Worth the Risk_ A Contemporary - Megan Hart Page 0,178

foxtrot at places like this, but Jack was as skilled in all styles of dancing as he was at everything else.

Josie loved to dance with Jack. It was comfortable and safe, but also a hell of a good time. She didn’t have to worry that a little pelvic thrust would end up with her being tongue-kissed by some idiot with a booze-soaked brain and breath that could knock over an elephant. Josie could dance with Jack and be uninhibited—and she’d had more offers for dates based on what men had seen her do with Jack on the dance floor than anything else. She felt guilty about that, sometimes, like it was false advertising. Then again, it was all just part of The Game.

Jack was already bobbing his close-shaved head. He grinned, his teeth glowing supernaturally white in the dance floor’s weird lighting. He made a space for them on the floor by nudging people out of the way.

They bounced to the rhythm for a while. Josie had to return Jack’s grin. The last beer she’d had was making her feel giddier than she normally did, and besides that, she was having fun for the first night in the three months since she’d caught Barry in bed with the girl who worked in the dry cleaner’s. Hell, she was having more fun than she’d had the entire time she dated Barry.

One song blended seamlessly into the next and became a popular new club hit featuring a sexy salsa beat interspersed with the lyrics to a rap song.

“Let’s rip it up.”

Jack’s voice rumbled in her ear and vibrated in her stomach. His grin made her want to grab him and kiss him, but that was just ridiculous—wasn’t it? She wasn’t here tonight to make out with Jack.

Josie stepped into Jack’s arms with the familiarity she never seemed to find with any other man. One hand went to his shoulder; the other disappeared into his much larger palm. Jack’s other hand pressed low down on her back, just below the edge of her soft cotton shirt. Oh, mercy. Against her bare skin.

Josie took a deep, shuddering breath, then forced herself to meet Jack’s eyes. She couldn’t let him know how his touch affected her. He wouldn’t understand. She didn’t understand. When had she stopped thinking of him as a buddy and started wanting him as a lover?

Jack led her effortlessly into a fast, modified cha-cha. Josie was a decent dancer, but under Jack’s lead she moved like a dream. The crowd didn’t allow them much movement, so while the dance normally kept partners several inches apart, she and Jack moved like they were one person. Her thighs were snugged against his, and her belly pressed into his groin.

Slowly, the people around them seemed to notice something hot was going on and they moved apart to allow Jack and Josie more room to move. The song turned out to be some sort of extended-edit remix and it seemed to go on forever. Jack stopped smiling. His eyes bore into Josie’s. The fingers against her back traced light circles on her bare skin, even as he guided her into an increasingly sensuous series of steps.

Josie hadn’t dressed for seduction tonight. Short dresses and high heels weren’t part of The Game; the goal was to encourage interest without overt measures. Tonight she wore boot-cut jeans, tight on her ass to show off the curve of her hips. Now, with every movement, the snug denim rubbed between her legs in a way that made her want to clench her fists or moan.

She took another deep breath and stared at Jack, who wore a look of deep concentration. Faster they danced, keeping up with the beat, making up their own moves. He pulled her close enough so her breasts, unfettered beneath her white cotton baby doll t-shirt, rubbed against his muscled chest. His thigh moved between hers, leading her into moves straight out of Dirty Dancing.

He was playing, but with whom? The blonde from the bar? Some other woman who would gladly trade places with Josie on the dance floor? Jack was really putting his all into the dance, and for the first time, Josie felt out of control in Jack’s arms.

She was helpless against the sensations rocketing through her as he slid his hand from her back to the curve of her ass. His hand was large enough to cover most of her rear. After a minute, he let go of her hand to put his other