Molly drained her champagne and was looking around for another waiter, so he quickly reached for her hand. “Come on, let’s dance.”
The band was playing a slow number, and he was grateful for the excuse to pull Molly back into his arms. She was several inches shorter than he was, even with her heels, yet somehow she managed to fit into his arms perfectly.
“Wow, you’re a great dancer,” Molly murmured, tipping her head back to look up at him.
It took every ounce of willpower not to lower his mouth to kiss her. He tried to remind himself that she deserved someone better than him, someone who knew how to laugh and love, but logic flew out the window when she gazed up at him like that.
As if she cared not about his money but about him. As a person, not a meal ticket.
He cleared his throat and tugged her close. “You’re a great dancer, too.”
When the song ended, she moved away and he reluctantly followed her over to the side of the room.
“Molly!” A dark-haired woman came rushing over. “Introduce us to your … friend.”
He sensed Molly stiffen beside him, but her smile didn’t waver. “Oh, sure. Sally and Mike, this is Dan Morris, one of the cardiothoracic surgeons at Angel’s. Dan, this is my sister, Sally Shriver, and her fiancé, Mike Drake.”
He made sure that none of his surprise that this woman was Sally’s sister showed on his face as he slid a casual arm around Molly’s waist. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Aren’t you going to ask why we don’t look anything like sisters?” Sally demanded with a slight slur to her voice. She staggered a bit and he sensed she’d already had several glasses of champagne.
“Hey, Sally, watch out there. Are you okay?” Mike stepped in to steady his fiancée. “Come on, honey, I think you need to eat something.”
“Good idea,” Dan murmured. “Molly, let’s dance again before we eat, okay?”
She acted as if she hadn’t heard him, and she didn’t say anything when Mike eased Sally toward the buffet table set up along the far side of the wall. She stared after them for several long moments, before blurting out, “The Shrivers adopted me when I was four years old.”
That explained the difference in their looks, but why did she seem so upset by that fact?
“Molly, look at me.” He waited until she turned to face him. “I don’t like the way your sister managed to upset you. Was she the reason you were crying earlier?”
When she nodded, he was glad to know she hadn’t been pining over her last boyfriend.
“I didn’t know you were adopted, but it’s not the end of the world, is it? Do you think something like that matters to me? I don’t understand why you look like you just lost your best friend. Do you think being adopted is something to be ashamed of?”
“No, I’m not ashamed,” she said slowly, her gaze thoughtful. “But it just occurred to me that maybe Sally is.”
“If so, that’s her problem, not yours.” Dan tried to keep the edge of anger out of his tone. “Besides, why would you listen to her when she’s half-drunk?”
“You’re right, she’s not herself. Although I guess I always hoped we’d be close friends.” Molly sighed and shook her head before she glanced up at him. “Never mind my sister. If you meant what you said a few minutes ago, I’d love to dance.”
As if he needed to be asked twice. “My pleasure.”
He escorted her onto the dance floor and pulled her into his arms. This time, instead of keeping a proper distance between them, she cuddled close, slipping her hand up and around his neck.
His pulse tripled as she pressed against him, her unique fragrance filling his head. For several long moments he could barely think, probably because all the blood in his body had headed south. But he wasn’t dreaming. Molly was really here with him. Because she wanted to be. Not because she was drunk, as he was pretty sure she’d only had the one glass of champagne. After seeing her sister staggering after her fiancé toward the buffet, she seemed to have lost her taste for bubbly.
He smoothed his hand down her back, thinking he would be content to spend the rest of the night like this. Dancing with Molly.
Holding her.
Kissing her.
When she lifted up her head to look at him, he wondered if she had the ability to read his thoughts because she rose up on tiptoe and pressed her sweet mouth against his.
CHAPTER NINE
MOLLY’S BREATH HITCHED in her throat as Dan angled his head to deepen the kiss. The crowd on the dance floor faded from her consciousness, making her feel as if there were only the two of them in the room. Nobody and nothing else mattered.
Dizzy with desire she pressed herself closer against him, wishing she could run her fingers over his muscles. Not that he didn’t look absolutely amazing in a tux, because he did. But she still longed to touch him.
Abruptly he let her go, lifting his head and taking gulps of air. She smiled and rested her cheek against his chest. It was nice to know she wasn’t the only one aroused beyond what was decent.
One song ran into the next until she had no idea how long they’d spent dancing. Or swaying, as, honestly, their feet didn’t move much.
“Molly,” Dan murmured, drawing her gaze. “As much as I don’t want to stop, you should probably know the band is taking a break.”
She stopped, and blushed when she realized they were the only ones still on the dance floor. “Oh.”
“Are you hungry?” he asked, drawing her over toward where the buffet was set up.
She was, but not for food. “Not really. But I should try to find Kara.” Guiltily, she remembered her friend.
“She’s over there, standing next to David Jacobson.” When she glanced over in the direction he indicated, she realized he was right. Kara caught her eye, raised her eyebrow and smiled, raising her champagne glass in a silent toast.
Molly knew the way she’d danced with Dan hadn’t gone unnoticed, and she wanted to grimace at the thought of how Angel’s grapevine would be rumbling with gossip by morning. But then again, she was single. And Dan was single. So what was the big deal?
“Do you want something else to drink?” he asked. She liked the way he kept an arm around her waist, leaning down to talk to her so that only she could hear him.
For the first time in too many months to count she felt beautiful. Special. Sexy. She glanced up at the most good-looking guy in the entire room. “Dan, would you mind taking me home?”
“Of course not,” he said, although she thought she saw a flash of disappointment in his eyes.
Obviously she hadn’t made her meaning clear. She wanted him to take her home, but she didn’t want him to leave.
She hoped he’d stay.
As they made their way toward the doorway, they were stopped along the way. “Dan, how are you?”
“Great, Marcus. Just great.”
“And who’s this pretty little thing?” Marcus asked, gazing at Molly with interest.
She couldn’t help smiling when Dan’s arm tightened around her waist. “This is Molly Shriver. Molly, Marcus is one of my colleagues.”
“Nice to meet you,” she said, dutifully shaking his hand.
“Excuse us, Marcus, but we need to leave. I’ll check in with you next week, okay?” Dan drew her away, but before they cleared the ballroom they were