Treasured (The Salvation Society) - Victoria Pinder Page 0,5
way over to her and slid into the empty seat beside her.
She shook her head at me and said, “I saw you talking to that pretty woman.”
I would never betray Mary with someone like Wanda, but I patted her knee and said, “She is my brother’s ex-fiancée and a temporary business associate.”
“My ex works with her.” Mary’s knees brushed against mine, and a spark rushed through me. “And she’s staring at us.”
Jealousy would get me nowhere fast. I massaged her knee under her shimmering red satin dress and said, “Small world, then. But for the rest of the night, I’m completely yours for the taking.”
She tapped the table. “We’re not—”
“Oh, we are.” Change the topic and keep her talking. The plan was simple. I folded my hands. “I should also say I’m impressed with your family’s charity.”
Her face blushed prettily. “It’s not just a charity. My aunt started these shelters because she’d been abused before she met my uncle, and she wanted to help other women find their strength in a safe environment. My cousin, her daughter, owns the place, but I run it.”
No man should ever hurt a woman. Cherish was better. I nudged her and said, “That’s noble.”
Her finger traced her water glass as she said, “No, it means sometimes the Steel women pick the wrong men.”
Her tone told me she’d had a bad experience, and I assumed his name was Arthur. I kept my voice low and said, “That’s not me.”
She sat back and stared at me like she didn’t believe me at all. “That’s what they all say.”
I leaned closer, ignoring how my hair stood on end from being so close to her as I said, “I… look, I respect that you’re a mom, and I respect that mind, body, and soul of yours.”
Music started up, and people filed out onto the dance floor around us.
Her finger touched mine, and energy coursed through me as she said, “That’s crazy.”
And then she cracked up, staring at the ceiling as she laughed. My own shoulders relaxed like I had found a slice of heaven. “You finally laughed.”
The DJ started a fast song, and she took my hand and tugged on it. “Okay, Dwayne. Do you want to dance?”
I pressed my hand to my heart. “With you?”
She crossed her arms and said, “You can go to your brother’s ex if you want.”
I stood up and walked with her to the dance floor, where I said, “No, you’d be the perfect woman in my arms right now.”
She curled her arms around me and said, “I can’t believe I’m falling for this charm.”
We moved in beat with the music. “You think I’m charming.”
She giggled. “I think you’re unbelievable.”
I let my hand go a little lower on her backside. “You can find out more later.”
Her face blushed, but instead of throwing me off her, she laughed and said, “The sex innuendo so early. I’m shocked.”
Interesting. I held her tight and stared into the blue eyes that bore into my soul. “I’m a man who knows what he wants.”
Her eyes were like ice, but she didn’t pull away. “And then will find an excuse to leave in the morning before we even exchange phone numbers.”
Or I’d keep her forever. Mary wasn’t someone I would ever willingly leave. Part of me wanted to claim her as mine and never let her go—ever. But she would not want to hear about that instinct. So I squeezed her palm in mine. “You could give me a chance, y’know. I might surprise you.”
She shook her head. “I’m not looking for a surprise.”
She glanced up and down my body, and I hoped she liked what she saw. I practiced in the gym for hours every day to be at my peak. “What are you looking for?” I asked.
She sucked in her bottom lip, and I spun her around to the music, which changed to a slower beat. She came into my arms willingly. She made the air smell like roses. She went onto her tiptoes and whispered in my ear, “Honestly?”
My lips tingled to taste her. Every part of me wanted to claim her as my own and keep her. I asked her, “If you could have whatever you want in a man, what would that be?”
She rested her head on my shoulder. Unlike my last girlfriend, I would keep her forever close. I was normally closed off, but she made me want to hold on and not let go.
For a minute, I wondered if she hadn’t heard