Star of His Heart - Brenda Jackson [54]
Syneda was not convinced. “What is he supposed to be? Some miracle worker?”
Trevor smiled. “I guess you can say that.”
Christy Madaris smiled as she leaned back in her chair. The auction was over, and all around the room couples were paired off, dancing or talking. It seemed everyone was having a good time, and she thought it had been most romantic how Ashton Sinclair had bid on himself and had chosen Nettie Brooms as the woman he wanted.
“Ready for our dance?” a deep voice asked from beside her.
Christy glanced up into dark eyes that were familiar. At the age of eleven she had fallen in love with the man who owned those eyes. And although over the past few years their paths had barely crossed, her feelings had not changed. In fact, that old saying about absence making the heart grow fonder was very true in her case. But then she was a Madaris, and Madarises loved forever. “Yes, I’m ready,” she said and stood.
Alex glanced around the room. “Where’re your brothers?”
“They left.”
Alex lifted a brow. “They left?” At her nod, he said, “They left you here alone?”
“Yes. Corinthians went into labor, and they wanted to go to the hospital to give Trevor support. They told me to catch a ride home with you. I hope you don’t mind.”
He did mind. He had spent the last thirty minutes sitting at the bar sipping a beer and trying to get his mind and thoughts under control. Christy was the first woman to affect him in a long time, and the problem was that he shouldn’t think of her as a woman. He should still see her as the sweet kid he’d known all his life. But for some reason he couldn’t. Taking a deep breath, he tried like hell to dismiss the attraction that intrigued and enticed him way beyond his better judgment. But it wasn’t easy with her looking so incredibly sexy in a dress that showed off more skin than he was used to seeing on her.
“Where’s your uncle Jake? And your cousins? Aren’t they still around?”
“No. Uncle Jake just left. And Blade, Slade and Lucas left right after their dances with the winning bidders were over.” Christy saw his jaw tighten and knew the idea of taking her home didn’t sit well with him. “Look, Alex, if taking me home will be a bother, then I can call a cab.”
He started to tell her to do that very thing, then decided against it. After all, her brothers had entrusted her to his care. “I’m taking you home, Christy, and it won’t be a bother.” He took her hand in his. “Come on, let’s get that dance over with so we can leave,” he said, leading her to the dance floor when the orchestra struck up a new tune. He let out a resigned sigh when he realized it would be a slow number.
“I won’t turn into a pumpkin if I’m not in by twelve,” she muttered, none too happily, when it seemed he was eager to be rid of her.
In the midst of the others around them, Alex pulled her into his arms and began swaying to the slow beat of the music. “Are you certain of that?”
Christy inhaled sharply, feeling the hard strength of Alex’s arm around her waist and the press of his body against hers. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply, inhaling the robust scent of the fragrance of an ultrasexy cologne and male heat. She shivered, and instinctively leaned into him, absorbing his embrace and savoring the feel of being in his arms. She reopened her eyes. “Yes, I’m certain.”
Christy wasn’t the only one going through changes. The feel of her in his arms had Alex’s entire body in a spin. He tried to get a grip on the sudden rush of emotions he felt holding her. His heart was beating erratically, and his breathing was irregular. He couldn’t help but wonder how in the world a twenty-year-old college girl could stimulate him so.
Mentally convincing himself what he was experiencing tonight with her was a fluke and completely absurd, he forced his mind…as well as his body…to relax. He decided to initiate conversations with her since it seemed that any silence resulted in a slow building of awareness to settle between them.
“You weren’t at