The Hunt Masquerade - Milly Taiden Page 0,18
the complimentary champagne into each flute. “But I’m very happy I did.” He handed her a glass, letting his eyes roam over her body. “In fact, I think it might just have been the best decision of my life.”
His gaze drank deeply from the blush playing across Chacha’s skin.
“Why didn’t you want to come? Don’t you enjoy parties?”
He chuckled. “No, I don’t. I’m a homebody through and through. My idea of a good night is a beer and a good television show. Maybe some takeout, but definitely more comfortable clothes.” He gestured toward his tux, which he really did hate wearing.
“Oh,” Chacha’s eyes sparkled. “I’m the same way. I actually didn’t get an invite to this party until tonight. I had some Chinese takeout, and my DVR all queued up when I was called away for a dress emergency.” She fiddled with her mask as she spoke. “I don’t like parties either. Or really crowded spaces, if I’m honest.”
Rush settled on the corner of the bed. He didn’t want to press his luck and offer Chacha a seat beside him, but when she eased down beside him, his chest puffed out with pride.
That’s right, his wolf cooed. We’ve got her right where we want her.
“Funny how two homebodies managed to find themselves hanging out at the party of the year.”
“Only because we were hiding from the festivities.”
“I was definitely hiding,” he agreed. “But I will be honest, Chacha, there is no way you can hide in a crowd. I spotted you from across the room, and I just knew I had to talk with you.”
Her blush came back with full force. She took a sip of the champagne, her tongue chasing a stray drop nearly made him snap his glass in two. Goddamn, even her tongue was pretty. Every single inch of this woman was beautiful.
“Well, I have to say, I was trying to ignore all of the—” she cleared her throat, searching for her words.
“Overly amorous couples lining the room?”
Her answering laughter was nervous and appreciative. “Exactly. Never been to this kind of party before.”
“Neither have I,” he admitted. Rush nudged her with his shoulder, desperate for any kind of contact between them. “To being homebodies,” he said, raising his glass.
“Here’s to full DVRs and good takeout,” she added, clinking her flute to his. “So, what kind of stuff do you like to watch, anyway?”
“This is embarrassing, but I love to watch cooking shows. Baking too. I can’t do any of it, but I love watching people take a pile of ingredients to create something that looks good and probably tastes even better.”
“Oh, that is funny. I feel the same about design television.”
“The difference being you can make the same garments as them.”
“Yes,” she laughed, “but they have a better sewing machine and better material than I do. Sometimes, I try to do the challenges alongside them. Just to see if I could measure up.”
“I’m sure you do.” He meant it too. Rush didn’t know much about his mate, but he could tell she was talented. When he told her as much, he reveled in the way she blushed. “I love that you can’t hide your emotions. You blush very easily.”
She rolled her eyes. “I hate it,” she said, touching her heated cheeks. “I could never get away with anything as a kid. I would try to lie about who had eaten the last of the crackers, but I would be beet red by the time it wasn’t me had popped out of my mouth. It was pretty damn clear I was the culprit. I mean, it obviously didn’t help that I’m an only child. I didn’t have a sibling to blame.”
“Marlon did that to me all the time. He would finish the milk, leave the empty carton in the fridge, and then tell our parents I had done it. He got away with a lot. Still does, actually.”
“Like making you come to this party?”
“Like making me come to this party,” he repeated. His free hand went to the small of her back. His fingers grazed the bare skin there.
Chantal shivered, her skin breaking out into goose bumps, but she didn’t lean away. In fact, she arched into the touch with a small sigh.
“I’m happy we both ended up here out of pure coincidence.”
“Fate is funny like that.”
She had no idea, really, just how kind fate had been to bring them together. If it hadn’t been for Marlon’s dumb loan with Spike, they never would have been at the