a start, but all traces of her distress were masked, by her public face. She stared into the searching brown eyes. Her stomach fluttered. “Mr. Hamilton.”
“Justin,” he corrected.
She cleared her throat and looked down at her half empty glass. “No, thank you…Justin. I’m not really a drinker.”
“I know,” he grinned. “You’ve been nursing that for hours.”
Vaughn felt a rush of embarrassment sweep through her, but it was quickly replaced with a sense of warning. “You’re very observant,” she replied pointedly.
Justin stepped closer and leaned his hip against the rail. The soft, sensual scent of her floated to him, momentarily clouding his thoughts. His eyes settled on her upturned face and he realized that he’d never before seen a woman with such flawless ebony skin. It seemed to radiate with a vitality that was magnified by sculpted cheekbones and large, luminous brown eyes that must surely peer into one’s soul. And that mouth! What would those luscious lips feel like, pressed against his?
“Is something wrong?” she asked, beginning to feel as if she were being disrobed.
“That was my next question to you,” he said, recovering smoothly.
Vaughn tilted her head in question. “I beg your pardon?”
Justin angled his chin in the direction of Paul and his date. “Mr. Lawrence seemed to have rubbed you the wrong way,” he stated casually.
Vaughn turned away to look out onto the expansive lawn below. “Have you spent your entire evening watching me?” she asked, both flattered and defensive.
“Pretty much,” Justin said, a hint of amusement rippling through his deep voice.
Vaughn turned to look at him and saw the beginnings of a smile tug at the corners of his lips.
“It seems I’m learning an awful lot about you very quickly…Justin. You’re observant and blunt. Is there anything else I should know?”
“There’s plenty.” He stepped a bit closer and her pulse raced. “Unfortunately, it would take a lot longer than one night to reveal it all.”
Her heart beat so fast she was afraid she’d stop breathing altogether. Why did he have to look at her like that—as though he were truly interested in her. She had yet to meet a man who didn’t want her because of her power and political influence. Paul was a perfect example of that. She was sure that this Justin Montgomery was no different. Her defenses kicked in. She was sure he had an agenda, and she wasn’t going to be on his itinerary of things to do.
Vaughn took a deep, steadying breath and exhaled. “Well, Justin, that’s a great line. However, I’m not interested.”
“Hmmm, very defensive,” he said, stifling a chuckle.
Her dark eyes flashed until she caught the gleam of amusement in his. She suddenly felt totally ridiculous for acting like a shrew.
“I’m sorry,” she said finally. She looked around, her dark eyes sweeping across the throng of guests who had come to contribute to her nomination campaign. “I don’t really like fundraisers,” she admitted on a long sigh.
“Who would?” he agreed gently. “Who would like pretending to adore a bunch of stuffed shirts.”
She smiled. “I’m glad you understand,” she replied softly, surprising herself at her candor. He was a perfect stranger.
Justin turned and braced his hip against the balcony railing. Vaughn stood with her back to it. Inches separated them.
“Why are you involved, then,” he asked, “in politics? If you don’t like…all this?”
Vaughn sighed wistfully. “Maybe one day I’ll tell you all about it.” She took a sip of the warm wine.
Why did I say that? she wondered.
Justin turned sideways and looked down at her. “I hope that’s a platform promise, Ms. Hamilton, because I intend to hold you to it.”
She gazed up at him and saw the warm sincerity in his eyes and let the caress of his voice wash over her.
She swallowed hard, and their eyes held for what seemed an eternity. She didn’t realize that he’d taken the glass from her hand, and she couldn’t find her voice to either accept or decline when he swept her onto the dance floor.
The band was playing a slow, bluesy Nancy Wilson song, and Vaughn felt her tense body slowly begin to relax in the comforting embrace of Justin’s arms. Their bodies seemed to fit together like puzzle pieces, Vaughn realized with alarm.
They danced in silence through three numbers before Justin spoke. “Actually,” he said, speaking into the silky texture of her upswept hair, “you’d make an excellent politician.”
Vaughn arched her neck to look quizzically up at him. Her dimples flashed for the first time in hours. “Why is that?”
“You have a knack for evading direct questions.”
“I am a politician,” Vaughn snapped. “What do you mean?” she said more softly.
“You very skillfully avoided answering me about Paul Lawrence. He seemed to have upset you earlier.” Then he smiled sheepishly. “I couldn’t help but notice.”
“Some things are better left unsaid,” she answered quietly.
The music ended and Vaughn stepped out of Justin’s arms. “I have a question for you,” she said. “Shoot.”
“Are you acquainted with Paul?”
“In a manner of speaking.”
“Now, you’re beginning to sound like a politician,” she countered with a smile.
“Touché. Paul and I have crossed paths on several occasions.”
“Personally or professionally?”
“Professionally.”
Vaughn’s brows rose in surprise. “He didn’t try to convict you of anything?” she asked drolly.
Justin laughed heartily. The deep sound rumbled through his chest. It made her feel warm and tingly inside. “No. We stood on opposite sides of the table.”
“You’re an attorney?”
“Don’t say it with such disdain,” he said, pretending offense. “Politicians and lawyers don’t make such strange bedfellows, you know.”
Her dimples winked at him. “I deserved that one.”
They fell in step next to each other and headed for the bar.
“So, who do you work for?” Vaughn asked.
“Scotch-and-soda, and a white wine for our hostess,” he said to the bartender. He turned his lazy gaze on Vaughn. “I don’t work for anyone,”
