“Jenna,” says a man with striking features and hair dark as midnight.
“Kenneth,” she says with a squeal and practically leaps into his arms.
They only have eyes for each other for a moment and I kick myself for not asking more about him because I’ve only been caught up in my own life.
“Kenneth, this is my best friend, Cate McKnight. Cate this is Kenneth Belfour.”
He takes my hand and kisses it. “Cate, I’ve heard so much about you.”
I catch his accent and smile. I nod because I don’t want to lie and repeat what he said. Before I have a chance to say anything, a stern looking woman in a server’s attire appears. She puts her finger to her lips.
Kenneth appears amused, but cordially nods, and places a finger against his lips in acknowledgement. I turn to Jenna with wide eyes when I finally get why it’s so eerily quiet despite the music. No one is talking. Jenna shrugs. I shake my head to let her know we will talk about it later. How did she expect me to meet anyone if we aren’t allowed to talk?
A man walks up next to Kenneth and points at me. Kenneth smiles and gives the thumbs up. The guy takes my hand and kisses it. Seems to be the thing to do. I find myself dipping in a curtsey. He gestures to the dance floor and I agree because Jenna and Kenneth have conveniently disappeared.
At first the music is classical and we dance like we are at court in front of a king. I almost wish I’d known what kind of dance would have been required so I could have taken lessons. However, as the night wears on, the music changes into something a bit more contemporary. My partner is relentless and I begin to tire of being on my feet. Thank goodness, my stomach growls are absorbed by the beat that continues to pick up with more heady sounds. Jenna’s salad choice for my lunch has fled the building and I’m starving.
I’m about to request a break when another man appears. His salty but more peppery hair is distinctive. That and Ted’s mouth are a dead giveaway as to who he is. He nods at my partner and the guy nods back before stepping away. I’m not given the chance to agree or disagree to the hand off before Ted’s sweeps me away. He seems to favor the formal way of dancing as he sweeps me across the floor in contradiction to the music. I wonder how I don’t stumble or step on his toes as he leads me through complicated steps. When the song ends, I shake my head.
Either I’m dizzy from him or lack of food and water. I gesture with my hand like tipping a glass to my lips as I glance above at the large chandeliers that dot across the room.
He nods, takes my hand, and leads me to a table with drinks and finger foods. A line of waiters appears in front of him with several trays of drinks and hors d'oeuvres. They take his attention off me for a second. As hungry as I am, I cram a cracker with some sort of substance on top into my mouth like an errant child.
When he turns back amused, I know I’m caught. I cover my mouth and chew quickly. He hands me a flute of champagne and I immediately drain it to clear my throat. We laugh before being hushed by the noise police. They seem to be everywhere. After a warning from a librarian looking woman, he winks at me conspiratorially after she wanders off to scold other party goers. He picks up a different cracker type thing that is topped with caviar. I allow him to place the bite size portion in my mouth. I chew while he waits for my reaction. For a second my eyes roll back as I want to moan at how good it is, but I know better. The noise police aren’t far away. He reaches out toward me with his thumb poised to wipe something away from my face. Only an arm tangles from behind me and grabs me around my waist. I’m scooted to the dance floor leaving Ted looking on wide eyed. I wipe at my mouth fearing I won’t have another chance.
The music changes from contemporary to a timeless melody. I recognize the beat of a tango immediately. Although I’ve never danced one, I’m led expertly in the movements as I catch sight of my dance partner. I’m so surprised my mouth must hang open the entire time. He dictates every move I make and we must look amazing, because I can see people nearby watching. His mask doesn’t hide that lush dirty blonde hair and I’m lost in blue eyes that take me places I’m not sure I can recover from. He dips me just as the song ends with his mouth hovering over my neck for long seconds until he places a gentle kiss on my throat. Clapping ensues and he rights me on my feet. I’m left to watch as he disappears into the crowd, leaving me standing alone. However, as I search for him, I spot two guys that seem familiar from that drunken night out on the sidewalk with Mandy over a week ago. I’m pretty sure they’re his friends. They stare at me like they know the depths of my sins.
Embarrassed, I turn away and head toward the food table where I snatch a glass of wine. I guzzle it and grab another. I open my clutch in search of my phone. We may not be allowed to talk, but no one said we can’t text.
Me: 911
Jenna: What’s the trouble?
Me: He’s here.
Jenna: Who’s here?
I don’t get to answer before Ted appears. I slip the phone back in my clutch as he takes a third drink from my hand and offers me what looks like bruschetta. Silently, he tells me to eat something before I drink too much. He’s taking care of me. And maybe that’s what I need for the night.
Thankfully, Ted’s attention is silently taken away from me as a woman walks up and steps into his personal space. I pick up another glass of wine and drain it before slipping into the crowd of people. I have no business with Ted. My head is miles away from making the right decisions tonight.
On the dance floor, I start to lose myself to the warm buzz that percolates in my brain from a couple of glasses of wine. I move without care to the Latin beat in the middle of a crowd, trying to forget what it felt like to be in Andy’s arms. He came and left and I try to find peace in the music. If he wanted me, he would be there.
The next song begins with an erotic trumpet solo that’s sad yet sexy all the same. When the drums set in, the beat begins to pick up and my hips move on their own accord. I see several guys watching me, including Kenneth’s friend and it only spurs me on. I raise my hands in abandon as I shimmy and slowly bend at the knees swaying my ass in a suggestive way that makes one guy bite his lip. In the back of my mind I hope that Andy sees me and wishes he hadn’t walked away earlier. I continue to play with fire as I give good eye contact with a few of the men. Jenna is right. One of them is really cute. Maybe I should give someone else a try.
A man’s possessive hands land on my waist. Even though he is behind me, I already know who they belong to. I have no idea how we ended up in the same place at the same time. Maybe fate. But I don’t allow myself to think anymore. Thinking so far hasn’t won me any prizes.
The melody carries me away to a tropical place where everything happens under a forgiving moon. His lips land on my neck, and I combust in raging heat. I rub against him, hoping he feels the fire he stokes within me. His hands move over my abdomen to press me further back into him. Then his magic fingers glide up and he’s seconds away from cupping my breast. I don’t care that we are dangerously close to appearing as though we are making love in front of everyone there. I want him in a bad way.
We continue our private yet public dance and capture the attention of the crowd. Lost in the beat, several couples around us have taken their dances to another place that isn’t a ballroom. We are no longer the pioneers in changing the mood of the party to something much more seductive. As the sultry beat drones on, I long for four walls and a bed. I miss the fire of passion that this man can create in me.