He glimpsed sudden and unexpected emotion in her eyes.
“Yes, I know, but sometimes that doesn’t help,” she responded finally. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a job to do.”
He reached out and captured her elbow. “The party’s winding down.”
She glanced down at his hand on her elbow, then back up at him. “Take your hand off me.”
He ignored her. “We both know you’re as much a guest here as anything, and at this point in the evening, your job is basically done. You can spare a few minutes.”
She looked exasperated. “You don’t quit, do you?”
His lips quirked. “Someday, you may come to appreciate that as one of my finer qualities.”
“I doubt it. Though considering how few fine qualities you possess, on second thought, maybe the idea isn’t so far-fetched.”
“Are you going to stand there throwing verbal poisoned darts at me, or can we step aside and talk for a few minutes?”
She lifted her brows. “I’m surprised it’s taken you this long to catch up with me.”
“You’re a difficult woman to get hold of.”
He’d purposely shown up late to the party, because he was here for one purpose only.
“Fine,” she responded. “Follow me.”
Following her entailed winding their way past assorted guests. Some of them attempted to get Eva’s attention or his, but Eva was determined not to be detained for more than a few moments, and he, likewise, was set on not having their progress halted.
Eva stopped when they made it inside to the kitchen. She removed the tray from around her neck as various employees hustled past them, bearing food in and out of the kitchen.
Griffin counted gangsters, chorus girls, office girls and, yes, cigar girls.
Eva folded her arms. “Shoot.”
He glanced around. “I was thinking of some place more private.”
“Too bad. This is all I have time for.”
On closer inspection, he noticed her face looked strained. As if she hadn’t been sleeping well.
He silently cursed Carter Newell—and for good measure, damned his own role in bringing Newell’s transgressions to Eva’s attention.
His lips tightened. “I created this problem.”
Eva frowned. “What problem?”
“Your broken engagement.”
She spread her hands. “Look, Griffin, I know what I said last week, but I’m an adult. Now that the initial shock has passed, I know enough not to blame the messenger—”
“I’m not talking about Carter,” he interrupted.
“Well, good—but what are you talking about then?”
“I’m talking about throwing a wrench in your plans to beat the biological clock.”
She tilted her head. “Yes, well…that was an unintended consequence, wasn’t it?”
“What are you going to do?” he asked bluntly. The issue had been bothering him since last week. A lot.
She sighed, looking weary and vulnerable. “I don’t know yet.”
“Have dinner with me tomorrow night,” he offered without preamble.
Her eyes widened a fraction, pools of golden-amber. “I can’t.”
“Why not? Do you have to work?”
“No…tonight is the only time I have to work this weekend.”
“Then have dinner with me.”
“Why?” she asked, suspicion darkening her tone. “So you can ambush me with more disturbing news?”
“Unfair. You know better.”
“Then why?”
He shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Maybe I’m interested in stepping up to the plate.”
Her eyes widened for real this time. “What?”
“You want a baby, and I’m the guy who created your present problem,” he said evenly.
A half laugh escaped her, her expression disbelieving.
“Don’t you think your boss would frown on your knocking up his daughter?” she asked tartly.
He felt a smile tug at his lips. “In the first place, your father is really no longer my employer. In the second, I’m offering to do this right. Marriage.”
She looked stunned, but she recovered quickly. “Isn’t it a bit much to be volunteering to fix things this way?”
“Why don’t you let me worry about that part?”
Her lips parted. “There’s no spark between us.”
“I disagree.”
The words hung in the air between them, and he could tell she was remembering the kiss they’d shared at her apartment, just as he hadn’t been able to forget it, either.
She laughed again, but it came out a trifle forced. Then she moved to step by him. “Griffin, be serious.”
“I am,” he said, blocking her with his arm when she was very close.
She looked up at him mutely.
“Why don’t we kiss and put it to the test?”
A flash of alarm crossed her face.
“I don’t think—”
“That’s right, don’t think,” he parried.
And before she could say anything more, he swept her into his arms.
Six
Any hope she’d had that she could chalk up last week’s embrace as an aberration was vaporized by the heat of their kiss.
It sizzled along her nerve endings, danced along the surface of her skin and pooled as throbbing need between her legs.
Griffin cupped the back of her head, slanted his mouth and deepened the kiss, giving her his tongue.
Rock-hard planes pressed against her, and his mouth tasted of wine and man.
It was like being consumed, Eva thought dimly.
