shouldn’t look at me like that,” he murmured, handing her a glass.
“Why?” she teased, her eyes sparkling. “Does it embarrass you?”
“No. It makes me wish I could ignore everyone in this room and kiss you right this minute.” A slow, almost boyish grin spread across his features.
“That would certainly cause quite a commotion.”
“But not half the commotion it would cause if they knew what else I was thinking.”
“Oh?” She hid a smile by taking another sip of wine.
“Are we back to that word again?”
“Just what do you have in mind?”
He dipped his head so that he appeared to be whispering something in her ear, although actually his lips brushed her face. “I’ll show you later.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
They stood together, listening to the music and the laughter. Ellen found it curious that he’d introduced her to so few people and then only to those who’d approached him. But she dismissed her qualms as petty and, worse, paranoid. After all, she told herself, she was here to be with Reed, not to make small talk with his friends.
He finished his drink and suggested another. While he returned to the bar for refills, Ellen wandered through the crowd, walking over to the windows for a glimpse of the magnificent view. But as she moved, she kept her gaze trained on Reed.
A group of men stopped him before he could reach the bar. His head was inclined toward them, and he seemed to be giving them his rapt attention. Yet periodically his eyes would flicker through the crowd, searching for her. When he located her by the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, he smiled as though he felt relieved. With an abruptness that bordered on rudeness, he excused himself from the group and strolled in her direction.
“I didn’t see where you’d gone.”
“I wasn’t about to leave you,” she told him. Turning, she faced the window, watching the lights of the ferry boats gliding across the dark green waters of Puget Sound.
His hands rested on her shoulders and Ellen leaned back against him, warmed by his nearness. “It’s lovely from up here.”
“Exquisite,” he agreed, his mouth close to her ear. “But I’m not talking about the view.” His hands slid lazily down her arms. “Dance with me,” he said, taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor.
Ellen walked obediently into his arms, loving the feel of being close to Reed. She pressed her cheek against the smooth fabric of his jacket as they swayed gently to the slow, dreamy music.
“I don’t normally do a lot of dancing,” he whispered.
Ellen wouldn’t have guessed that. He moved with confident grace, and she assumed he’d escorted Danielle around a dance floor more than once. At the thought of the other woman, Ellen grew uneasy, but she forced her tense body to relax. Reed had chosen to bring her, and not Danielle, to this party. That had to mean something—something exciting.
“Dancing was just an excuse to hold you.”
“You don’t need an excuse,” she whispered.
“In a room full of people, I do.”
“Shall we wish them away?” She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of his hard, lithe body against her own.
He maneuvered them into the darkest corner of the dance floor and immediately claimed her mouth in a kiss that sent her world spinning into orbit.
Mindless of where they were, Ellen arched upward, Reed responded by sliding his hands down her back, down to her hips, drawing her even closer.
He dragged his mouth across her cheek. “I’m sorry we came.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to waste time with all these people around. We’re hardly ever alone. I want you, Ellen.”
His honest, straightforward statement sent the fire roaring through her veins. “I know. I want you, too.” Her voice was unsteady. “But it’s a good thing we aren’t alone very often.” At the rate things were progressing between them, Ellen felt relieved that the boys were at the house. Otherwise—
“Hey, Reed.” A friendly voice boomed out a few feet away. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”
Reed stiffened and for a moment Ellen wondered if he was going to pretend he hadn’t heard. He looked at her through half-closed eyes, and she grinned up at him, mutely telling him she didn’t mind. Their private world couldn’t last forever. She knew that. They were at a party, an office party, and Reed was expected to mingle with his colleagues.
“Hello, Ralph.” Reed’s arm slid around Ellen’s waist, keeping her close.
“Hello there.” But Ralph wasn’t watching Reed. “Well, aren’t you going to introduce me?”
“Ellen Cunningham, Ralph Forester.”
Ralph extended his hand and held Ellen’s in both of his for a long moment. His eyes were frankly admiring.
“I don’t suppose you’d let me steal this beauty away for a dance, would you?” Although the question was directed at Reed, Ralph didn’t take his eyes from Ellen. “Leave it to you to be with the most beautiful woman here,” the other man teased. “You sure do attract them.”
Reed’s hand tightened around Ellen. “Ellen?” He left the choice to her.
“I don’t mind.” She glanced at Reed and noted that his expression was carefully blank. But she knew him too well to be fooled. She could see that his jaw was rigid with tension and that his eyes showed annoyance at the other man’s intrusion. Gradually he lowered his arm, releasing her.
Ralph stepped forward and claimed Ellen’s hand, leading her onto the dance floor.
She swallowed as she placed her left hand on his shoulder and her right hand in his. Wordlessly they moved to the soft music. But when Ralph tried to bring her closer, Ellen resisted.
“Have you known Reed long?” Ralph asked, his hand trailing sensuously up and down her back.
She tensed. “Several months now.” Despite her efforts to keep her voice even and controlled, she sounded slightly breathless.
“How’d you meet?”
“Through his brother.” The less said about their living arrangements, the better. Ellen could just guess what Ralph would say if he knew they were living in the same house. “Do you two work together?”
“For the last six years.”
They whirled around, and Ellen caught a glimpse of Reed standing against the opposite wall, studying them like a hawk zeroing in on its prey. Ralph apparently noticed him, as well.
“I don’t think Reed was all that
