Pretty Face by Sable Hunter Page B

held out her hand and he took it. Standing next to him made her heart pound. So many times they’d fantasized about the first moment they’d meet. How they would act. The thrill of their first touch, the first kiss. Hunter would tell her how he planned to take her in his arms, push her against the door and run his hands up her thighs, aiming for the soft place between her legs that got wet every time she thought about him. Now, here she was. It wasn’t the same—there’d be no first kiss, no erotic play. But she could touch him.
    “I don’t know the steps,” Hunter said as he pulled her close, her small hand in his. His palm settled just below her waist.
    “They’re easy.” She took it slow. “Follow me. Slow, quick, quick. Eight beats, two mirrored beats of four. Shift your weight and turn.” It wasn’t hard, Hunter had natural rhythm, and soon he started leading. “That’s right, you’ve got it, you’re a natural.”
    “This is fun. Thanks, I needed it.” He even twirled her around, and she gasped when Hunter held her even closer.
    Instead of looking him in the face, she kept her head down on the pretense of watching their feet. Truth was, she just couldn’t handle his direct gaze into her face.
    “Look up at me,” he spoke out of nowhere.
    Was he a mind reader? Shyly, she did, but only about halfway.
    “Don’t be so shy, I won’t bite.”
    “It would be easier if it were dark,” she confessed.
    “Dark, you dance better in the dark?” His tone was light.
    “My partner has a better view in the dark.” Since honesty wasn’t necessarily her policy, Cody was surprised at her own candor.
    Hunter didn’t immediately understand her self-deprecation. When he did, he didn’t like it. “Nonsense.” Her scar was noticeable and it bothered him because it appeared to be deep. The corner of her eye was pulled down just the slightest bit. At first, it was all he could see when he looked at her face but now he was more apt to notice how big and pretty her eyes were or how soft her lips looked. “Any man would enjoy dancing with you.”
    That was all Cody could handle. “Would you like dessert? I have pralines.” She pulled out of his arms, turning away to pick up a dish off the table, holding it out to Hunter.
    “Sure, thanks.” He took one of the delicacies and placed it in his mouth. He could see she was uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
    Waving her hand, she dismissed the idea. “Oh, you didn’t.”
    Trying to gain back her favor, he changed the subject. “Tell me about your teaching job.”
    Taking a deep breath, Cody settled back in her chair, pouring them both some more tea. “I was one of those kids who buried themselves in a book. I graduated early and lived in the lab. I’ve had a few articles published and made a few minor discoveries in the field of quantum mechanics.” Giving him a slight smile, she finished, “I’m head of the department.”
    Hunter was floored. “My God, I took you for a teacher’s assistant. You’re a PhD!”
    Cody laughed. “You say that like it’s a communicable disease.”
    “Sorry, you just shocked me.” He stood up. “You don’t look like a doctor, you look like a…” He was at a loss for words.
    “You don’t have to finish that thought,” she told him quickly, picking up their dishes and placing them in a basket to take care of later.
    Hunter could tell he had offended her. “I was going to say you looked like a regular girl.”
    “Oh.” She glanced at him. “Well, I suppose that’s understandable.”
    “Thanks for the dance.” Hunter took her hand. “I was wrong, Cody. You’re not regular, you’re extraordinary.”
    Her heart racing so fast, she felt dizzy. Cody accepted his caress. “You’re very kind.” She looked up into his face and his eyes met hers. He looked down at her mouth, then back up into her eyes. Slowly, he lowered his head…
    Hunter was about to kiss her! Her! Of their own