Nana Marie turned out to be one of the easier relatives to deal with, Jackson thought three hours later as he and Katie moved together during a slow dance. The McCormick family was large, loving and way too focused on their perception of Katie's flaws. If someone wasn't mentioning her weight--again--he or she was exclaiming over the fact that she had a date. As if that was a surprise.
He didn't get it. Granted, he was a guy and maybe not the most insightful male in the room, but what was the big deal? Katie was gorgeous. She had beautiful eyes, great skin, shiny blond hair and those were just the average parts. Right now, holding her as they moved together to the music, he could feel her br**sts nestling against his chest and rested his hand on the curve of her hip. There was nothing wrong with her shape. On the contrary, his body was telling him it was exactly right.
People were strange and families were the worst. At least he was here and could protect her.
A sweet, slightly floral fragrance drifted to him. The appealing scent made him think of dark bedrooms and tangled sheets. Without thinking, he guided her over to a large pillar at the edge of the dance floor. When they were out of view of everyone else, he bent down and kissed her.
Her mouth welcomed his with a soft pressure that made every part of him ache. Her lips parted and he moved his tongue against hers. She tasted of chocolate and wine and temptation. In a matter of seconds, he was hard.
Trying to be a gentleman, he kept some slight distance between them. At least he tried. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into him. When her belly came in contact with his erection, she made a sound that was part groan, part purr. He felt the vibration all the way down to his groin.
"We can't," she murmured against his mouth, then nipped his lower lip. "It would be a seriously bad idea. Dangerous even."
He dropped his head and kissed his way down her neck. As he licked that sensitive spot below her ear, he felt her shudder.
"Bad idea for who?" he asked.
"Me. Us. It's just a weekend, Jackson. I don't do one-night stands."
He straightened and stared into her beautiful blue eyes. "Why does it have to stop at one night?"
She was flushed and looked thoroughly kissed. Through the thin fabric of her dress, he saw her ni**les were hard. Angling around, so he was between her and anyone who might see them, he touched the tight tips with his fingers. Her breath caught.
Wanting burned in her eyes. "You are every kind of temptation."
He kissed her again, this time sucking gently on her tongue. Need grew, pulsing inside him. There was something about Katie.
He sensed more than heard someone approaching and stepped back. Seconds later, her parents rounded the pillar.
"There you are," her mother said. "Well, this went well. We're at the halfway point. Two evenings down, two to go. I wanted to tell you that you can leave anytime you want. Everyone is turning in. Tully went up an hour ago. Alone, thank goodness, although she was eyeing one of the waiters."
"We're tired, too," Katie said quickly, not meeting his eyes. "We'll come with you."
They rode the elevator together. He and Katie got out on the same floor and walked toward her door.
"Jackson, I--" she began.
"It's okay," he said, kissing her lightly.
"What's okay?"
"This isn't the time or place. There's too much of your family around for one thing. When the weekend is over, I'll call. We'll go out." He smiled. "In a more normal setting."
"You're not mad?"
"Katie, I'm not seventeen. I can wait." He kissed her again. "You're worth that."
He took the key she'd pulled out of her purse and opened her door. After handing it back to her, he pushed her inside. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay. Night."
Katie floated into her room more than walked. This couldn't be happening, she thought, practically dizzy with delight. It wasn't possible that Jackson really was funny and smart and handsome and interested in her. Was it?
All the signs were there. Only, she'd been fooled by signs before. But there was a very big part of her--okay, all--that wanted to believe he really was one of the good guys.
She'd barely stepped out of her heels when someone tapped lightly on her door and spoke her name in a low, muffled tone.
Excitement and worry battled in her stomach. While she liked a good seduction as much as the next girl, she really wasn't sure she was comfortable climbing into bed with Jackson right now.
She pulled open the door, prepared to tell him that when she saw the man waiting for her wasn't her date. He was her ex-fiance.
"Alex?"
"Katie, hi."
Alex took a step into her room, tripping as he crossed the threshold.
"You're drunk."
"Maybe." He stood in front of her, his expression hopeful. Kind of like a puppy. "Maybe we only tell the truth when we're drunk."
Uh-oh. She didn't like the sound of that. "Alex, whatever you have going on, you need to take it up with Courtney. You two are getting married in less than forty-eight hours." She turned him and gave him a push toward the still-open door. "Out you go."