Dance of Temptation. Janice Sims

      Nick’s expression was tender as he met her gaze. His emotions had run the gamut for the past few minutes. Upon seeing her enter the room and then be introduced as Eli’s date, he had been outraged. Anger had rushed through him so rapidly and with such force that it had rocked him to the core. Why was he still angry with her after eight months? Her presence here was unexpected, but that shouldn’t have elicited such a reaction from him. New York was a big city, but it wasn’t unusual to run into people you were trying to avoid. It happened.

      Earlier, while they stood talking to several other guests, he had been analyzing his emotions, and he’d come to the conclusion that he still felt anger toward Belana Whitaker because he’d never had the chance to have his say after she’d dumped him. She’d run out of the restaurant and climbed into a waiting taxi. He’d been unable to hail another one fast enough to follow.

      Repeated phone calls had gone unanswered, messages not returned. Short of stalking her, he had been helpless to communicate with her. And he was not the stalking type. Nor the begging type. She had made the decision to stop seeing him and he had not forced the issue. However, the fact that she had not even stuck around to hear his side of the story when she’d caught him having dinner with another woman stuck in his craw. He wanted his chance to explain.

      “Is this thing with Eli serious?” he asked before he really got down and dirty.

      Belana’s eyes met his. “It’s our first date. We haven’t even …”

      “Kissed,” Nick finished for her. “I remember you don’t kiss on the first date.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “At least not a real kiss. You just gave Eli a kiss on the cheek.”

      “Jealous?” Belana asked, smiling at him.

      “A little,” said Nick nonchalantly. “As I recall, I didn’t even get a handshake on our first date.” He gave her an inquisitive look. “So, you’re dating younger men these days? Eli’s barely legal.”

      “He told me he was twenty-five!”

      “He lied,” Nick stated bluntly. “What twenty-two-year-old wouldn’t lie to date you?”

      “Still,” Belana said, casting a glance over her shoulder in Eli’s direction. He was engrossed in conversation with his boys. “That makes me six years older than he is.”

      “Don’t be mad at him,” Nick said. He pulled her a little closer. “Now that I have your undivided attention, I’ve got something to say,” he whispered in a steely voice.

      Belana’s first reaction at hearing the menace in his tone was to push out of his embrace, but he held her firmly.

      “Don’t make a scene,” Nick said. “This won’t take long.” He tried not to be moved by the panicked look in Belana’s big brown eyes. “Calm down,” he said softly. “Nothing’s going to be hurt but your pride, although mine will get a much-needed boost.”

      Belana continued to stare up at him, speechless. But she exhaled and relaxed a little.

      Sensing that she was willing to cooperate, Nick continued. “Good. That night you caught me having dinner with another woman was the first time I’d seen her. And witnessing the way I ran after you convinced her that it should be the last time.”