The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [81]
They both froze.
Gabe chuckled. “You two going to stand there doing the statue imitation all night, or do you intend to dance? I have to tell you, Honey is frowning something fierce over the show you’re giving the guests, and I think she’s about to start this way.”
Morgan drew in a deep breath, searching for control. “Get lost, Gabe.”
“No way. I don’t get to see you this rattled too often.”
“I’m not rattled.” He stepped back a safe distance but retained his hold on Misty. Trying to sound reasonable, rather than rattled, he said, “Your sister wants us to dance.”
Misty’s pink tongue darted out to lick nervously at her lips, and Morgan wanted to groan. He glanced at Gabe and saw that his brother was every bit as alert and fascinated as he was. Damn. He started backing out to the middle of the dance floor, tugging Misty along with him. Everyone could see she was a reluctant participant, and after the way she’d accepted every other partner, Morgan was peeved. “Come on, Malone. I won’t bite you.”
“Can I have that in writing?” Gently, she tried to disengage her hand. Morgan stared at her, refusing to let go and refusing to respond to her sarcasm.
She sighed. “Look, Morgan, this isn’t a good idea.”
Perversely, he asked, “Why not?”
“You don’t like me! That was easy enough to figure out from the moment we met.”
She was so…lovely, he couldn’t help but study her face, the narrow nose, the high cheekbones, her small rounded chin. If he looked any lower, he’d never survive the dance, so he brought his gaze to hers. “I liked you well enough…at first.”
“All right. Then from the moment I introduced myself. I have no idea what you’ve got against me, and to tell you the truth, I really don’t care.”
“You don’t, huh?” It was amazing how she went straight to the heart of the matter. Most women wouldn’t have been so bold.
He wondered if she’d be that bold in bed.
“No, I don’t,” she said. “Truth is, I’m not at all crazy about you, either.”
The grin took him by surprise. Strangely, Morgan realized he was enjoying himself. Beyond being turned on, he felt challenged, and that didn’t often happen with women anymore. “Why not?”
Before she could reply, the music changed, turned sultry. Misty gave such a heartfelt groan of despair, he chuckled. “Oh, no. I’m outta here.” Again she tried to pull loose, but Morgan swept her closer and wrapped one arm around her waist.
Near her ear, he whispered, “Quit fighting me, Malone. It’s only one dance.” One dance that felt closer to foreplay. Just holding her was making him nuts, and this close, he could see a few damp, glossy black curls clinging to her forehead and temple. Her upper chest, visible over the scooped neckline of her maid-of-honor gown, was dewy with perspiration. She was warmed up and flushed all over. The vigorous dancing, he thought, leaning subtly forward to breathe in her heated scent. The thought of any other man in the room, especially his damn younger brothers, being this close to her, being affected the same way, made him want to growl.
Misty frowned at him. “What’s the matter with you, anyway? You look like a thundercloud.”
She pulled back, putting a few more inches between their bodies, but Morgan could see the added color in her cheeks and knew she was feeling the effects of the closeness, same as he was.
When he didn’t answer, just continued to stare at her, she sighed. “Don’t pretend my honesty bothered you, Morgan. I won’t believe it.”
Going for the direct attack, he surmised, and smiled. “You haven’t offended me.” Then he made his own direct attack. “You wanna know what I don’t like about you, Malone?”
“No.”
Her naturally husky voice dropped another octave in her irritation. Where his hand rested on her back,