Rush

self-consciously. “I guess I wasted a perfectly
     good dress on the occasion.”
    His gaze slid lazily over her, making her feel as though he stripped her with no effort.
     “It’s a nice dress.”
    “I should probably go then. Not much point in my being here if Jace isn’t.”
    “You can stay with me,” he said bluntly.
    Her eyes widened. Gabe had never really gone out of his way to spend any time with
     her. In fact, it seemed like he tried to avoid her. It was enough to give her a complex.
     Oh, he was nice to her. He sent her gifts on special occasions. Checked in on her
     to make sure she had what she needed—not that Jace would have ever neglected to do
     the same. But he’d certainly never made it a point to spend more than a few moments
     in her presence.
    “Would you like to dance?” he asked.
    She stared at him in bewilderment, wondering where the real Gabe Hamilton was hiding.
     Gabe didn’t dance. Oh, he
could
dance, it was just that he rarely did.
    The dance floor was filled with other couples, some older, some Gabe’s age. She didn’t
     see a single person her own age, but then most of the attendees were of that uberwealthy,
     ultrabeautiful class that most twenty-four-year-olds hadn’t yet entered.
    “Uh, sure,” she said. Why not? She was here. She’d spent two hours getting ready.
     Why let a perfectly good dress and awesome shoes go to waste?
    He put his hand to her back, and it was like being branded. She barely suppressed
     a shiver as he guided her toward the area reserved for dancing. Dancing with him was
     a bad idea in so many ways. How was she supposed to get over her infatuation if she
     kept putting herself in close proximity to him? But there was no way she was passing
     up an opportunity to be in his arms. Even if it was only for a few minutes. A few
     glorious, amazing minutes.
    The sultry tones of a saxophone mixed with the tinkle of a piano and the low throb
     of a bass. The music invaded her veins as she slid into Gabe’s arms. It was heady
     and intoxicating, and it made her feel as though she were in the middle of a really
     vivid dream.
    His hand slid over her back, coming to rest on the portion bared by the low-cut dress.
     The material skimmed just above her buttocks, a seductive tease she’d had to talk
     herself into wearing. Now she was
really
glad she had.
    “It’s a good damn thing Jace
isn’t
here,” Gabe said.
    She cocked her head and stared up at him in question. “Why do you say that?”
    “Because he’d have a heart attack if he saw you in this dress. Not that there’s enough
     of it to call it a dress.”
    She smiled, her dimple deepening in her cheek. “Since Jace isn’t here, he can’t very
     well say anything, now can he?”
    “No, but I damn sure can,” he said bluntly.
    Her smile turned down into a frown. “I don’t need two big brothers, Gabe. I assure
     you one’s enough.”
    His gaze narrowed and his lips thinned. “I have no desire to be your goddamn big brother.”
    She gave him a look of hurt. If spending any time with her was such a chore, then
     why had he approached her? Why hadn’t he done what he’d been doing all this time and
     just ignore her?
    She stepped back, the warm buzz of being so close to him, of having his arms around
     her, his hands on her body, slowly dissipating. She shouldn’t have come. It had been
     stupid and lame. All she had to do was call Jace. Let him know her plans and he could
     have told her he wouldn’t be here. Then she wouldn’t be standing in the middle of
     the dance floor embarrassed by Gabe’s rejection.
    His eyes narrowed as he took in her reaction and then he sighed, abruptly turned and
     nearly dragged her from the dancefloor in the direction of the terrace. The doors were open, allowing the chilly night
     air inside, and he stepped out, pulling her protectively into the crook of his arm.
    And so she was back in his arms. Enveloped in his heat. She could smell him, and damn
     he smelled so good.
    He didn’t stop until he was well away from the door and into the shadows cast by the
     overhang. The lights of the city twinkled and dazzled the sky, and distant sounds
     of traffic disrupted the quiet.
    For a long moment he simply stared at her, and she wondered what it was she’d done
     that offended him so much.
    His scent taunted her. A touch of spice without being overpowering. The cologne he
     wore was a good match. It complemented his natural scent while giving that