Vance caught my wrist and swung me back around, his body moving toward me at the same time so I collided with it.
He dropped my wrist, his arm went around me inside my jacket and his hand dipped straight into the drape at my back.
My lips parted and his other hand went into my hair, pulled out the clip and my hair fell over his hand and my shoulders.
“Crowe! It took me five tries to twist that thing in my hair.”
I forgot about not bickering.
He ignored my comment. “You get the idea to experiment with flirtin’ in front of me, think again. I won’t like it and you’ll be the one who’ll pay.”
I closed my eyes, sucked in a breath then opened them again. “Can we just get through the night?” I asked.
“We’ll get through the night,” he promised and something in that promise made me shiver.
He stared at me, hand at my behind, other one in my hair.
I became conscious of the fact that anyone could see us from the windows.
“Can you take your hand off my ass?” I asked, allowing myself a little shade of snotty. We were standing on a public street and in full view of the windows and Nick might be in there.
Instead of doing as I asked, he pulled me deeper into him and he kissed me. This wasn’t a soft, sweet kiss but deep, hard and full-on tongue.
When he quit kissing me, he whispered, “Grape,” against my lips and his eyes looked in mine.
My stomach lurched painfully into a tighter knot at the memory of a better time.
I held my breath wondering why I gave into tonight, to the party, Vance, everything. I was so much better on my own, dinners with Nick, Boo as my bed partner and my music to keep my company.
Before I could find an answer to my mental question, Vance released me, grabbed my hand and we walked in.
Everyone yelled happy birthday.
Even though I felt like crying, I did my very best to smile.
* * * * *
“Methinks, even with the mini-make-out-session on the sidewalk, all is not well in paradise,” Tod said, standing beside me, both of us holding glasses of champagne. It was an hour into the party and I was trying to have fun (and not succeeding).
They’d decided on baked Camembert and crackers, fruit trays, crudités, champagne and truffles. All the men (including everyone from Nightingale Investigations, except a guy I hadn’t yet met named Ike who had night duty in the control room) were there and wearing jeans and nice shirts or sweaters (though Tod and Stevie wore casual suits and Tex wore one of his normal flannel shirts). All the women were dressed to the nines, little dresses, lots of hair and makeup.
Nick was there and seemed to be enjoying himself. Heavy and Zip were also there and both seemed a bit uncomfortable. Frank was a no show, not exactly the most sociable person one-on-one, he might have been able to do beers at a bar but parties were a no go.
Tex surprised me because he was with a pretty blonde lady and they looked close. I wouldn’t have expected Tex to have a date, especially not a pretty blonde lady. I was further surprised (a nice way to say absolutely floored) to find out she was Jet’s mother, Nancy.
Duke surprised me by showing up at all. He brought his wife, Dolores, and she was a cracker.
Jet and Eddie had yet to arrive.
I was avoiding Vance like I’d forgotten to wear deodorant (I hadn’t) and I didn’t want him to find out.
I was avoiding Luke because Luke was a wildcard. I didn’t want him to flirt with me then me be the one to pay.
Vance looked seriously unhappy. Luke looked seriously amused.
I looked to Tod and he was watching me closely. “Everything’s fine,” I assured him.
“Liar, liar, pants on fire,” Tod said.