Northern Rebel Daring in the Dark - By Jennifer Labrecque Page 0,22
of them. For the next six days, she was his primary objective.
* * *
NELSON WAS THE DJ of the evening. Apparently Tansy had a thing for nostalgic music, since “All of Me” was playing. Delphi laughed with exhilaration as Lars expertly twirled her around the dance floor. She’d never danced to this kind of music and she’d never been with a partner who possessed his skill level. He was a man of surprises.
Slightly breathless from the exertion and the man himself, she said, “Where’d you learn to dance like this?”
“I took lessons in high school. I like to dance.”
It was different, that was for sure, but then he was pretty darn different. He excelled at ballroom dance, and he detonated bombs, and he kissed like heaven. “You’re good at it.”
“I’m good at lots of things.”
Even his slight smirk held an element of charm. “Is that a fact or an opinion?”
“Some of both.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“I could show you my certificates.”
“Oh, you’re certified. Impressive.”
“I don’t carry them around with me so I guess I’ll just have to let you decide for yourself.”
“That’s okay. I’ll take your word for it.”
“Ah. So you trust me.” The music segued into a slower number. He pulled her closer against him.
She gave a carefree laugh. “Hardly.” And the beauty of it was that whatever went on between them didn’t require any degree of trust.
“I’m wounded.”
Right. And she was the Queen of England. She giggled. His lighthearted flirtation was impossible to resist. And the press of her breasts against his chest went a long way in fixing everything, except the sensual ache that was growing more and more intense.
“Don’t take it personally,” she tossed back at him, in the same lighthearted flirtatious vein.
“Does that mean you don’t trust anyone?” He dipped her, his arm strong and sure behind her back, his left hand firm on her waist while his other hand clasped hers. Within seconds he’d righted her. It had all happened so quickly and been rather thrilling.
“A select few.”
“Ah. Cautious.” He rested his chin against her hair, tucking her in against him. She felt simultaneously secure and vulnerable, which was as unsettling as the thud of his heart against hers.
“Hard-won lessons.”
“I understand.”
She doubted it, but who was she to argue? “If you say so.”
He pulled back to peer down at her, a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. “You’re a difficult woman to have a conversation with.”
“I am? You seem to have plenty to say.” She was only half teasing him. The man never seemed at a loss for words.
“Case in point. I have to do all the talking.”
“That’s easy enough.” She leaned back and looked up at him. “Find another conversational partner.” The minute the words left her mouth, she knew it wasn’t what she really wanted.
“Ah, but I don’t want to have a conversation with someone else. I want to talk to you.”
“And you want to talk to me why?”
“You intrigue me.”
She laughed. “No, I don’t.”
His expression said she’d caught him by surprise. “Hmm. Then why do you think I want to be with you?”
“You only want to talk to me because I’m not interested. I’m not wowed by your good looks or your charm.” Well, they both knew that wasn’t the absolute truth.
“You’re not? Damn.”
“I told you I was immune.”
“So, let’s talk. Then we’ll see whether I’m still interested. Either way you’re only out a few hours, right?”
“Hmm.” She was shamelessly teasing him by pretending to think about it.
“Given how talkative you are, I think you just said, ‘You’re right, Lars. I think that’s a spectacular experiment. Let’s give it a try.’”
All her resolve and good sense seemed to flee in the face of the fun she was having. She laughed at him.
Delphi didn’t know who was more foolish—him with his disarming charm, or her for being so unwillingly but easily disarmed.
* * *
DELPHI HADN’T EXPECTED to have so much fun. She’d anticipated staying just long enough to make a decent appearance and then head back to her room. Instead she’d been dancing, eating cake, drinking punch and meeting so many people her head was spinning. She’d never remember all their names.
And the entire time she’d been aware of Lars Reinhardt’s exact location. Most of the time he’d been at her side. And when he wasn’t with her, he’d catch her eye across the room. He was attentive, she’d give him that, and actually it had worked out fairly well that she’d been his “date.” The last thing she needed