Ian's Ultimate Gamble - Brenda Jackson [21]
She was so deep in thought that she was startled when everyone stood, began clapping and gave Smokey Robinson the standing ovation he deserved. Moments later he went into his final number, "Going to a Go-Go," and the place came alive. Older couples, who remembered the song and the dances of that day and time, got on the floor and began gyrating their bodies in all kinds of ways. Brooke couldn't help remembering her mom doing those same dances around the house when Brooke was a little girl.
"You want to go out there and try it?" Ian asked, leaning over to her. When he evidently saw the hesitancy in her eyes, he chuckled and asked, "Hey, what do we have to lose?"
She glanced at the crowd dancing and then back at him. "Parts of our face if we got in the way. They're doing a dance called 'the jerk' and I'd hate to be the recipient of one of their elbows."
Ian laughed, and although it could barely be heard above the loud music, Brooke felt the richness in the sound and was suddenly hit with a bit of nostalgia, of other times they had gone out on the town together, dancing, partying, having fun. If anyone had told her a couple of days ago that the two of them would be able to put their anger, hurt and resentment on hold for an evening, she would not have believed them. The pain had been too deep on both sides.
He leaned forward again and took her hand in his. "Come on. Let's show these old folks how to really get down."
The next thing Brooke knew they were out on the dance floor, shaking their bodies like everyone else. Ian had complimented her earlier on her choice of attire, a short, chocolate-brown silk chiffon dress with a swirling, handkerchief hemline. It gave her all the ease she needed as she moved to the music.
She couldn't recall the last time she'd gone dancing, let herself go, allowed herself a moment to feel free. Only with Ian could she be this way. Only with him.
When the music came to an end, he pulled her closer to him, lowered his head, keeping their mouths separated by a mere inch and said, "Come with me for a moment. I want to show you something."
She knew she should ask what he wanted to show her. And just where he was taking her when he led her out of the lounge. But she didn't. She couldn't. The only thing she could do was walk by his side as they held hands and pray wherever they were going, that she would still be in control when they sot there.
Brooke tried not to feel nervous as they rode up in Ian's private elevator. He was leaning on the opposite wall and looking positively delicious in one of his designer suits. He stared at her and sent a torrent of sensations all through her body. The man could make everything inside of her flutter with those dark eyes of his, and she was doing everything within her might not to succumb.
"So where are you taking me?" she asked after they passed the floors to his penthouse. He smiled before pushing off the wall. "Be patient. We'll get there soon enough."
That's what had her worried. "And just where is 'there'?" The elevator was still moving up and although she knew they were on his private side of the casino, she had no idea of where they were going. Already they had gone beyond the eighteenth floor.
Before he could open his mouth to respond— not that he would have anyway— the elevator came to a stop. She hated admitting it but he had aroused her curiosity. He had also aroused something else. Being confined in an elevator with Ian wasn't a good idea and it was taking a supreme effort on her part to downplay his sexiness. His charisma was touching her in all kinds of places, causing her body to feel hot. What she needed was a splash of cold water. The elevator door opened and she turned to follow him when he stepped out.
Her breath caught. Ian had brought her to his private conservatory. From up here, she could see everything. It was a beautiful April night, and when she glanced up she saw the sky was a beautiful shade of navy-blue.