He spun her around once. “When we were kids—Max and I—there was no room that was off-limits. But more than once I saw a cleaning crew come in one door as we walked out the other.”
A laugh bubbled up. “That’s silly.”
“That’s true. Which is why I’m never going to have a house like this. I don’t want Cindy and Sam to feel pressured to be perfect and I certainly don’t want to employ an army.” He chuckled. “Can you imagine the mess those two are going to make when they get to be about five?”
She could. She could see crayon markings on the walls, spilled juice boxes, mud pies on the patio. “Maybe you’ll get lucky and they’ll be good.”
He snorted a laugh. “Max was the most perfect child in the universe and he snuck a rat into his bedroom.”
She jerked back. “A rat!”
“It wasn’t like he found it by the river. He bought it at a pet store.”
“But they’re germy and they have pointy teeth.”
Laughing, he waltzed her around again. “And Max loved him.”
She shuddered. He pulled her closer. “Are you sure you’re not cold?”
“Um. No. Not cold.” She pulled her hand off his shoulder and fanned herself. “Is it me or is it hot in here?”
“Dancing probably made you hot.”
“Maybe.”
He maneuvered them over to the open French doors. It was an unusually warm October night and several couples had wandered to the patio and formal gardens. “Why don’t we go outside?”
She dropped back, away from him. She cleared her throat and softened her voice. “Really, I’m fine. I should find my parents.”
“But you haven’t had a drink. Or really very much dinner.” His face reddened. “Not that I’ve been watching you. But I couldn’t help noticing that you don’t seem to be enjoying the party very much.”
“It’s a great party.”
Kate glided over. “Hey, Tory.” She glanced at Chance. “Chance. Wow, it’s warm in here. Why don’t we go out to the patio?”
She slid her arm beneath Tory’s and led her outside. Chance followed, not sure if he should curse his sister-in-law or thank her. She walked Tory the whole way to the back by the rose bushes.
“Whew! That’s better.”
“It is,” Tory said, obviously glad to be outside.
He strolled over. “The moon is nice.”
Kate said, “Yes. It is.” She smiled wistfully. “In fact, it’s so nice, I think I’ll go find Max.”
And with that she was gone.
Seeing the look of alarm that came to Tory’s face, Chance almost cursed. “I swear I did not ask her to do that.”
Tory laughed shakily. “It’s okay. I just need to get going. I’m sure my parents are ready to leave.”
And he would be stuck here for another two hours. Mingling with guests while the one person he really wanted to be with disappeared. It didn’t seem right. Everything seemed off.
But he could fix it.
He caught her hand. “You can stay as long as you like. I’ll walk you back to the cottage.”
Her gaze dipped. “That’s okay.”
She turned to go again and panic filled him. He tugged on her hand a little harder than he’d intended, and she more or less fell against his chest. Then he did the thing that came as naturally as breathing.
He dipped his head and kissed her. His lips met her soft mouth and needs the likes of which he’d never felt before roared through him. There was something about this woman that called to him. Stronger than fate, more complex than desire, it rippled through his bloodstream and urged him to want more, to take more.
And she responded. Though it had seemed he’d startled her at first, when he opened his mouth over hers, she kissed him back. And he knew, he absolutely knew, she was feeling everything he was.
But just as quickly as she’d kissed him, she jerked away. With two steps back, she pressed her hand to her chest and gaped at him. Her breath panted in and out of her lungs as if she were about to hyperventilate, then she turned and raced into his mother’s ballroom.
He ran after her, but an oil tycoon friend of his mother’s stopped him and tried to ask him about investment possibilities for the company. Watching Tory slip over to her parents and gesture to the door, he made his excuses. “I’m sorry, but there’s somebody I’ve gotta catch before she leaves.”