A Savannah Christmas Wish. Nan Dixon

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СКАЧАТЬ and the temperature in the ballroom had jumped ten degrees. She was a distraction he didn’t need. Ever.

      He stopped at the bar. Joints popped as he twisted his neck. “Jameson, please.”

      Gray, Abby’s fiancé, joined him. “I got through the Carleton House bid. Looks great.”

      “Good.” He and Pop had gone through it one more time before sending it off. “The carriage-house work is picking up.”

      “I walked through the place before the girls corralled me into setting up for the wedding.” Gray tipped his tumbler at Daniel. “I can’t wait for the walls to go up.”

      “Next week.”

      The three sisters rushed over, laughing. Their reddish-gold hair lit the room better than the chandeliers.

      “No talking business.” Abby tugged Gray toward the dance floor. “Bess, grab Daniel and make him dance.”

      Daniel shook his head. Dancing with Bess would be like grabbing hold of a live wire. Stupid.

      “Go on.” Dolley gave him a push. “You haven’t danced. There aren’t many eligible guys around.”

      “You can’t keep up with me.” Bess wiggled her hips. “You’re too old.”

      “Old?” He knocked back the rest of his whiskey and shook his head as the liquor burned a path to his stomach. He caught her hand. “Let’s see your moves, kid.”

      Bess shimmied to the music as they joined other couples on the dance floor. She was willowy and gorgeous. And when she moved, her dress tightened against her breasts. Breasts that reminded him of one insane night.

      The music shifted to a jazzy slow wail. He wasn’t about to hold Bess in his arms. He turned to leave the floor.

      “Come on.” She caught his hand. Her hazel eyes sparkled with gold in the ballroom’s dim light. “You boasted you could be around me for an entire evening.”

      He should run. Instead he stepped close and her hands slid around his neck. Like a jigsaw puzzle, her curves fit his angles.

      He sucked in the heady scents of lemon, flowers and earth. This was a mistake, but he couldn’t pull away.

      They were too close for a friendly dance. Close enough for him to feel her nipples, hard and firm under her dress. His leg slipped between hers.

      She looked at him through half-closed eyes. “I hate you, you know.”

      He exhaled. “I know.”

      He didn’t want her to hate him. They’d just—made a mess of things ten years ago. Hell, he’d been in college. She’d only been seventeen.

      The memory had his arousal easing off.

      Ten years ago, he’d been grieving. Bess had caught him at Dora’s and invited him to a party, and they’d both gotten drunk.

      After their disastrous night, he’d limited himself to two drinks in an evening.

      The music ended and he cupped an arm under her elbow and led her off the floor.

      “Dancing with me didn’t kill you, did it?” she teased.

      Almost. “No.”

      She reached for another full flute.

      “Maybe you should slow down,” he suggested.

      Her eyes shot green fire at him and she drained half the glass. “It’s my mother’s wedding.”

      “Bess.”

      She waved wildly and smacked his shoulder. “There’s Nathan.”

      “He’s been here all night.” Daniel had kept his distance from his twin. Life was easier with Nathan in Atlanta.

      “Hey, baby brother.” Nathan slung his arm over Bess’s shoulder.

      Bess laughed. “You’re twins.”

      “But I—” Nathan sketched a drunken bow “—am five minutes older. And a better dancer.”

      Nathan shoved his drink at Daniel and pulled Bess onto the dance floor.

      Bess and Nathan bumped, wiggled and twirled. Daniel hated watching them together.

      He sipped the whiskey Nathan had handed him. Maybe drinking would make the night end.

      * * *

      BESS WAS PRETTY close to drunk. Yup. Her lips were tingly and she couldn’t stop smiling. Maybe Daniel was right. Maybe she should stop. She carefully set the champagne flute down. For once, she didn’t have to clean the ballroom. She spun, her hands in the air.

      “Whoa there, little girl.” Samuel Forester caught her arm. “You’re making me dizzy.”

      “My mamma got married.”

      “I know.” Samuel chuckled. “I saw them.”

      She let him lead her near the door.

      “Daniel,” Samuel called.

      Bess pouted. After dancing, Daniel had ignored her. Whenever Nathan danced with her, Daniel glared at them. She swore he’d looked hurt when she’d told him she hated him.

      Naw. That would imply he had a heart.

      “What do you need, Pop?” Daniel said.

      “Are you heading back to your apartment?” Samuel said.

      Daniel didn’t live in an apartment. His dad knew that. Bess stared at Daniel’s deep blue-and-purple tie. She liked the colors. And it looked perfect with his gray suit.

      “Bess?” Daniel said loudly. “Are you staying here?”

      “We’re all full up. Wedding guests are tucked in every room.”

      The Forester men whispered.

      “Can you drive?” Samuel asked her.

      “Oh, no. I’m walking home.” She shook her head. “Nope, nope. Not safe to drive.”

      “We know,” Daniel said. “And no, I’m not driving, either. I’ll walk her back and catch a cab home.”

      Samuel gave her a hug. “Take aspirin before you head to bed tonight.”

      As Samuel walked away, she saluted. “Aye, aye, sir.”

      “Where are your shoes?” Daniel asked.

      She looked at her feet and wiggled her glittery toes. “I don’t know.”

      Daniel propped her against the wall. Other than the servers and cleaners, they were the last two people СКАЧАТЬ