Page 18 of Secret Admirer
The woman tilted her head as if rebuffed and then glanced at her.
Whoever Nadia was, she wasn’t Rebecca's friend, but she was absolutely stunning and sophisticated and probably smart. She seemed smart. “Who's this?”
He nodded, including both women in his introduction. “Nadia, this is Rebecca, Rebecca, Nadia.”
“Charmed.” Nadia offered to shake hands.
Rebecca shook her hand but she trembled, instantly wishing or hoping the other woman hadn’t noticed as she stifled her reaction.
In terms of beauty and smarts, Nadia clearly won all the contests.
Not that there was a contest.
Bart was here with her.
Nadia touched her bare throat and said cryptically, “I've been looking around for my necklace but can't find it.” Her brow arched.
Bart gave a slight shake of his head. "Good luck."
Rebecca’s face grew hot. Did Nadia want Bart? Rebecca watched as he bowed to the stunning woman. “We’ll see you later, Nadia.”
Maybe he wanted her too. Bart watched her leave and then turned toward Rebecca.
“Who is Nadia? She seemed interested.”
He held out the seat for her to join him. She accepted, determined not to ruin their night.
“I didn’t know she’d been invited.”
Something was going on there. Her lips pressed together and she glanced at Bart’s profile. Maybe the kiss between them hadn’t mattered as much to him, but she felt her body tighten as she said, “That doesn’t answer my question.”
He sipped his champagne and then put it back on the table. “I met Nadia before you. However, that alsoendedbefore I met you.”
Ended. Past tense. That could explain the tension. She nodded and refused to let whatever had happened before they'd met matter now. She rested her arm next to his on the table and said, “She’s super beautiful.”
He shrugged and stroked her bare skin. “She’s into fashion, but I don’t want to talk about her with you anymore.”
Agreed. Besides, the goosebumps on her arms were probably obvious. She scooted her chair back. “Fair enough. Will you dance?”
He stood and teased, “With you?”
She tapped on his shoulder and directed them toward the dance floor near them. “Yes. Of course. The band is lovely.”
“Not half as lovely as you are.” He wrapped his arms around her so they were thigh to thigh as he brought her around the floor.
Clearly he’d been trained to dance because she'd never followed so easily.
It was like she'd been transfixed into a dream sequence--except his muscles were real as he held her close and made her heart beat differently than normal. She clasped him tight as he twirled her around. “See. I knew you were a gentleman.”
He stilled in the dance as the song ended and shook his head. “I’m just a man who would like to get out of here for some fresh air for a few minutes.”
Alone?Yes.“What do you have in mind?”
He motioned for them to head toward the dock. “Just walk with me for now.”
“Lead the way.” She locked herself to him as they made their way through the crowd.
Once the group thinned near the ocean she walked beside him. Every step on the sand was magical--there was nowhere else she'd rather be. Bart was awesome and for tonight, and maybe forever, they had a shot at being happy. Falling in love had to be possible.
