Page 22 of With a Broken Wing
She snapped her head towards me. “What makes you think I’m nervous?”
“Well, for starters, your legs are quivering.” I ran my fingers along the side of her thigh, smirking when her breaths quickened. “You’re breathing is heavy,” I continued, running my hand from her thigh and up her arm, pausing with my hand on her chest. “I can feel your heart racing, and you’ve been gnawing at your lip since we left the hotel.”
When I used my thumb to pull her bottom lip from between her teeth, she sat there slack-jawed, watching me. Her lip was plump and wet, and I bounced my gaze from her mouth to her wanton eyes. She swallowed, drawing my attention to her neck.
“What’s wrong, sunshine?” I asked her, moving my lips to her ear before dropping my voice to a whisper. “I thought you weren’t nervous.”
“I’m not,” she whimpered before clearing her throat and repeating herself. “I’m not nervous.”
I chuckled, placing my hand on my own leg and leaning back from her. She narrowed her eyes, staring at my hand as we pulled up in front of the hotel. It was a beautiful building with tall columns along the front. Smooth, off-white stone lined the sides, and Andy widened her eyes when we came to a stop.
“Okay, now I’m nervous.” She slid back farther into the seat, as if she hoped it would swallow her whole.
I reached out and pressed my fingers to her cheek, turning her to face me. “You shouldn’t be. You’re the damn sun, sweetheart. Now you go in there and show them that.” I liked to see her fidget when it was just us, but I wanted to see her own the room the way I knew she could.
Nodding, she straightened her spine and took a deep breath. She straightened the skirt on her dress, and with her hands no longer shaking, confidence rolled off her in waves. A smile tugged at my lips, and I climbed out of the backseat.
She was already opening the door and climbing out of the car when I reached her side, and a frustrated grunt rolled from my chest. “You should have let me get that,” I mumbled.
“I’m a strong, independent woman, Demetri. I can open my own doors.” She said it without stopping, walking past me with smooth, even steps.
Rolling my eyes and smirking, I took a couple of long strides and caught up to her. “I’m aware you are capable, but my statement stands.”
I rested my hand on her lower back when I fell into step next to her, and when we stepped through the doors and into the foyer of the hotel, I knew I was in trouble. I had gotten too close to the sun, and I had a feeling I was going to get burned.
The hum of voices and laughing echoed from the ballroom off to the side. As we walked through the open double doors and into the room, Andy seemed to fall into her element. Her full hips swayed as she walked, casually moving to the music with each step. Men and women around the room turned their gazes to her, watching her practically float around the room.
I saw him across the room before she did, if she even recognized him. Jacob Black. The man who had probably thought he was going to be lucky enough to take Andy home with him at my brother’s wedding when he should have really just considered himself lucky to be invited. If he hadn’t gone to college with me and weaseled his way into our network, William wouldn’t have sent him the pity invite. I didn’t think he’d have flown in from Atlanta, so my mood soured when he walked into the reception.
Andy waved when he caught her attention, and he made his way towards us. When he grabbed her hand and pressed his lips to the back of it, I cleared my throat. Jacob stepped back, giving me an appreciative glance—one of approval. The kind you’d see between a couple of guys at a gentlemen’s club when the main act was on the stage.
“Mr. Black, it’s lovely to see you again.” The purr in her voice let on that she was unaware of the way he perused her figure in the tight-fitting dress. Or she welcomed it.
Before he could respond with a smooth one-liner sure to elicit a giggle from the woman between us, I stepped forward. He would be expecting me to play nice this week, though, especially if I wanted his money.And I did.
“Jacob. Always good to see you, my friend.”
His grip was like a dare. “Demetri Carlisle. It looks like we’re letting just anyone into this thing these days, huh?” He slapped my shoulder, and I resisted a scowl when he directed his attention back to Andy. “Although, if I’m being honest, it might be better to see your colleague here. Beautiful as always…”
“Andy,” she said, picking up on the fact he couldn’t remember her name.
“Yes, of course. Might I get you both a drink?”
Without waiting for an answer, he directed us towards the bar in front of the windows. Andy was quick to order a red wine, quickly asking forwhatever was fanciestwhen Jacob said to put our drinks on his tab. I chuckled before ordering a single-malt whiskey.
“Is that Demetri Carlisle?” The woman’s voice came from beside the bar and stopped me in my tracks.
I turned towards the source. She walked towards me, her strawberry-blonde curls bouncing around her thin face. “Cheyenne.” She had worked for me a few years back, quitting after confessing her love for Scott and being turned down.
She’d run out of the office one day crying, and that was the last time I’d seen her. “I moved to Atlanta.”
Andy looked confused, her stare alternating between the tall woman across from her, me, and Jacob, who stood closer to her than I liked. “Um, I’m Andy Johannson.” She stuck her hand out. “Iloveyour shoes!”
Cheyenne’s face lit up in an instant, and she grabbed Andy’s hand with her own. “Thank youso much! Your dress is perfection.” The women looked at each other briefly before Cheyenne hooked her arm with Andy’s and they took off into the crowd.
I took a long gulp of the liquor. Confidence flowed off Andy while she walked. The same woman who had been shaking with nerves in the car was turning heads, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed.
“Your girl there is something.” I had forgotten Jacob was standing next to me, even though it was his company’s party.
