Sebastian took hold of her hand. “Come on, darlin’. Dance with me.” With the twinkle in his hazel eyes and his rascal smile, he was quite a charming fellow. He didn’t have to coax her. Michael didn’t seem in any hurry to get to her. He was still talking to Amanda. Isabel smiled at Sebastian and took his hand.
Once she started dancing, she let the music take her away. One song led to another and another, and then Gavin demanded a dance. She couldn’t turn him down. Two more dances later, she was ready to take a break. But just as the band began to play a slow, romantic love song, Michael tapped Gavin on the shoulder, told him he was cutting in, and pulled Isabel into his arms. Pressing her body to his, he began to move to the music. Tilting her chin up so he could look into her eyes, he asked,
“How was your day?”
Was he serious? That’s what he wanted to talk about?
“It was busy. How was your day?” she asked, deciding to play along.
“Busy.”
And that was it. Not one word about last night. She waited, thinking he might be working up to the topic of being hot, sweaty, and naked with her all night long, but he didn’t say a word. He couldn’t be that blasé, could he? Had Michael already moved on, or had he forgotten about last night? No, of course he hadn’t. Perhaps to him sex was like having a beer in the evening. No reason to talk about it the next day because it wasn’t significant. It was just a beer.
Not one word about Amanda, either. It was time to get answers.
God knows she tried, but it was impossible to ask him anything because they kept getting interrupted. First by Gabriel MacAlister, who wanted to cut in, but Michael wouldn’t let him, then by Theo, who wanted to remind Michael that he and Michelle would be leaving early tomorrow morning. The song ended while the brothers talked. Michael didn’t seem to notice when Isabel let go of his arm and turned around . . . until she tried to walk away. He took her hand and drew her back to him, then draped his arm over her shoulder so she couldn’t move.
“Isabel, are you going to sing for us tonight?” Theo asked.
“No.”
He waited for an explanation, and after a couple of seconds he realized she had nothing more to say. He laughed and said, “Okay, then.”
“Want me to drive you to the airport tomorrow?” Michael asked him.
“I’d be happy to drive you,” Isabel offered.
The look on Theo’s face was one of horror, but when he turned and headed back to the house, Isabel could see his shoulders shaking with laughter.
“My offer wasn’t funny.”
“Yeah, it was,” Michael told her.
Isabel spotted Alec heading their way, and behind him was Amanda, watching Michael. Isabel would have to wait until later to catch Michael alone. She once again tried to walk away, but Michael tugged her back to him. The man didn’t know his own strength and practically plastered her against his chest.
Michael stopped Alec’s and Amanda’s approach. “If you’ll excuse us, Isabel and I are going to dance.” Alec immediately nodded and turned back, but Amanda stood frowning at them for a second before retreating.
“Michael, I’m not a football,” Isabel said, sighing. “Stop gripping me so tight. Dance like a normal person.”
He gently pushed her head down on his shoulder and began to sway to the music. “I like your dress.”
“You do?”
“It’s very sexy,” he whispered into her ear. “Can you breathe?”
“It has a lot of spandex. It isn’t indecent, is it?”
“No, it isn’t,” he answered. “It’s the way you fill it out, sweetheart.”
The endearment flustered her, and she didn’t know how to respond.
He smiled down at her and said, “You’re blushing.”
A couple of young men called out to Michael. Both he and Isabel turned in their direction, and Isabel caught a glimpse of Amanda standing at the edge of the dance floor, still watching, but this time her laser-sharp glare was directed toward Isabel.
Michael smiled and nodded to his friends, but when he turned his attention to her again, his expression had changed. He looked very serious when he said, “Isabel, we need to talk.”
She leaned back. “Yes?”
“Last night was great,” he said. “But it shouldn’t have happened. I should have gotten up and walked out of that bedroom. You were . . .” He paused as if searching for the perfect words.
“I was what?”
“Inexperienced . . . and I feel I took advantage of you.” He looked truly sincere when he added,
“I’m sorry about that.”
“You think having sex with me was a mistake?”
“Yes . . . but . . .”
“Wow. You sure know how to flatter a girl.”
“Isabel, I’m trying to explain . . .”
“I’d rather you didn’t,” she whispered.
Before Isabel could utter another word, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned her head to find Amanda standing behind her.
“My turn,” Amanda announced in a breathy voice. “I’d like to dance with my guy.”
My guy? “Of course,” Isabel said. She took a step away from Michael. “He’s all yours.”
Fighting back the tears, she walked away. Michael called her name. She ignored him. More than anything she needed a few minutes alone. She was angry and hurt and had no one to blame but herself.
Michael had been brutally honest with her when he told her he regretted their night together. Isabel didn’t want to know all of his reasons for wishing it hadn’t happened. He’d said quite enough.
Isabel headed to the house. Her goal was to go up to the third-floor bedroom, shut the door, and take a few minutes to get her emotions under control. She was so close to losing it. Unfortunately, she was waylaid again and again by guests at the party who wanted to meet her . . . and yes, to know what XO was like. She almost made it to the stairs a second time when the MacAlisters got hold of her and dragged her to the dance floor again. Their flirting was so outrageous, they had her smiling in no time at all. An hour later, in a much better frame of mind, Isabel finally made it all the way to the stairs.
Just two steps up, she was halted by Amanda. “Isabel. A moment, please.”
Isabel sighed. “Yes?”
“I’ve been wanting to catch you alone so I could ask you.”
“Yes,” she prompted again, trying her best to hide her irritation.
“Will you sing at our wedding? Michael and I would love it if you would.”
Isabel’s reaction was so swift, it even surprised her. She laughed. “No. I don’t do weddings.”
She didn’t waste another minute discussing it. She now had only one thought in mind: to get away from Michael and his soon-to-be bride. She couldn’t seem to stop laughing as she ascended the stairs to gather her things.
The laughter saved her from crying. Either that, or she was becoming hysterical. She got her wristlet with her phone and room card out of the credenza and hurried down through the kitchen to get to the back door. She was determined to get off the island as quickly as possible. If she had to walk to the Hamilton, then, by God, she would.
Regan caught up with her as Isabel was closing the door. She followed her outside and asked,
“Where are you going?”
“I want to find a ride back to the Hamilton.”
“Is something wrong? It’s not even eleven.”