So much for keeping him at arm’s length! I’m drowning. I need a life preserver to stay afloat.
Being this close to Jack was disturbing. He made her feel things she had never felt before. He awakened her body and her senses. She felt truly alive and reckless whenever she was with him.
His cologne was as intoxicating as the man himself. Her hand rested easily against the small of his back. They moved beautifully together to the sound of the music.
Jack was as affected as she was. Stephanie felt too damn good in his arms. His arm tightened around her waist and he held her close. He was in heaven and hell as her firm breasts pressed slightly against his chest. He had mentally undressed her with his eyes a thousand times and right now was no different. He wanted to take her out of the party and back to his room.
“Jack,” whispered Stephanie, “the music stopped.” His fiery eyes held hers. Stephanie was as dazed as he was. His eyes were molten lava, searing her flesh.
Bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed it. He felt her tremble beneath his mouth and smiled. Jack regrettably released her and took a step back.
“Thank you for the dance. It was everything I knew it would be. Don’t waste all that fire and passion on a man like Stanley. He can’t appreciate it. I can.” He bowed slightly and then walked away.
A short time later, Stanley took the microphone and walked to the middle of the room. Stephanie felt a cold sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was praying he was not about to do what she knew he was about to do.
Please don’t say it. God, please don’t let him ask me to marry him in front of all these people. No, Stanley. Don’t do it.
He held out his hand to her and on wooden legs, she moved forward to take his hand. Her heart almost stopped when he dropped down to one knee and took a small box out of his suit coat. He opened the box and took out the ring. She stared in appreciation at the size of the ring.
“Stephanie Mason, will you marry me?”
Stephanie was immobilized with fear. No! She didn’t really want to say yes, but she didn’t want to embarrass him either. She heard someone choking and if she didn’t know any better, she would have sworn it was Jack. Stephanie wanted the room to open up and swallow her. This was not what she wanted.
Before Jack Kaufman walked into her life, she could have been content with Stanley. Now the thought of spending the rest of her life with a man she didn’t want to sleep with was not even an option.
“Stephanie, will you marry me,” he nervously repeated. Stanley and the crowd waited expectantly for her answer.
Stephanie couldn’t bring herself to embarrass him by saying no in front of everyone. “Yes,” she said so softly only he heard her. Smiling brightly, he took the ring and placed it on her finger. She forced a smile when he came to his feet and kissed her in front of their audience.
The kiss left her unsatisfied and unfulfilled. She couldn’t help comparing it to the passionate kiss she had shared with Jack. There was no spark between her and Stanley. The kiss was wet and unfulfilling.
As everyone moved in to congratulate them, Stephanie felt as if she were suffocating. She needed air. The ring felt as if it weighed ten pounds. She had to get out of there, and fast.
Her eyes peered around the room until they found Jack. His eyes were smirking as he raised his drink in salute. He made his way through the crowd.
She exited the side door for air. Breathing in deeply helped to calm her nerves. She felt Jack’s presence behind her. “Did you come to congratulate me?”
“No, I came to ask you, what the hell were you thinking?” he snapped. He caught her elbow and turned her around to face him. “Why did you accept his proposal? And please don’t insult my intelligence by telling me you love him. Clearly you don’t. Hell, you didn’t even look like you were enjoying him kissing you. The kiss we shared was real. That was a performance and a lousy one at that.”
“I don’t have to explain anything to you,” she bristled, shaking off his hand. “I couldn’t embarrass him in front of all those people. They are his friends.”
“It sure as hell beats the alternative. Can you see yourself married to that cardboard cutout of a man? He’d bore you to death inside a week, maybe less.” He held up her hand. “This is some rock. It must have set him back a pretty penny.” He examined the ring closer. “The stone is a good quality. He shouldn’t have any trouble returning it when you give it back to him.”
“And who says I’m going to give it back? It’s a beautiful ring.” She jerked her hand from his.
“Common sense says you’re giving it back if you have any. He is clearly not the man for you.”
“And you are?” she asked incredulously.
“I didn’t say that,” he hedged.
“I didn’t think so. At least I know he’ll be around tomorrow and not off somewhere pillaging the countryside and ravishing maidens.”
“My pillaging days are over and as for ravishing maidens, you are the only woman I want to ravish.” His dark eyes raked over her, stripping her naked in a glance and making her blush. “As for that wimp, he’ll be around because when he looks at you he sees dollar signs. You could be standing in front of him naked and he would still be trying to balance your bank account.”
“Show me a man in this room who doesn’t see money when he looks at me and I’ll marry him. Men generally marry for two reasons, obligation or money. Since I’m not pregnant, I guess that leaves money.”
“You forgot sex.”
She flushed under his heated gaze.
“That’s the third reason men marry. If I married you, it would definitely be for sex.”
“I should slap your face for that.”
“Try it and I will kiss you until you swoon. That should give everyone here something to talk about. Straitlaced balls-to-the-wall Stephanie Mason accepted dull, fortune-hunting Stanley’s marriage proposal less than ten minutes ago and already she’s bored. She’s out on the patio making out with the hired help. Let’s see how good you are at faking happiness, Stef. Pretend for the rest of the night you are on top of the world. Pretend Stanley is everything you have always wanted in a man. Even you aren’t that good an actress.”
“Haven’t you heard, Jack? Women can fake anything,” she fired back, pivoting to leave.
His hand on her arm stopped her from leaving. His touch sent a jolt through her. “Is that what you do in his bed? Is that how you get through the night?”
Her face turned bright red. “Whether or not I’m in his bed is none of your business,” she hissed.
“I guess that answers that question. If you were with the right man, you wouldn’t have to fake it.”
“I hope you are not considering yourself Mr. Right,” she shot back. Glaring at him, she jerked her arm away and left him staring after her.
You never know, Stef. We are not finished by a long shot. Stanley Jordan is a nonissue. He’s an obstacle easily removed. As for me being Mr. Right, I can guarantee you that’s something I’ve never been called.
Jack was walking to his car when he heard someone calling his name. He turned around in surprise to see Stanley heading his way. He slowed his pace, but didn’t stop.
He knew this confrontation was bound to take place sooner or later. Stanley would have to be blind not to miss the sparks flying between him and Stephanie.
“Hold up a minute, Kaufman. I think we need to talk.” Stanley had to almost run to keep up with Jack’s long, sure