His Irresistible Darling - Sarah Randall Page 0,27
inwardly.
“I delivered Pandora’s foal, which I believe is here with you now. I’d love to see how he’s getting on before I leave. Are your stables close by?”
“Yes, that’s fine,” he said, reaching into his jeans pocket for his wallet. “Here’s the card for the stables. Call ahead and they’ll give you the tour and introduce you to Apollo. He’s doing very well, has his mother’s wonderful temperament and his father’s strength and focus.”
Pippa had once again turned her back to him, focused her attention back on the shots Jake had lined up on the bar and was giggling at something the spotty teenage kid was saying. Okay, so he wasn’t exactly spotty. In fact he would probably be classed as good looking and he wasn’t a teenager either, most likely in his early to mid-twenties. Malik had been right about that. So all in all, probably perfect for Pippa. Handsome bastard wouldn’t even have lines around his eyes yet. In truth it was just another needless, stark reminder of Pippa’s youth.
But what the hell was it with all these men swarming around Pippa? If any of them thought they were going to get lucky tonight with his—with Pippa, they could damn well think again. He had promised her brother, hadn’t he…
He felt James’s heavy gaze—probably trying to work out what his intentions were towards Pippa.
He leaned forward again to speak into Pippa’s ear. “I changed my mind. I want to dance with you.”
She flicked her hair back over one shoulder before casting a glance back towards him. “Sod off. I asked you earlier and you rejected me. FYI, I don’t take rejection well. Go dance with your fiancée,” she said, tossing back another shot before licking something off her hand, squeezing her eyes closed and shaking her head. “Wowzer, that’s got a kick.” She was giggling again. Just how many of those had she had?
There was only one way he was going to get her on the dance floor.
“What’s the matter? Too drunk to handle me now?” he challenged intentionally, tilting his head to the side and crossing his arms over his chest. The challenge had been laid.
She turned and slammed the shot glass on the bar, giving him a cool look that he supposed was meant to be a scowl but in actual fact was just cute. “What happened to ‘I can’t dance.’?” He fought to keep his lips from curving into a smile at her imitation of him.
He leaned back over to her ear, pleased that the noisy environment gave him a perfect excuse to place his lips so close. “I said I don’t dance, not that I can’t dance.”
She leaned back and propped her elbows on the bar, her eyes narrowing on his as if she was sizing him up for a new suit; he liked her attention on him. He caught the pissed-off look from the kid who looked like some bigger kid had just stolen his lunch money; James, however, was continuing to weigh him up as if for a fight until Melina sauntered up to him and handed him a bottle of beer.
Pippa turned her body towards the kid and Jumal assumed his plan hadn’t worked until she turned back to James and Melina. “Take my place with Jake, you two. I’m off to show this old man how it’s done,” she quipped, grabbing his hand and dragging him towards the dance floor, before turning and smiling at him. “If he can keep up.”
Bingo.
“I’ll do my best, kiddo.”
Do not look at her arse, do not look at her arse… Jumal repeated the mantra in his head to no avail. The devil on his left shoulder encouraged him to sneak a peek as was the right of any red-blooded male; the angel on the right slapped him about the head and reminded him that the said pert arse belonged to his best friend’s baby sister…and his employee…
She stumbled in her ridiculously high heels and Jumal reached forward to snag his spare hand around her waist and pull her close to him. Christ she felt good in his arms, which warranted a SLAP from the bloody angel as he held her a little longer than was strictly necessary.
“Thanks,” she said, sheepishly. Jumal couldn’t chance speaking. He wasn’t entirely sure what would come out of his mouth.
“Think I’d better get rid of these ankle breakers,” she conceded as she bent over straight in front of him. Jumal’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.