immediately. She’d assumed that there would at least be time for her to recover while Edward found the gentleman in question but apparently the man had been standing directly behind them.
A younger man with blond hair and a bright smile turned to face Edward. “Good evening, my lord. It’s a pleasure to see you again,” the man said as he took Edward’s hand, bowing to ingratiate himself.
“Good to see you again.” Edward paused and looked down at Jessica. “I was hoping you could do me a favor. I need to discuss something with an acquaintance I just saw but would you mind dancing with Ms. Mallory in my place?”
Michael looked over at Jessica and his eyes lit up even more brightly. “It would be my honor, my lord,” he said and extended his hand to Jessica.
Jessica looked up at Edward and realized that he was already moving off, not even looking at her so she turned back to Michael and placed her hand in his. “I guess you’re the unlucky sap who gets the chore of dancing with me next, eh?” she joked,