feigned-being-impressed. “Looks like you have a fan. Perhaps I should leave you two alone?”
She stepped forward and all four men moved with her. Jessie smiled. Much better.
“Don’t go.”
“Wait.”
“I thought we could go to my place and catch up a bit. Seeing as I’ve been out of the country shooting and it’s been months since we’ve seen each other.”
The last came from Eric. Part of her wanted to agree just to prove to Colin that not every man was averse to her company. Although Eric was easy on the eyes, she didn’t want him and she’d made that promise to quit selling herself short just to keep from being alone. She waited for Colin to speak. After all, he’d stepped forward, too.
He didn’t make her wait long, just met her gaze and held it. “You owe me a dance.”
His demeanor still chilled, but his eyes were hot. Molten hot. Blue flames of desire promising to warm her insides if she dared take him up on his claim. Blue flames promising to consume her if she didn’t.
Jessie dared.
Always had. That’s what got her into trouble so much.
Which should have made her reconsider, but old dogs rarely learned new tricks or something like that and this dog wanted to dance with Colin. Badly.
She flashed a smile at the other three men. “Sorry boys, but it would seem Colin is under the impression I owe him a dance, and perhaps I do. I’d hate to disappoint. Might ruin a lady’s reputation.”
“I would have danced with you.” Eric practically sulked when he realized she intended to step away with Colin. Men always wanted what they couldn’t have. She supposed it had to do with a natural instinct to be top dog.
What was it tonight with her and dogs?
Jessie laughed and patted Eric’s cheek. “Maybe later, dude.” But later wouldn’t come. Not for them. “Right now I see a cute little redhead who looks like she wants your autograph.”
Eric turned to see who she referred to and his eyes lit up, having already forgotten all about wanting to dance with Jessie Davidson. Easy come, easy go.
“I didn’t realize you were so chummy with Ewing. Did I interrupt?” Colin sounded irked. He watched her, a scowl on his handsome face.
Enough about loneliness, dogs, the men in her past, and on to the future. To figuring out what prompted the change in Colin’s temperature. Because he’d been shocked to see her. Shocked and arctic. So why the warm smiles, smoldering looks, and offer to dance? What kind of game was he attempting to play? She didn’t like the mixed vibes and refused to be toyed with.
“You know nothing about me, so why would you know anything about my relationship–-or lack thereof–-with Eric?” She pinned him with her gaze. “You walked over and butted into a conversation you weren’t a part of, of course, you interrupted. Wasn’t that your intention?”
One corner of his mouth lifted. Admiration shone in his expression. And scorching heat that made her want to bask in the glow. “I suppose it was.”
“No suppose about it. You did.”
“Yes,” he admitted.
“Why? I thought you found me repulsive.”
His gaze never left hers. “That red dress changed my mind.”
“Pervert.”
He grinned, and Jessie’s heart rate kicked up a few more notches.
“You read minds, too?” he teased. Warm and fuzzy. What happened to the ice cubes?
“My side job is on the Psychic Hotline, so get your mind out of the gutter and off what’s inside my red dress.” She liked the thought that he found her attractive. Liked how he looked at her. The dress and shoes were worth every penny she’d paid even if she had to park cars to pay for them. Wouldn’t be the first time she’d done so. “Want me to tell your future?”
Colin pulled her onto the dance floor. The current song blasted fast and furious and Jessie found herself regretting her earlier thoughts about the music. She wanted slow and sexy.
She wanted Colin. Ridiculous .
“I know my future.” He ignored the music