Paper Roses

 

He put her hand on his shoulder then slid his hand around her waist. Her body was supple and warm to his touch. He looked into her eyes and smiled. "Relax. I promise not to hit you up with a request for money."

Jenny went along with the dance. She was already part of enough unusual activity that evening. She didn't want to draw any more attention to herself or her two guests. She kept her back straight as she danced across the floor with him, resisting the temptation to lean into his warmth. "Why did you come tonight? I wouldn't think something like this would be your thing."

"But you don't know me very well either, do you?" He held her closer than was polite. "It's not my usual thing. But I thought you needed someone from your family here with you tonight. That's why I invited Kyle. And I never miss a chance to promote my clinic to rich people. You have a whole country club full of them tonight."

"You're honest." She was giving in too easily.

He swung her into a turn that brought her closer to him. "But don't think I've given up on the idea of you working at the clinic. I talked to Luke about taking your case but that doesn't mean I'm going to roll over and play dead. I'd still like you to be there, Jenny."

"I don't think I need that in my life," she told him carefully. "I've seen what you do and I appreciate your wanting me there but it won't work for me."

The music changed, setting the younger dancers swinging around the room. The older dancers left the floor. She saw a look she was beginning to recognize in Riley's eye. It meant he was ready to make trouble. She started to move away. He swung her energetically, sweeping her off her feet and into his arms.

Startled and unsure what to do, she grabbed him and held on tight. "I can't do this!"

"Follow me," he encouraged, dipping her and twirling her back and forth. "I won't let you down."

The movements of the dance were fast and wild. She followed Riley's moves and laughed at the feeling of spinning around the crowded room. Breathless and dizzy, she didn't notice when the other dancers left the floor and were clapping for them. She matched her movements to his until the music ended with a long wail from a saxophone. She collapsed into his arms.

Pressed close against him, she laughed into his face. Her arms were tangled around his neck. Her hair was loose around her shoulders. The mass of dark curls swept around them like a curtain, catching on Riley's hair and meshing with his bow tie.

Other couples returned to the floor, congratulating them on their dancing abilities. Jenny tried to get her feet back firmly on the dance floor.

"Now," Riley whispered, his face close to hers, "you look happy. Now I know the difference."

Jenny swept her hair back from her face. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." He breathed in the scent of her hair and relished the feel of her body against his. Her dress left little to the imagination when it was the only thing separating them.

"That was interesting." Peter came looking for her when she secured her hair back in its clip. "There are a few other people who want to meet you, darling. Excuse us."

Kyle wandered over to Riley and offered him a drink while he munched on another full plate of food. Together, they watched Jenny as Peter led her away from the dance floor.

"He kind of reminds me of a vampire in a movie I saw last summer," Kyle told his friend. "Only more pale."

"She loves him," Riley reminded him. "That's all that matters."

"She's different now," Kyle protested. "I don't know if it was the attack or because I haven't seen her for so long."

Riley swallowed a margarita in a single gulp then grabbed another one from a passing waiter. "He had her before the attack. She sees something in him that we don't see." He straightened his tie and glanced once more at her retreating back, remembering how good she felt in his arms. "I'm going to take some rich folk's money."

Kyle laughed and took a drink from another waiter. "It's not gonna stop you from trying to take her away from him, is it?"

Riley didn't deny it. "Not until that's a wedding band on her finger."

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