She stilled. “I am not.”
“Then why are you running as soon as I try to dig into your personal life?”
She laid her bag down on the table. “That has nothing to do with my life. I thought you were more content to avoid me tonight. Didn’t you want me out of the way?”
“I want you out of my personal life.”
“That’s not going to be possible. So make up your mind what you want.”
What he wanted was her stripped naked and in his bed. He supposed that was as personal as it got. But he could also separate her from the rest of his life. If he could manage that and do what he wanted to do with her, then he’d be satisfied.
When a slow song played, he held out his hand. “Let’s take another shot at that dance.”
She looked up at him. “You weren’t so good at it the first time.”
“Now I’m insulted. I need to redeem myself.” He took her hand and led her onto the dance floor, pulled her against him, and wrapped an arm firmly around her back.
Her gaze met his, and like always when he was close to her, he breathed her in. The smell of peaches surrounded him. She felt good in his arms, like she fit. Her skin was soft, and it was a little bit perfect in the way their bodies nestled against each other. She didn’t grind against him or run her hands all over him like the girls at the club did. Instead, she let him lead, content to just “be” in his arms.
He had to admit he liked that, too. There was no frenzy involved in this, even though he had a lot of dirty thoughts running through his head at the moment.
“I’m being honest with you now, Savannah. I’d really like to get to know you. We spend a lot of time talking about me. Tell me about you.”
For a flicker of a second, he saw wariness in her eyes before she masked it. “Not much to tell. I was raised in Georgia, went to school there. Right after college graduation I got my first job in PR, which evolved into my current career as an image consultant. I’ve been doing that ever since.”
“That’s a brief bio.”
“I’m very good at being concise. I can work with you on that. You might find it useful in interviews since you tend to run at the mouth.”
She was good at deflecting. “I like talking about myself. Obviously more than you do, which leads me to believe you have something to hide.”
Again the wariness crossed her face before she carefully shuttered it behind a smile. “I’m just not an egomaniac like some people.”
“That was subtle.” He turned her around as the tempo increased.
“I’m never subtle.”
“Then tell me what’s on your mind.”
Her gaze was direct. “You wanted me to stay because you think you can get me into bed.”
He arched a brow. “And?”
“Not a chance.”
That made him smile. “You want to know what I think?”
“Would it matter if I didn’t?”
“Probably not.”
He caught the slight curve of her lips. “Then go right ahead.”
“I think not only do you have secrets, but you’re sexually repressed. That’s why you have this job helping other people. Focus on someone else so you don’t have to deal with your own issues—whatever the hell they are.”
She let out a soft laugh. “I can guarantee you I’m not sexually repressed. I know exactly what to do with a man in the bedroom, and am given multiple opportunities to do so. But thank you for offering to save me, Cole. Unfortunately, I’m in no need of saving.”
She started to pull away, but he held her tight. “I’m not throwing you a line, Savannah. I’m attracted to you. And I know you’re attracted to me. What I want to know is why you fight so hard to deny what’s between us.”
“Because we work together. A line has to be drawn.”
But she hadn’t denied the attraction. That was progress.
She pulled away again, and this time he loosened his hold on her.
“You’re leaving me on the dance floor again?” he teased.
She paused, then slipped her hand in his. “Walk off with me. Let’s go to the bar and get a drink.”
He went with her to the bar. She ordered a glass of champagne, while he ordered a whiskey. She perched on one of the bar stools while he leaned against the bar.
“You’ve met my family. Tell me about yours.”
She sipped her champagne, staring out over the dance floor. “Not much to tell. I had a very unremarkable childhood.”
There was a lot she wasn’t saying in that statement. “No brothers or sisters?”
“No. Just me.”
“How about aunts and uncles or grandparents.”
“None of those, either.”
“So…what? You’re an orphan?”
“No.” She finally looked at him. “It was just my mother and me.”
“Oh. Did your dad die?”
“I have no idea. I never knew him.”
“Ouch. I’m sorry, Peaches.”
She shrugged. “Don’t be. You can’t miss something you never had. I managed just fine without him.”