Chapter 48 – Remington #3
Finally, someone calls Carlisle’s name, and he glances toward a leggy blonde before grinning at us again. Does this fucker ever stop smiling? It grates on my last nerve.
“Good to see you both,” he says, lifting a glass of amber liquid in a salute. “And Hale, tell Perri I’ll call her when I get back to town so we can catch up.” He pauses before adding, “You know, about the gala.”
I’m sure he can feel my glare boring into his back as he turns and strides away. Maybe I should tell Auburn about the history between our two families. And to watch out for his wife because I don’t trust Grant Carlisle as far as I can throw him.
But Auburn isn’t looking at me. He’s staring at the arched entrance to the room with a goofy smile on his face.
Following his line of sight, I immediately understand why.
His wife is standing there in a red cocktail dress, makeup impeccable, with wine-red lips and her raven hair smooth but with some volume.
Gianna is the picture of elegance, but when she takes a half step to her right, she disappears from my consciousness. In fact, everything does. The soft string music wafting through the space… gone. The well-dressed people milling about… they no longer exist. It’s as if I’m in a vacuum.
Because she is here. My Mindy.
My entire world narrows to a single spotlight shining from above to highlight the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen in my life.
The gold and white of her dress sets off her tanned skin, and the entire package is topped with a mass of brilliant red hair set in an elegant updo with large, sleek loops.
And there seem to be strands of gold interspersed within the red.
Dropping my gaze down her body, my eyes almost bug out like a cartoon character as my respiratory system goes on strike, struggling to pull air in and out of my lungs.
The dress isn’t revealing at all, besides her bare shoulders.
There’s no plunging neckline or abbreviated hemline.
It’s not overly tight, though the way the fabric drapes against her body like liquid is innately sexy.
I guess she feels the intensity of my stare because her eyes automatically find mine across the crowded room, and her face brightens.
“Fucking hell,” I mutter and hear Auburn chuckle beside me. I’d almost forgotten he was there.
“Trust me, buddy. Seeing your woman make an entrance never gets old.”
And these two women make a goddamn entrance.
Every eye in the place is on them as they move toward us.
As Mindy walks, two long slits flash a bit of very tempting leg.
It’s subtle but undeniably alluring, and I feel my feet moving as if Mindy has an invisible rope attached to me, drawing me nearer.
I sense Auburn at my side, and we meet our gorgeous ladies in the center of the room.
Mindy looks even more stunning up close. There’s a light dusting of metallic gold dust over her cheekbones and shoulders, making her appear almost ethereal.
“You are radiant,” I say when my tongue remembers how to do words. Unable to stop myself, I grip her waist and lean down to brush my lips over hers. “The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
She looks up at me through her thick lashes, smiling coyly. “And you look very debonair, Mr. Hale.” Her hands run up and down the lapels of my black suit. “I like the dark and dangerous look you have going on here.”
My hands slide around to her back, which I’m just realizing is completely bare. Christ, how am I going to make it through this night?
“Is dark and dangerous what you’re in the mood for tonight?” I ask, searching her pretty hazel eyes.
Mindy bites her bottom lip and shrugs. “I might be interested in a dark and dangerous man tying me up.”
Fuck me upside down with a chainsaw. Leaning forward, I whisper in her ear, “I’ll tie you up and fuck you until you scream so loud someone will probably call the police.
” Her breath hitches, and I smile against her warm flesh.
“But not before I get on my knees and worship my goddess exactly like she deserves to be worshipped.”
“Check, please,” she groans, and I pull her tighter against me. She feels what she’s doing to me and looks up with wide eyes before darting her gaze around the room. “Should we be acting like this in front of all these people?”
I tip up her chin with my finger. “Sweetheart, I don’t give a fuck. Let every person in here see that you belong to me.”
Her responding smile lights up my world. “And you belong to me?”
“Without a doubt. Now come dance with me until this situation in my pants becomes less obvious.”
Mindy looks down between us and then lifts a skeptical eyebrow. “If you think having our bodies pressed together will help your erection, then by all means, let’s dance.” She pulls my hand and leads me to the dance floor.
“You’re going to tease me all night long, aren’t you?” I ask, and she shoots me a coy smile over her shoulder to let me know that’s exactly her plan.
Yanking her hard against me, I link my eyes with hers and allow my lips to tip up on one side in an audacious smirk. “Bring it on, woman. Two can play that game.”