The Price of Scandal (Bluewater Billionaires) - Lucy Score Page 0,61

by the way. Very badass babe.”

I patted the back of my head. “Thanks. Courtesy of the very pretty man.”

“He looks like that, and he does hair? Oh, honey, you grab him with both hands and hang on for dear life.”

We laughed a little too sincerely, drawing curious glances.

“Looks like your guy is looking for you,” Franchesca observed.

Derek was indeed scanning the crowd. And when he spotted me, I felt a frisson of energy shimmer over me. He didn’t look delighted. He looked… hungry. As hungry as I felt. Was there anything sexier than those long looks across a crowded room where everyone else just melted into the wallpaper?

“Yowsa,” Franchesca mused behind me.

I wanted him. Even if it didn’t make sense. Even if it was a bad decision. I wanted Derek Price in my bed.

“Son of a bitch!”

Breaking Derek’s gaze, I turned back to Franchesca, who was dabbing at a glob of jelly on her cleavage.

I grinned. “Do you need a napkin?”

“Nah. Aide’ll get it later,” she said with a wicked wiggle of her eyebrow.

“I’d better get back out there,” I said, feeling a pang of regret.

“Go get ’em, tiger,” she said, taking another bite of peanut butter and jelly. “I’ll hold down the fort here for any other escapees.”

“It was nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” she said, her mouth full.

I met Derek in the center of the ballroom. The heavy wooden beams of the ceiling spoked outward above our heads. He ran his hands down my bare arms from bicep to wrist. An intimate, friendly gesture. I’d seen the man naked, but physically we’d remained squarely in our own space except for that kiss. We’d shared secrets. He’d styled my hair and bought me a dress that fit me like skin, yet I didn’t know his birthday or favorite baseball team or what he’d gone to college for.

It was an odd kind of intimacy.

“How’s the schmoozing?” I asked.

“Not quite as delightful as your company,” he told me, bringing my hand to his lips.

“So smooth,” I commented. “Have you lightened anyone’s pockets yet?”

The quirk of his lips quickened my pulse. “I’ve heeded your request and kept my hands to myself.”

Things in my core were heating up. Switches thrown. Buttons pushed. I felt good old-fashioned desire rev to life. He was picking up on it. I could tell by the spark in those unfairly blue eyes.

“Say the word, love, and my hands will roam wherever you let them.”

That pretty picture had a volcano erupting between my legs. What was it about this man that made me feel things?

“Derek?”

He leaned forward until my breasts brushed the crisp elegance of his jacket. My nipples tightened instinctively.

“Yes, Emily?”

“How do you feel about milkshakes?” I asked.

Those blue eyes cranked up the icy fire a degree or two. “Love them.”

“Would you like one after…”

“After what?” Derek asked. The question was practically a whisper. A quiet breath usually reserved for silky sheets and moonlight.

The hum of pleasure was a full-blown jet engine in my ears. It was simple biology. I had been bred to find a man in a tuxedo beddable. But tastefully so. With candles, a non-disclosure agreement, and a hotel suite. Not the kind of panty-ripping, half-clothed, dark alley fuck I was envisioning starring Derek Price.

“What goes on in that head?” he asked, cupping my chin.

“Surprise!”

My brother’s voice had never been more unwelcome in my life. That included the time he’d drunkenly fallen through the window into my bedroom when I’d been entertaining my prom date.

26

Emily

“Trey?” It was too hard to shift gears between being unreasonably turned on and being blindsided by an unexpected brother. That’s when I remembered that my brother dearest’s absence was the reason I’d been forced to attend tonight’s event. “What are you doing here? I thought you were putting together some music festival?”

“Musicians are fickle bitches. It’s a cluster. Have you met Theolonia? She’s famous on the ’gram.” Trey pushed a large breasted beauty at me. She was chewing gum and texting. Mom would love her.

“I haven’t had the pleasure,” I said.

“’Sup?” Theolonia said with a surprising baby-soft squeak. She hadn’t looked up from her phone yet. Though, to be fair, her phone case was an eye-catching glittery pink disco ball design with frolicking unicorns.

Behind me, Derek covered a soft laugh with a cough.

“Trey, this is Derek Price,” I said, dragging him up to face off against the cleavage that was considering an explosive escape from Theolonia’s candy pink gown.

“Ah, right. The fixer. This is probably an easy job for you since