feel such sweet joy to know no other woman held his interest. “You’ve mentioned your sisters before.”
“I have three.” Matthew shook his head. “What I had to endure growing up without a brother.”
The smile on his face told her it hadn’t all been bad. He obviously loved them.
“My father died about seven years ago,” he continued, “leaving me the family business. I know what it’s like for someone to work hard and earn their way to the top.”
Carrie sensed he didn’t like talking about his accomplishments. “Please. Tell me.”
“After my father’s death, I worked right alongside the factory employees. I learned a lot. I wanted to see how the company functioned from top to bottom. I wanted to learn the conditions the employees worked in and how they felt about the company. It helped me to grow and I earned their respect.
“That’s admirable.”
He shrugged, but she saw pride and tenderness and . . . something else he held back from telling her. She’d bet he didn’t normally reveal his inner thoughts or open up often to people. She felt privileged he’d shared this much with her. She wouldn’t press him further.
“Do you have siblings who drive you crazy?” he asked.
The scene earlier with her sister flashed in her mind. She’d been unable to control the situation. Ellie was a grown woman and Carrie didn’t have any choice but to trust her.
“No family here. My sister and niece currently live in North Carolina. But I do have a friend who’s absolutely insane. As a matter of fact, she talked me into going on a cruise. That’s why I was at the airport. We’d just gotten back. Our plane landed late and she had to run to catch her connecting flight.”
“She doesn’t live here?”
“Actually, she does. The cruise was a last minute thing. She’d already made reservations to visit her parents and things just worked out that way. With the storm and our plane arriving late, she didn’t have time to go home. That is why you found me alone.”
“My good fortune. Dance with me.” Without waiting for a response, Matthew rose and pulled out her chair. He led her to the center of other dancing couples.
With his fingers curled around hers, he drew her close and slid one hand to the small of her back. Because of his height, she fit perfect in his arms. She released a heavy sigh of pure enjoyment and tucked her head in the curve of his neck. Even though their bodies touched, he did not enfold her tight in his embrace the way she had expected.
Her cool exterior disappeared at the warmth generated from the heated palm on her back. Waves of musk and a hint of indescribable tang assaulted her senses. She inhaled deep, savoring the heady scent. Being in Matthew’s arms felt too good. Sliding her hand up to touch the skin above his collar, she smoothed her fingers on the back of his neck, delving in the soft curls lying there. Her blood heated and simmered low in her belly.
He pulled her closer against the warmth of his broad chest, and the top of her head barely touched his chin. Leaning into his strength, she relaxed in his arms. Like a hand in a glove, the fit was perfect. Their bodies moved to the rhythm of the music while Carrie’s defenses melted a little more with each swaying step.
Sure in his movements, Carrie followed his lead. He danced like a dream you didn’t want to wake from. Her passions in utter chaos, she suffered his close proximity while her fingers absorbed the heat of his skin and her breasts the potency of his body. So lost in the sensation, she wanted to melt into his warmth and be consumed by his fire.
He didn’t act like most of the healthy red-blooded males she knew. Jerks with wandering hands or womanizers who capitalized on seduction. Many tried to cop a cheap feel and seduce her before they got halfway through their first dance. Not Matthew. The hand at her back had not moved. Wondering what was going through his mind, she raised her head.
He glanced
“I have three.” Matthew shook his head. “What I had to endure growing up without a brother.”
The smile on his face told her it hadn’t all been bad. He obviously loved them.
“My father died about seven years ago,” he continued, “leaving me the family business. I know what it’s like for someone to work hard and earn their way to the top.”
Carrie sensed he didn’t like talking about his accomplishments. “Please. Tell me.”
“After my father’s death, I worked right alongside the factory employees. I learned a lot. I wanted to see how the company functioned from top to bottom. I wanted to learn the conditions the employees worked in and how they felt about the company. It helped me to grow and I earned their respect.
“That’s admirable.”
He shrugged, but she saw pride and tenderness and . . . something else he held back from telling her. She’d bet he didn’t normally reveal his inner thoughts or open up often to people. She felt privileged he’d shared this much with her. She wouldn’t press him further.
“Do you have siblings who drive you crazy?” he asked.
The scene earlier with her sister flashed in her mind. She’d been unable to control the situation. Ellie was a grown woman and Carrie didn’t have any choice but to trust her.
“No family here. My sister and niece currently live in North Carolina. But I do have a friend who’s absolutely insane. As a matter of fact, she talked me into going on a cruise. That’s why I was at the airport. We’d just gotten back. Our plane landed late and she had to run to catch her connecting flight.”
“She doesn’t live here?”
“Actually, she does. The cruise was a last minute thing. She’d already made reservations to visit her parents and things just worked out that way. With the storm and our plane arriving late, she didn’t have time to go home. That is why you found me alone.”
“My good fortune. Dance with me.” Without waiting for a response, Matthew rose and pulled out her chair. He led her to the center of other dancing couples.
With his fingers curled around hers, he drew her close and slid one hand to the small of her back. Because of his height, she fit perfect in his arms. She released a heavy sigh of pure enjoyment and tucked her head in the curve of his neck. Even though their bodies touched, he did not enfold her tight in his embrace the way she had expected.
Her cool exterior disappeared at the warmth generated from the heated palm on her back. Waves of musk and a hint of indescribable tang assaulted her senses. She inhaled deep, savoring the heady scent. Being in Matthew’s arms felt too good. Sliding her hand up to touch the skin above his collar, she smoothed her fingers on the back of his neck, delving in the soft curls lying there. Her blood heated and simmered low in her belly.
He pulled her closer against the warmth of his broad chest, and the top of her head barely touched his chin. Leaning into his strength, she relaxed in his arms. Like a hand in a glove, the fit was perfect. Their bodies moved to the rhythm of the music while Carrie’s defenses melted a little more with each swaying step.
Sure in his movements, Carrie followed his lead. He danced like a dream you didn’t want to wake from. Her passions in utter chaos, she suffered his close proximity while her fingers absorbed the heat of his skin and her breasts the potency of his body. So lost in the sensation, she wanted to melt into his warmth and be consumed by his fire.
He didn’t act like most of the healthy red-blooded males she knew. Jerks with wandering hands or womanizers who capitalized on seduction. Many tried to cop a cheap feel and seduce her before they got halfway through their first dance. Not Matthew. The hand at her back had not moved. Wondering what was going through his mind, she raised her head.
He glanced
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