well. I’ve watched some of your races.”
Drew lifted his brows. “Really? That’s cool.”
They danced for a few songs as more guests arrived. When Hunter opened the door and Alana appeared in the doorway, Drew’s focus shifted instantly. Alana arrived alone. He watched as she walked in and embraced Blake, Hunter and Chey before walking off with Cadence. He admired her silky-straight hair as it gracefully framed her face and flowed below her shoulders. He watched her hips sway under her electric-blue dress and allowed his eyes to roam over her legs concealed in black stockings to the sexy pair of high-heeled riding boots. He imagined how sweet she must have smelled, remembering what type of fragrances she preferred. Drew continued to watch as she and Cadence disappeared behind the wall separating the kitchen from the living room and wondered if she had noticed him. Suddenly, he wasn’t so interested in Stacey’s whereabouts in recent years. He didn’t want to be rude, so he continued dancing and chatting with Stacey, but Alana had stolen his focus.
Alana tried to act as if she hadn’t noticed Drew, but who could miss that smooth, caramel skin; those dreamy, hooded eyes; broad shoulders; and slim waist wrapped in mysterious black. She had taken all of that in and more on her walk from the front door to the kitchen, including the fact that he was dancing with a pretty woman.
At first, Alana wasn’t going to come, but Cadence kept calling to make sure she did. Besides, she had never been a homebody and was bored sitting at her place, alone. Her only sister, Adriana, lived in Chicago and her parents were busy socialites with plans of their own.
Alana grabbed the tray that Cadence had asked her to get and followed her through the crowd to the table with the food. Cadence made room for the additional trays and Alana put hers down. She turned and bumped right into Drew.
“Hey, Drew! Happy birthday!” she cheerfully yelled over the symphony of voices, laughter and music. Alana gave him a friendly hug as if his sexy aura had no effect on her. Drew pulled her in tight and released her slowly. She tried not to swoon from the masculine scent of his cologne or the feeling of his taut chest against hers. Alana cleared her throat and stepped back, adding space between them.
“Thank you.” He licked his lips and Alana wanted to touch them.
“Are you having a good time?” she asked.
“I’m having a great time now that you’re here.”
Alana twisted her lips. “You’re such a flirt.”
“I’m serious.” He stared directly into her eyes. “You know we always had fun.”
“That’s true.” Alana withdrew her hand from his, just realizing that he was holding on to it. “Well, enjoy yourself. I need to go back and finish helping Cadence.”
“We’ll talk later?”
Alana smiled and walked away.
After she had assisted Cadence refreshing the food and beverages, she got a drink and parked herself in a chair on the opposite side of the room from where Drew stood entertaining guests. It was obvious that he was being his usual self as those he was talking to were holding their stomachs, laughing. He always had wild tales for the guys. The song changed and the woman Drew had been dancing with when Alana first arrived ran over to him and dragged Drew to the dance floor. For the next three and a half minutes, she gyrated against him, flipped her hair and bent over, giving him a wide-ranging view of her backside. A crowd formed around them, cheering them on. Drew looked like he enjoyed every minute of it.
The song changed again. This time it was one of Alana’s favorites. She stood and started dancing, singing along with the artist. Lost in her own musical euphoria, Alana swayed to the beat with her eyes closed. She felt a pair of hands on her waist and opened her eyes to find Drew dancing in front of her.
Drew leaned close to her ear. “Can I have this dance?” His low, husky tone sent shivers down her back.
Still dancing, Alana shrugged. Drew took her by the hand and led her to the center of the living room where Blake’s coffee table usually sat. Together they danced song after song until both were glistening with sweat. His sexy moves taunted her, reminding her of the few intimate encounters they shared in the past. He was as skilled at dancing as he was at making love. The room felt warmer and that wasn’t just because she was burning calories. Drew’s presence caused enough heat to spark global warming.
“I really need a break,” Alana panted, but when she tried to leave, Drew pulled her close to him and kept dancing. Laughing, she gave in and danced until the chemistry between them sizzled and threatened to catch fire, consuming the two of them in front of the entire room.
Alana finally peeled herself away from his magnetism, leaving him on the dance floor. She had to. Being so close to him was getting the best of her. In the short amount of time it took her to grab a bottle of water and chug half of it down, the woman whom Drew had been dancing with earlier had sidled back up to him. A sly grin played on her lips, but little did she know that Alana was grateful to be able to get away.
It was well into the night before the party began to thin out. Alana eventually found out the name of Drew’s old friend, who remained by his side almost until the end. Alana, Blake, Cadence, Chey, Hunter, Drew, Stacey and a few others sat comfortably in the living room laughing and joking around. The ladies had removed their shoes and sat on the couch and the floor. Stacey sat so close to Drew that a toothpick wouldn’t have fit between them. She stretched her lean frame over Drew during every exaggerated laugh, finding everything that he said funnier than anyone else in the room had. It was almost sickening. Alana wondered if anyone else had noticed, but she wouldn’t dare make mention of it. Despite Stacey conspicuously throwing herself all over Drew, Alana continued to catch the penetrating stares he cast her way—so intense that she stopped looking in his direction all together.
Stacey could have Drew for all Alana cared. Entertaining him would challenge all of Alana’s new rules and could only lead to the despair that she wanted to protect herself from. Still, she felt a twinge of jealousy.
Alana stood. “Cay, let me help you clean up before I head home.”
“Oh yes. Thanks!” Cadence stood.
It wasn’t Alana’s intention, but that broke up the party. Everyone else got up to help clean. Blake turned up the music as they carried ravaged food trays and empty liquor bottles to the kitchen. Drew stood and Stacey followed his lead.
“Sit down, Drew. It’s your birthday. You don’t have to clean up.”
“That’s very nice of you, Cadence, but I wouldn’t feel right sitting here watching everyone else work.”
“I’ll help too,” Stacey said, and finally pitched in.
Drew grabbed a garbage bag and Stacey started filling it with cups and plates that people had left behind. Blake took down the decorations and Hunter and Chey folded up the tables.
Within a short time, the men were moving the furniture back into place, making Blake’s condo look like his home again.
Alana headed to the coat closet. Drew was on her heels and Stacey was on his. Alana figured that would allow her a clean break. She needed to put as much distance between her and Drew as possible.
“Bye,
